ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

MY FAVOURITE 5 KNOTS
Just behind poor fishing technique and inept netting technique the most prolific reason for fish being lost is a problem with a knot. There are more knots than you can poke a stick at that can be used in fly fishing and over time you will settle on a few that you tie well and have confidence in. Over the years I have tried a lot of different knots and currently I have settled on the following 5 knots. I say currently because all aspects of my fly fishing are constantly evolving and if a find a better knot for any of the applications described below I will have no hesitation in swapping over to that knot.
LOOP KNOT
I like to tie all my wet flies on using a loop knot because you get a much better swimming action with the fly. The loop knot I use is based on Lefty Ketch's Loop knot and seldom lets me down.
A) Tie a simple standing knot in your tippet.
B) Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook. Then pass the tag end through the standing knot from the same side that the tag end originally left the standing knot.
C) Twist the tag end round the standing line four times. Then take the tag end into the standing knot from the same side that the tag end originally left the standing knot.
D) Wet the knot. Pull the knot tight and trim the tag end.

SURGEONS KNOT
I have fished with a few surgeons and asked them about this knot and they certainly don't use it in the practice of their surgical art so I don't know where its name comes from. That doesn't worry me because it is simply the best knot I know off for joining two lengths of similar or dissimilar lines together. It works well when building leaders or when adding a fluorocarbon tippet to a monofilament leader.
A) Its best to get into the habit of having the main line on you off side (I'm right handed so that's my left side) and the section of line to be connected on the right. Hold the two lines parallel.
B) I think that the real trick with this knot and many other knots is two fold. Using your thumb and for fingers stretch the two lines to be joined so that they sit next to each other with no twist in the lines. Don't release your grip on both ends of the lines to be joined until you have formed the loop that follows and then carefully transfer your grip from your dominant hand to your other hand making sure that the lines that have been held parallel to each other don't twist.
C) Form a simple overhand loop.
D) Take the tag ends i.e. the lines on the right hand side and pass them through the open loop three times.
E) Wet the knot again. Pull the knot tight and trim the tag end.

UNI KNOT
I think this is the best of the closed knots for tying on dry flies.
A) Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook.
B) Form a standing loop (not a knot) in the tag end of the line.
C) Pass the tag end through the standing loop three times.
D) Wet the knot. Pull the knot tight and trim the tag end.

NAIL LOOP KNOT
You will probably be aware that a lot of lines now come with formed loops at the business end. I don't like the formed loop because often they are simply made by overlapping the line at the tip and then putting a poly coat over the top and because using the "open loop" method of attaching leaders as I do the manufactured loops just don't lock down tight enough to secure the leader to the fly line. The system I always use is to form a 1cm loop on the end of all my fly lines using a nail knot tool. I use Maxima Ultragreen Monofilament of a size that will give me a loop which is about 2/3 the thickness of the fly line. For a #6 or #7 weight fly lines this is around 25lb breaking strain. The loops do wear over time but each time you cut one off and replace it you only loose about 1cm of fly line.
A) Nail knot tool and prepared fly line.
B) Tale around 30 cm of monofilament line of the required breaking strain. Bend the line in half and place the loop in the trench in the nail knot tool so that the loop extends past the thumb recess.
C) Place your thumb on the thumb recess holding the loop in place. Take one of the two tag ends (the active tag) and wind 8 wraps along the nail knot tool toward the thumb rest.
D) Take the end of the active tag poke it down the trench and back out next to the passive tag end.
E) Push the fly line between the two tag ends and up the trench in the nail knot tool toward the thumb rest. Without releasing the loop raise your thumb just enough to put the tag end of the fly line between the thumb and thumb rest.
D) Whilst holding the fly line and the loop firmly in place on the thumb rest with your left hand pull firmly on the active tag end so as to slide the loops of the nail knot toll. By pulling or pushing on the active tag you can make the loop the desired length.
E) Slide the fly line back to very close to its final position. Whilst holding the loop in place apply pressure to both tag ends so as to lock the loop into position. Trim off both the tag ends and any excess fly line. Squeeze the loop down so that it is flat not round. Paint the nail knot with a drop of super glue. Once the super glue is dry paint the knot with a coat of clear or coloured varnish.

OPEN LOOP

This is the ideal way of attaching your leader to your fly line. First you will need a nail loop knot on the end of your fly line as described above. Then:

Tie a simple double overhand knot in the end of your leader. By double I mean go through the open loop twice.
Pull the knot very tight. I wrap the leader around my hand and grip the tag end with my hemostats or pliers.
Trim the tag end close to the knot.
Pass the knotted tag end through the loop on your fly line from the top, take the line to the right then over the top of the loop, back under the loop and through the opening of the loop. What you finish up with should look like a loop to loop connection.
Tighten the knot carefully.

You will find this loop to open loop connection is very strong (I have never had one fail). the benefit is that by pushing the end of the leader back into the knot you can easily release your leader from the fly line.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to: stephen@fishonfly.com.au

Last modified: 14-Jul-2008.