4 Basic Fly Fishing Knots that any Angler Should Master
Even if you’re not planning on entering a Montana fly fishing contest soon, it never hurts to learn some of the basic elements of this sport. Today, we’re helping you decipher the 4 basic fly fishing knots.
For any seasoned or beginner angler, these knots are the cornerstone of success on the river. They may seem intimidating at first, but if you grab a line and try them a couple of times, you’ll see that they can be mastered in no time!
4 Fly Fishing Knots that can Ensure Your Success on the Montana Rivers
Ready to master fly fishing knotting? Let’s begin!
1. The Blood Knot
This knot is typically used to tie the tippet to the leader or any two other tippets together. It can seem a bit difficult to do in the beginning, so I recommend you try it without any tools until you get some practice.
Begin by overlapping the ends of the lines you want to join. Make 5 turns when twisting one around the other. Then bring the tag end between your two lines. Do the same for the other end. Remember to use the same number of turns and wrap in the opposite direction. Lastly, pull the lines in opposite directions slowly. The turns are supposed to wrap and gather together. Done! All that’s left to do is clipping the ends as close to the knot as possible.
2. The Clinch Knot
The Clinch Knot is used to attach your fly to the tippet. It’s one of the knots you’ll be using most frequently.
Start by threading the line through the eye of the hook or the lure. 5 or 6 inches should be enough for doubling it back. Twist the hook (or lure) 4 complete rotations while holding the loose end against your standing line. Hold on to the hook or lure so it doesn’t twist and put the loose end through the first loop above the hook’s eye. Pull the hook and the standing line in opposite directions (hold the loose end against the hook while doing this). Your twists should form small coils now. Be sure that they don’t overlap when you pull and pull it the rest of the way.
3. The Surgeon’s Knot
Despite the name, this fly fishing knot is one of the easiest ones to master. It is commonly used to join tippet to leader or tippets together that have either equal or unequal diameters.
To tie it, you simply need to create two overhand knots and make sure that the entire leader is pulled through the knot every time. Pull on all the four strands in order to tighten and seal it.
4. The Surgeon’s Loop
This knot is also quite simple to tie. It is used to attach your backing to the reel. In fact, this is one of the most secure ways of attaching the backing.
You begin by doubling the end of the line and tying an overhand knot. No need to tighten it. Then pass the end of the loop through your knot again. If you want to tie a Triple Surgeon’s End Loop, make sure to do that pass again. Lastly, you need to hold your standing line and pull on the loop in order to tighten your know. Clip the line close to the knot and you’re done!
Did you try them all? How many of them can you perfectly tie? Don’t worry if you couldn’t do it on the first few tries. Fly fishing knots, much like the sport itself, are mastered through perseverance and experience. You’ll see that you’ll soon be able to do these knots with one hand tied behind your back. Ask any of our guides on your next fishing trip, they will show you how it is done and get you a fly fishing knot master title in no time!
