Learn how to tie a Double San Diego Jam knot fast. I’ve been using the San Diego Jam knot for over 30 years and it doesn’t fail me.
I love the Palomar knot and still use it a lot, but the double San Diego Jam knot is easier to tie when you are working with baits with treble hooks or big baits where it is hard to get the loop over the bait.
San Diego Jam Knot Story
I have been using this knot for over 30 years and didn’t know what it was called until recently. A professional walleye fisherman showed me how to tie the San Diego Jam knot when I was 11 years old in a tackle shop in Phoenix, AZ. I have been using this knot ever since.
I used to tie it in the single version but learned that the double knot is just that much stronger and still easy to tie once you get the hang of it.
I still tie the Palomar knot a lot, especially on my Texas rigs and my drop shot rigs, but if a bait has trebles or is bulky, I still use the San Diego Jam knot for most of those applications.
See how I tie the Palomar knot here.
If you see the loop that you have to run the bait through, you will see why I feel that the San Diego Jam knot is superior for most applications.
Tips for the Double San Diego Jam Knot
How Many Wraps
One of the first tips is to only loop it 3 or 4 times. If you do more than that it will not snug up as well. Believe me that this knot will not fail, especially when you run it back through the top.
Pull the Tag End
Another tip is that you want to pull the single tag end while you are pulling the knot tight or it will leave a giant loop and could cause failure in your Jam knot.
Wet Your Line
Always be sure to wet your line before you tighten up the Double San Diego Jam Knot. If you don’t the friction caused when tightening the knot can cause heat to break down your line. This can lead to knot failure.
Line Suggestions
This line works well with both mono and fluoro. I typically suggest a fluoro for most applications unless you are fishing topwater lures, then go monofilament.
Get Your Budget Fluorocarbon Line Here
Get Your Best Fluorocarbon Line Here
Get Your Monofilament Line Here
Final Thoughts on the Double San Diego Jam Knot
I have a soft spot in my heart for this knot. I learned it as a young angler, and like an old friend, it has served me well for all of these years. This knot is super strong and doesn’t fail if you follow the guidance above.
If you haven’t used this knot, I suggest you give it a try. Practice before you get on the water and you will be set when you need to tie it in the field.
To your fishing success,
Jonathan Burke