Doug

I've never liked the improved cinch (don't know why it's the knot featured on just about every pack of fishhooks sold). It's a damn difficult knot to tie with monofiliment in the best of circumstances.

Palomar is good.

I actually find a snell (sp?) pretty easy to tie. Don't know if it's a real snell or just looks like a snell, but it's very similar to the improved cinch except instead of wrapping around the floppy mono, you wrap around the shank of the hook. Pass 4 or 5 inches through the eye. Make a loop and pass 1 inch through eye again, same direction. Pinch free end against shank with index finger and thumb, grab loop with other hand and wrap 5 or 6 wraps around shank and end of line. Carefully pull free end while holding wraps snug and everything tightens up around the shank like a hangmans noose. I'd once found a very clear illustration of this on net. I'll look and see if I can find it again.

Ratcliffs discription is a good easy way to join two lines. Don't know how good for dissimilar lines though.