I've seen a few people tie this knot and it seems like everyone has their own take on how to tie it and cinch it. I've played with this knot a lot with fluorocarbon because it's the best when it comes to not frizzing or fraying your line as you cinch up your knot. Here's my take on how to tie it.

Step 1
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/1.jpg
Step 2
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/2.jpg
Step 3
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/3.jpg
Step 4
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/4.jpg
Step 5
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/5.jpg
Step 6
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/6.jpg
Step 7
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/7.jpg
Step 8
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/8.jpg
Step 9
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/9.jpg
Step 10
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/knots/san_diego/10.jpg

that's a sweet Illustration Rob.. nice job!

Hey Rob,
After the 5-7 line wraps, have you ever tried passing the end thru the eye of the bait instead of the loop above the eye and then passing thru the top loop and cinching down?

Just curious, because that's something I've fooled around with. I'm not sure if it really makes it stronger with two passes thru the eye, but it holds up real well.
Wade

I may have to sit down and learn this knot. I've never been to happy with my knot tying abilities but now that I am throwing baits that cost up to $100 it has became a little more important than in the past. :-)

This is pretty much the only knot I tie. If you use flourocarbon... it is the only knot to use. Just make sure to wet the line well before clinching it down.

Would this knot be more prone to breaking since unlike a Palomar or other cinch knots the line only goes through the eyelet once and not twice?

You know, I honestly don't know the answer to that question, although I've thought about it many times. I've always used knots that only passed through the eye once (improved clinch for mono and now the san diego knot with floro). I tried the trilene knot for a while but it just seemed like extra work for nothing since it didn't seem to perform any better than my improved clinch.

I haven't experienced a lot of breakoff problems in my life so I stick with what works for me, though many can probably say the same of their experience with knots that pass through the eyelet twice. Someone somewhere has probably done a scientific study of this, dunno.