I never knew how important tying the correct knot was when it comes to fly fishing until I had some break offs. The knot is the key between you and the trout. Ninety percent of the time you are fishing with tippets and leaders so light that the slightest surge will either break the line or break off at the eye of the fly. Probably the most common knot is the clinch knot. I know that every fisherman or fisherwoman has their favorite. I prefer the loop to loop and the clinch knots. These were some of the first knots I learned how to tie and I have never swayed away from either. Killroys has some excellent illustrations on the following fly fishing knots,Surgeon's Knot Barrel Knot / Blood Knot
Surgeon's Loop Perfection Loop
Albright Knot Nail Knot
Backing to Fly Reel Loop-to-Loop Connection
I am curious to know what fly knots some of you are using and why. Give me a comment.
P. S. You can watch the knot illustrations through video if you perfer. All the knots listed above are covered in the video. You will need to wait a few seconds between each knot presentations to see the next knot tie.
there are some knot instructions on my blog... bigerrfish.blogspot.com/2010/01/knots.html
ReplyDeleteI use the loop to loop system for ease.. but the clinch is the best way to attach a leader... blood knot for tippet cause I like the sound of Blood Knot... and the UN improved clinch to attach flies...
Hi Bigerrfish
ReplyDeleteI agree the loop to loop is easy and fast for me, especially if I am pushed for time when the trout are rising. I always go with the clinch again for speed tie. I wash I had a dollar for everyone I have tied. I could even get that new sage rod I have looked at. I will take a look at the knots on your blog.
Hey bill, In my comment above I made a mistake and used the work clench knot to attach a leader to fly line,,, I ment nail knot sorry about my type-o My icon is over there It lights up jsdcalkins for some reasion or another thats what it did... I too noticed you following my blog, your icon is on mine and you have been added to my blog roll called Other People Who CATCH trout. I would like to be added to yours.
ReplyDeleteYour right about the nail knot being a hassel but every knot is a hassel at first.. how is your loop to loop section attached to the fly line?..most people have the fly shop or a guide tie this on for them but its just another knot.. One gets proud of themselves for making a leader last so so long and this is a good thing... how long does yours last is the question,,, this is how often the nail knot would need tied if you used it... like I said I use the loop to loop most of the time... other than on the one and only rod and reel that will never be in another persons hand... this one has the leader attached with a nail knot and nothing else a 10 foot leader which i keep fresh with a blood knot tippet to the end of all the time.. Its a very clean way to fish but if you get your leader mangled your in for an early lunch. loaner rods get loop to loop for a quick change. but all those loops and knots in the water make me cranky...
I use mostly the clinch knot for flies. I use loop to loop to add tippet. I also make my own leaders but for that i use the blood knot.
ReplyDeleteHi Bigerrfish
ReplyDeleteI guess I was confused on your thumbnail image, showing “jsdcalkins” because it didn’t say Bigerrfish, it kind of threw me. On the knots I like the blood knot to attach the leader to the tippet, and I use the leader as long as I can---at 3.00 a pop I want to get as much mileage out them as possible. By far my all time favorite is the clinch, because it is so fast to attach the fly to the leader. My buddy at our local fly shop showed me how to attach the fly line to the leader using the open loops to loop, I must admit I didn’t like it at first but I feel I can get more flexibility out of my cast with that system. I was using the blood knot before the loop. He told me the other day that he was getting in some new leaders systems that did not require using knots to attach leader to fly line. He said he would have them in a couple of days. I didn’t ask him what it was because he was busy with a customer at the time. I will check back with him this week and let you know. I do my own loop to loop now. As I stated earlier I try to use the leader as long as can, which means I can get 9 to 10 ft. lengths using my tippet. I have started using the Duncan knot with those little keystone minnows because it gives them more action. I mentioned the minnow on one of my posts recently. I just started using them on Smith Lake this past fall and caught bream and Kentucky spots. I read an article last year about a guy out west using them to catch salmon and I thought I would give them a try on our local lake and they produced well for me. I can’t wait to try them on the Caney in a couple of weeks for some of those big browns. I will have to use an indicator with them. I am a little confused about the link ----other people who catch trout---I don’t have that link on my blog. I do have your blog in the column of blogs on my front page. Sorry for rambling on here but when it comes to trout talk I could go on and on and on just like the energizer bunny—----------Have a good one. Bill
Hi Jason
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn’t get to see you tonight. We got in a traffic jam on 1-65 because of a wreck and lost time and made it to B.T.’s around 6 p.m. I hope we can hook up tomorrow. We will be gone most of the day. My wife wants me to go with her to the antique malls in Franklin. We will be back mid afternoon. We all have to get together and hit the Caney when they stop generating. Appreciate you becoming one of my followers. I usually post something every week----most of the time it is about trout fishing. I have added your blog to blogs I follow.
Bill, ramble all you want,, I'm all ears,,,, I love to learn, even if its something I'll never use.. like the loop to loop system for adding a section of tippet... Rakkasan Vet said that he uses loop to loop to add tippet.. maybe it was a type-o like me but that sounds crazy, time consuming and alot of bulk. good call on the duncan for your minnows,, some lady named Rapala tried to beat this one into our heads back in the gear chuckin days.
ReplyDeleteAbout the...Other people who catch trout... its just what I call my blogroll, yours says "blogs that I follow" and mine says, "Other People Who CATCH Trout" it lets you call it what u want... good talkin to ya....
Biggerfish
ReplyDeleteI would agree that the nail knot is the best to attach the leader to fly line. Yeah i am not sure the name of the knot to add tippet but basicly i put the leader and the tippet side by side then make a loop or circle with them then put the tippet and leader back through the circle twice and clip the excess. My grandfather showed me how to do that he always called it a loop knot. Maybe someone can correct me on the real name of it.