I'm starting out with carp fishing on the Mondego River and I want to know which is the most secure knot for attaching live bait. I've tried several but some break when the fish pulls hard. Can someone explain it to me in detail?
I never used to fish, but I got interested when I moved close to the Mondego and I've learned quite a bit from more experienced neighbors. For live bait, the Palomar knot (or clinch knot) is really the most reliable because it distributes the pressure and doesn't usually break even with big carp pulling hard; the secret is to tighten it well but not overdo it, because if it gets too tense the line will snap. Another option that works well is the double blood knot if you prefer something a bit simpler, but personally I've had better luck with the Palomar. Practice at home with rope or thick line to get the hang of it before you go fishing, it's much easier when you're by the river.
The palomar knot is definitely solid for that, but if it's actually breaking with big carp you can try the improved clinch knot - it distributes pressure better when the fish pulls hard. The key is to make at least five or six wraps before tightening, and test the knot by pulling hard before you get in the water so you don't get any nasty surprises out there. Carp in the Mondego tend to be respectable fish, so it's worth spending a few minutes to tie it properly.
I had similar problems when I started fishing on the Mondego a few years ago, and I found that the improved clinch knot holds up much better because it distributes the tension more evenly when the carp pulls hard - normally the knot breaks at the point where it tightens, and this one fixes that. But what really matters is testing the knot's strength before you get in the water, pulling hard on both ends to see if it slips or gives, because there are tons of knots that work fine in theory but in practice with a big fish thrashing around they fail completely.
The thing is, besides the knot itself, the material you're using makes a huge difference - if your line is too old or has small damage, any knot will give way when a big carp pulls. I'd recommend checking the line before you switch knots, like around 30cm before the hook, and then test the improved clinch that people mentioned. It's also worth leaving a tiny little gap between the knot and the hook eye to distribute the tension better, instead of tightening it right up close - it makes a real difference when the fish pulls hard.
For carp specifically, what really works is testing the improved clinch knot, but before you blame just the knot you need to check if your line isn't degraded - an old line or one with small tears will always give way, no matter how good the knot is. I still prefer to test new line in the water a few days before taking expensive gear out fishing, because sometimes the problem isn't technical at all, it's just the wear on the line that nobody notices at first glance.
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