The 3 Most Effective Fly Fishing Knots To Secure Your Fly

Fly fishing knots come in all shapes and sizes. Not to mention the fact that there are different knots used for different reasons and on specific types of lines. However, in this article I will assume that you have already set up your fly rod and are ready to head out to the river and catch some trout.

If this is the case, you will need to secure your fly to your tippet. There are 3 very effective knots and angler can use when making this connection. As part of the process of attaching your fly to your leader, you must decide if you want to tie straight to the fly or you want to use a loop. Loop knots can be a bit more difficult, but they are usually stronger and allow your fly to act more naturally when on the water. Lets run down my three suggestions.

· Clinch Knot- To tie a Clinch Knot, insert 6-8" of tippet through the eye of the hook. Hold the fly in your left hand and with your right hand wrap the end around the standing part 5 times. Be sure to leave a small loop near the hook eye open. You can easily keep this loop open by pinching it with your thumb and forefinger. Bring the end back through the open loop near the hook eye. Grasp it with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Moisten the knot. Tighten the knot by pulling the standing part of the line and the fly in opposite directions. Do not pull on the tag end, just hold it alongside the fly. Trim the excess.

· Twice Through The Eye Clinch Knot- Tie this knot the same as the Clinch Knot listed above. However, as you pass the tippet through the hook eye come around and pass it through a second time. This will make a double loop near the eye as you make your loops around the standing part of the line (see above). Make sure to keep these loops open by pinching with the thumb and forefinger. After you have completed your loops pass the end through the open double loops. Hold the tag end closely to the fly. Moisten the knot. This knot is useful on bigger flies, especially saltwater flies.

· Orvis Knot- Tie this knot by pulling the tippet through the hook eye from the bottom and bring the tag end over the standing part of the tippet on the far side. Make sure that you pull plenty of tippet through. You want to form a second loop. Make sure it is away from the fly. Do this by bringing the tag end completely around the standing part then pass the tag end through the first loop on the far side. Fold the tad end over and make two wraps around the loop just formed (the second loop). Make sure the turns start at the far side of the loop. Moisten the knot. Tighten the second loop to the standing line by pulling on the fly and the tag end. Let go of the tag end, then pull the fly and the standing part. The knot should seat securely against the eye. Trim the excess. This knot is useful in all freshwater angling.

As mentioned above it is extremely important to moisten your knot. You can do this with either saliva or water. This will help the knot to seat properly; not to mention it will reduce the heat which is generated when you tighten the line. This generated heat can begin to break down the line.

The ability to tie good fly fishing knots could be the difference in landing the fish of a lifetime and having to tell your fishing buddies about "the one that got away." Practice these knots and you won't need to be telling any stories around the campfire.