World's Fair Knot

The World’s Fair Knot earned its name after winning the Du Pont Great Knot Search in 1982, a competition held at the Knoxville World’s Fair to find the best new fishing knot. Created by Gary Martin of Lafayette, Indiana, this knot beat out hundreds of entries by offering an exceptional balance of simplicity, speed, and strength. The knot is tied with a straightforward series of steps that most anglers can learn in minutes, yet it delivers consistent line strength around 80%. Its ease of tying makes it particularly well suited for beginners and for situations where you need to re-tie quickly on the water without sacrificing reliability.

How to Tie

1. Double about six inches of line and pass the folded loop through the hook eye.
2. Bring the loop back and lay it over the doubled standing line, forming a crossover point above the hook eye.
3. Push the tag end through the loop from behind, passing it between the doubled lines and through the opening.
4. Pull the tag end to draw the loop down snugly against the hook eye, forming a neat half-hitch style wrap.
5. Moisten the knot thoroughly with saliva or water before final tightening.
6. Pull the standing line firmly while holding the hook to cinch the knot tight against the eye.
7. Trim the tag end close to the knot, leaving roughly one-sixteenth of an inch.

When to Use

• When you need a fast, easy-to-learn terminal knot that can be tied reliably by anglers of all skill levels.
• When re-tying frequently during a day of fishing and speed is important without giving up reasonable knot strength.
• When teaching new anglers or children who need a beginner-friendly knot that still holds fish.
• When attaching hooks, small lures, or swivels in freshwater situations with monofilament or fluorocarbon line.
• When fishing in low-light conditions or cold weather where simpler knots with fewer steps are easier to complete.

Pro Tips

• The doubled line through the eye gives this knot a slight advantage over single-strand knots in resisting abrasion right at the hook eye, where most knot failures occur. Take advantage of this by using it around rough or stamped hook eyes.
• Although the knot is rated around 80%, consistent wetting before tightening can push real-world performance higher. Dry tightening creates friction heat that weakens monofilament and fluorocarbon at the molecular level.
• This knot works best with line in the 4 to 20 pound test range. On very heavy line above 25-pound test, the doubled loop can be difficult to pass through smaller hook eyes and the knot may not seat as cleanly.
• Keep your wraps smooth and avoid twisting the doubled line when passing it through the eye. Twisted strands create uneven pressure within the knot and reduce its holding strength by distributing force unevenly across the line.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Extremely easy to tie with only a few simple steps, making it one of the most beginner-friendly terminal knots available.
• Uses a doubled line through the hook eye, adding abrasion resistance at the most vulnerable point of the connection.
• Fast to tie on the water, which is valuable when fishing is hot and you need to swap lures or replace broken-off hooks quickly.
• Won a national knot competition, demonstrating its balance of strength, simplicity, and versatility in a rigorous testing environment.

Cons:

• At roughly 80% breaking strength, it falls short of stronger options like the Palomar or San Diego Jam knot for targeting large or hard-fighting fish.
• The doubled line can be difficult to thread through small hook eyes, especially on tiny fly hooks or finesse jig heads.
• Less well known than mainstream knots, so finding visual references or video tutorials can sometimes require extra searching.
• Not suitable for braided line, as the knot lacks enough friction to grip the slick, thin-diameter surface of modern superlines and will slip under heavy load.