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Fly Fishing Tips - Tying Knots
A successful day of fly fishing often depends on the strength and reliability of your knots. The following guide outlines the essential knots every fly angler should master for attaching the reel to the backing, the leader to the fly line, and the fly to the tippet.
I. Reel-to-Backing KnotThe Arbor Knot is the simplest and most effective knot for securing the backing line to the spool of the fly reel. It's designed to grip the spool firmly to prevent slippage.
How to Tie the Arbor Knot- Wrap the backing line around the arbor (spool) of the reel.
- Tie a simple overhand knot around the main line.
- Tie a second overhand knot in the tag end of the line, about 6 inches from the first knot.
- Pull the main line to slide the first overhand knot down to the spool.
- Moisten the knot and pull both ends tight to secure.
The Nail Knot is used to create a strong, low-profile connection between the fly line and the backing or the fly line and the butt section of the leader. It is slim and slides easily through rod guides. This knot historically required a small nail or tube, but modern methods use a small plastic straw or knot-tying tool.
Step | Description |
|---|---|
1 | Overlap the fly line and the backing line by about 8 inches. |
2 | Place a knot-tying tool or small tube parallel to the overlapped lines. |
3 | Wrap the tag end of the backing line around the tool and both lines 5–7 times. |
4 | Thread the tag end back through the tube. |
5 | Slide the tool out, moisten, and pull the knot tight onto the fly line. |
When extending or replacing the tippet section of your leader, the Surgeon's Knot is a quick, easy, and very reliable knot for joining two lines of relatively similar diameter.
Tying the Surgeon's Knot- Overlap the ends of the leader and tippet sections by about 6 inches.
- Treat the two lines as one single line, and tie a simple overhand knot.
- Take the leader and tippet tag ends, and pass them through the loop you just created a second time.
- Moisten and pull all four ends (two main lines and two tag ends) slowly to seat the knot.
- Trim the tag ends close to the knot.
The knot used to attach the fly must be small and strong. The choice often depends on the size of the line and the fly's eye.
A. The Improved Clinch KnotThis is a versatile, strong knot that works well for flies, hooks, and swivels. It is one of the most popular knots for all types of fishing.
Knot Type | Application | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
Improved Clinch | Attaching small to medium flies to the tippet | High breaking strength |
For flies that need maximum movement in the water (like streamers and large nymphs), a loop knot allows the fly to swing and swim more naturally, increasing its appeal to fish.
- Tie an overhand knot about 3 inches from the end of the tippet.
- Pass the tag end through the eye of the fly.
- Thread the tag end back through the center of the overhand knot.
- Wrap the tag end around the standing line 4–5 times.
- Pass the tag end back through the overhand knot in the opposite direction.
- Moisten, and pull the standing line and the fly hook firmly to create the loop.
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