It recently came to my attention that there are a few anglers out there still using the wrong knots. Or they just don’t realize how easy a good knot is to tye. I have looked the internet over from top to bottom seeking useable illustrations… my drawing leaves a little to be desired. Photos don’t show as much detail.

So here we go with Knot #1 and when or where to use it.

THE IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT (click on image to enlarge)

I use this as my terminal, or ending knot. The final knot between me and the fish. Simply pass the end of your line through the eye of the fly. Grasp the line as it comes out of the eye, pulling a six inch piece out to use later. Now holding both sides of the line trapping it. Form a loose loop and start wrapping the line back over itself about six or eight times. Then wet the line with saliva or water and pass the tag end through the loop formed at your thumb. In the illustration it shows the line passing through the secondary loop. I have done it that and without it. Both knots hold up well. Using the moisture to reduce friction allows you to pull this knot tight without weakening it from friction caused heat. Once tightened trim off excess line ……and go fish!!!!!

Where and When: This is my universal fishing knot and is my way of attaching flies to leader and lures to line. For years it has served me well as a utility knot. Although tying on anything in the #20 class is hard, this knot is the easiest to tie fast and strong even on downsclaed offerings. With practice you can retye and exchange flies with this knot as fast as most anglers can using cheater clips. I can assure you this knot is far less visible than that clip.

Knot #2 THE PALOMAR KNOT (click on image to enlarge)

This is the “Bill Dance/Jimmy Houston Knot” used by most pro bass anglers to tye on heavy lures on heavy line with maximum strength. What does that have to do with flyfishing. How about the fact that it is also the easiest and strongest idiot-proof knot in existance. if you can’t tye an Improved Clinch Knot…try this one. Just double your line forming a loop, pass it through the eye of the hook (or whatever). Now pull the loop up and over the standing line in your left hand using your right. Pass it through the looped double line like in the picture, and then put the closed loop on the end over the item to be tyed in. Pull the knot tighter, wetting it slightly with saliva or water to reduce friction. Pull it up tight against the eye of the hook, and trim off the excess. This knot brags a unique 95% knot strength or better. I like this one for nymphs and wingless flies. But the Improved clinch is my go to knot for everything else.

Knot #3 THE DROPPER LOOP (click on image to enlarge)

This is the strongest loop knot for dropper flies I have ever used. Follow the illustation and you will see how to twist both sides of the loop. Passing the loop up through between the opposing twists. Slowly pull it taught, wetting helps. To attach your fly once the loop’s ready just feed it through the eye and loop it over in Palomar fashion. Pull it tight and it’s fixed in place. Adjust the knot to get the fly to ride right when nymphing or dropper fishing any fly. If concerned about loosening, use a drop of super glue in the loop.

Master these three knots and you can be certain you can tye one on with the best of ‘em.