Fly Fishing Edmonton

Your Stillwater Information Centre

FLY FISHING KNOTS

It's important to wet your knots before you tighten them down.  Friction can weaken your knots and your line.


Trilene Knot

Improved Clinch Knot

Used to attach tippet to fly

  • Pass the line through the eye of the hook.
  • Make five turns around the line.
  • Pass the end of the line through the first loop, above the eye, and then through the large  loop. Draw the knot into shape.
  • Wet the knot to reduce friction, spit works well. 
  • Slide the coils down tight against the eye.

Blood Knot



Used for attaching two lines of similar diameter

  • Lie the ends of the two lines against each other, overlapping in opposite directions.
  • Take 5 turns around one line with the tag end (#1), and bring the tag end (#1) back and hold between the two lines.
  • Repeat by taking 5 turns around the other line, bringing the tag end (#2) back between the two lines. These two ends (#1 & #2) should then project in opposite directions.
  • Wet the knot to reduce friction.
  • Work the knot up into loops, taking care that the two tag ends do not slip out of position (I hold the tag ends with my teeth).
  • Draw the knot up tightly.

    • Surgeon's Knot



    Used to join two lines that vary greatly in their diameters

  • Lay the two lines against each other, overlapping in opposite directions.
  • Working the two lines as one, tie an Overhand Knot. It will be necessary to pull one line (usually the leader) completely through the loop.
  • Pull the leader through this loop again.
  • Pass the other end through the loop.
  • Wet the knot to reduce friction.
  • The forming knot can now be worked into shape.

    • Nail Knot



    Used to connect leader to fly line, as well as fly line to backing.

  • Lay your fly line and leader parallel, in opposite directions, with five to six inches overlapping.
  • Lay the nail between the two lines. Double the leader back along itself, then wrap it six times around itself, the nail, and the fly line (moving toward the tag end of the fly line).
  • Be careful to wrap carefully so the line doesn't overlap.
  • Grasp the tag end of the leader (which should be the butt end) and insert it through the middle of all the lines and along the nail. The tag end should stick out of the wraps.
  • Pull slowly on both ends of the leader and remove the nail.
  • Wet knot to reduce friction.
  • Pull again on both ends of the leader to further tighten the knot. Trim the ends

    • Arbor Knot



    Used to attach line (backing) to reel spool


    • Pass the line around reel arbor.
    • Tie an overhand knot around the standing line.
    • Tie a second overhand knot in the tag end. 
    • Wet the knots to reduce friction.
    • Pull tight & snip off excess.
    • Snug down first overhand knot on the reel arbor.