Fly Fishing Knots

Knots are essential in fly fishing rigging. In a typical fly fishing rig, knots are used to attach an artificial fly to the tippet, the tippet to the leader, the leader to the flyline, the flyline to the backing, and the backing to the reel. For each of these connections, there are many different knots one could use. While many fishers take great pride in mastering the tying of all the knots used in their fly fishing rigs, fly fishers do not need to know them all.

After 40+ years of fly fishing, I've can probably count on one hand how many times I've had to connect backing to the reel or a fly line to backing... and never have I done so on the river.  I've always tied done so in the comfort a home or cabin with access to a cheatsheet to refresh my knowledge of the seldom-tied knots.  I often rely on professionals at the nearest local fly shop to tie specialized knots used for these connections.

Fly fishers need to master just two knots: a knot to attach an artificial fly to tippet and a knot to attach tippet to a leader. For the former, the improved clinch knot will do. For the latter, a surgeon's knot will do. Only after mastering a knot for each of these purposes should you consider learning a new knot.

As we often use loop-to-loop connections in fly fishing, be sure you master that connection as well. There's definately a right way (symetric connection) and wrong way (one side folded over) to put the loops together.

My everyday knots

For attaching flies to tippet, I typically use the uni knot.  This knot is also known as the Duncan loop knot or grinner knot.  I find it dependable and easy to tie, even in the dark, with minimal material waste.  You can even leave the loop open to allow your fly to move more freely. I'll often use the double davy for attaching small tippet to small flies for a less bulky knot.  And for streamers, I often use the non-slip loop knot, also known as the Lefty Kreh's loop knot.

For attaching tippet to leader, I rely solely on the double uni-knot. It's more dependable and more versatile than the triple surgeon's knot though it takes a bit more time to tie.

Useful knots to know

Not that I use them all that much; here's a few more knots that I have in my quiver.

For making loops for loop-to-loop connections, it is useful to know how to tie a perfection loop knot.  But if you haven't mastered it (like me), the more bulky surgeon's loop knot will do.

The nail knot is a useful knot for attaching leader material to a fly line when the fly line doesn't have a loop connector.

Fishing Knot Tying Animations

• AnimatedKnots.com

• NetKnots.com

• Orvis