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Loop to loop connection The preferred & probably the best method of attaching a leader to the built-in loop on a fly line, avoiding wear and tear on the vinyl coated fly line loop. A loop to loop connection is also useful for attaching tippet sections to any ta-pered or furled leader. perfection loops are generally the best type of loop knot to use, though surgeon’s loops may be used as well.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

pass one loop through the other to make the connec-tion. The same procedure applies for loop-to-loop leader-tippet connections. The loops should slide over each other smoothly & the finished connection should resemble a square knot, which will not hinge & makes a smooth transition between fly line & leader or leader & tippet.

Basic fly fishing knots Compiled by the guys in Cabela’s richfield wisconsin fly shop

Basic Advice on Tying Knots It is important not only to select the right knot for a particular job but also to tie it properly. Poorly Tied knots will mean lost fish and aggravation. Here are a few basic steps to follow when tying all knots for fly fishing. Lubricate knots: Before you tighten a knot, lubricate it with saliva or by dipping it in the water. This will help the knot slide and seat properly. Lubrication also de-creases excessive heat, which dramatically weakens monofilament. The friction created when knots are drawn up tight generates heat. Seat the knot: Tighten knots with a steady, continuous pull. Make sure the knot is tight and secure. After it is tied, pull on the line and leader to make sure it holds. It is better to test it now than when a fish is on. Trim neatly: Use nippers to trim the material as close as possible without nicking or damaging the knot.

Page 1

ARBOR Knot to connect Backing to Fly Reel

wrap the line around reel arbor twice. Make 2 loops around the arbor. Tie an overhand knot around the line itself.

Step 2 Then just tie a second

overhand knot in the tag end. This second knot keeps line from slipping through the first.

Step 3

Pull everything tight. Clip tags. Then slide the first overhand knot down the line to snug it around the reel arbor.

note: It is important to take two turns around spool hub and to wind backing on tightly; not doing so can cause the entire mass of backing to rotate freely on the spool.

Page 2

Step 1

Page 23 Palomar Knot (continued)

Step 3

Grab the head of your loop and pull it downward completely over your terminal tackle.

Step 4

Tighten the knot by pulling the tag end and the line go-ing to your rod at the same time. Clip the tag end ac-cordingly.

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Palomar Knot The Palomar Knot is very strong (can be over 90% but typically retains 75% - 85% of the line strength) a good choice for fisher-men seeking larger fish on light lines. It is very simple and preferred by many night fisherman that cannot necessarily "see" what they are doing, and "feel" as they tie the knot. It is the best knot to use for braided lines.

Double six-inches of line and run your loop through the eye of your terminal tackle.

Step 1

Step 2

Allowing the terminal tackle to hang, tie a loose over-hand "granny knot" with your doubled line, making sure not to tighten.

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Nail Knot The Nail Knot is an old favorite to connect large di-ameter line to a smaller diameter line. It is commonly used in fly-fishing to connect a shock tippet to a leader or fly line to backing. It is a very effective and compact knot that will easily travel through the guides on your rod. A nail, hollow tube or other straight, rigid tool with a smooth surface must be used to effectively tie this knot. Although using a nail or other tool will suffice, you will find using a hol-low tube is the easiest way to tie this knot.

Lay the nail or tube parallel with the end of the fly line. Place the leader material next to the fly line and leave an extra 10 to 12 inches of material beyond the nail or tube.

Step 1

Step 2 Grasp all three

materials with the left thumb and forefinger on the left edge of the nail or tube. With your right hand, grasp the end of the leader material & working left to right around all three materials, make six to eight close wraps.

Step 3

Step 4

Slide out the tube or nail and carefully snug the coils. Grasp both ends of the leader & pull simultaneously until knot is tightly seated on the fly line. Trim tag end of leader close to the knot.

Page 4

Surgeon's Knot The Surgeon's Knot has proven to be one of the quick-est and most effective ways to join a leader to line with unequal diameters. It is most commonly used by anglers who enjoy the thrill of using light tackle for larger species, but need additional strength using heavy leader or heavy leader butt to a tapered leader

Step 1

Place the line and leader parallel to each other with an overlap of six inches and moisten this area.

Step 2 Create a loop with the two lines as if you are working with one line.

Step 3

Grasp the junction where the end of your line going to your rod and the leader mate-rial meet. Pass this and the ENTIRE LEADER through the loop you created twice.

Step 4

Grasp all four ends surrounding the knot and pull slowly at the same time. Once the knot is tightened, trim the tag ends.

Page 21

Improved Clinch Knot The most recognized and easiest knot for connecting monofilament under 20-pound test to your terminal tackle. This knot is not recommended with heavy or braided line. It will work on monofilament over 20-pound test, but we suggest the Buffer Loop Knot. The Palomar Knot also works great for braided line.

Step 1

Take the tag end and pass it through the eye of your terminal tackle, allowing at least 3 inches of tag be-yond the eye. Wrap the tag end five to seven times around the line going to your rod.

Step 2 Pinch the coils with the thumb & forefinger. Of your other hand, run the tag end through the first loop above the eye, then over the coils & through the large loop you just made. Step 3

Moisten the knot area. Grab the tag end and the line going to your rod and pull simulta-neously, forcing the coils to form a tight spiral. Once tight, slide the tightened coils against the eye of the terminal tackle with your fingernail and assure the coils are in a uniform spiral, not overlapping each other. Clip the tag end.

Page 20

Uni Knot An easy, quick and reliable choice for tying monofilament or braided line onto hooks, lures or swivels. This is an extremely versatile knot as it can also be used for fly line to leader con-nections. It can give 90% - 100% knot strength under ideal conditions.

Step 1 Take the end of your line and pass it through the eye of your terminal tackle, allow about 6 inches of line after the eye.

Double your line about three inches to make two parallel lines, then form a loop below the doubled lines.

Step 2

Take the tag end of the line and pass it over the two pieces of line and back through the loop six to eight times. Snug up turns by carefully pulling the tag end.

This knot can be used two ways, depending on the presentation you want and the terminal tackle you are using. It can be cinched up tight to the eye or left above the eye to allow the terminal tackle to move freely. When a strike occurs, the knot will tighten down from the pressure. Either way, be sure the knot is solid and don't forget to trim the tag end.

Page 5

Blood knot Use this knot to join sections of leader or line together. The blood knot works best with lines of approximately equal diameter. It is useful for building tapered leaders if the leader segments taper progressively.

Step 1

Overlap the two lines allowing an area of about six-inches to work with.

Step 2

Take one line and wrap it around the other line 5 times. Grasp the tag end of the line you just twisted and feed it down in-between the two lines, in front of the first twist you made.

Step 3 Repeat with other end, twisting in the opposite direction and directing the tag end upward into the middle loop that has been created.

Step 4 Slowly pull the lines simultane-ously in oppo-site directions until the knot is tight.

Once knot is seated, clip the tag ends closely.

Step 5

Page 6

Double uni knot A simple and effective alternative to the Blood Knot, the Double Uni is an easy way to connect two lines of approximately the same diameter. It is often used to con-struct tapered leaders or to attach a tippet to a factory tapered leader. It can be used for monofilament and braided lines.

Step 1 Overlap the two lines with an area of about six inches. Form a loop with the tag end of one line.

Step 2 Make three turns with the tag end over the two lines and back through the loop you created.

Step 3

Snug up by pulling the tag end. You have just completed the first Uni Knot.

Page 19 Duncan Loop (continued)

Step 4

Close the knot just enough to adjust the loop size. This can be accomplished by pinching the knot together and gently pulling on the tag end to close the loop.

Step 5

Close the knot by pulling the running line against the loop.

Page 18

Step 1 Thread about 6” of tippet through the hook eye & make a circle or loop in the tippet.

Duncan Loop The Duncan Loop is sometimes called the Uni-Knot, (Mistakenly) as the Uniknot and correct Duncan Loop are different. Use the Duncan loop to attach your fly to your tippet. Leave the loop open to allow the fly to swing freely, or close the loop tight against the hook eye for a tight hold.

Step 2 Thread the tag end back through the loop you have made & wrap around both parts of the tippet.

Step 3

Make 4 or 5 wraps through the loop & around the tippet. Use 4 wraps for heavy line (40-50lb) 5 wraps for light tippet

Page 7 Double uni knot (continued)

Step 4

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 with the opposite line you used for the first Uni Knot.

Step 5

Wet line on and between the two knots and tighten by pulling the lines on each side of the knot in opposite directions simultaneously.

Step 6

Pull tight and trim the tag ends close to the coil.

Page 8

Perfection Loop The Perfection Loop forms a very small and compact loop at the end of your line. It is commonly used for attaching leaders to snaps or for loop to loop connections of line and leaders.

Step 1 Form a loop at the end of the line, allowing about 4 inches of tag. With the remaining tag, create another loop to the side by wrapping the tag once around the line going to the rod.

Step 2

Holding the two loops in place, direct the tag end around the line, crossing over the top of the second loop you created.

Page 17

Dropper Loop Knot (continued)

Step 4

Push the bottom of your original loop up through the new opening created by the "U"- shaped line and hold loop in place with your teeth.

Step 5

Pull the ends simultaneously until coils tighten up. At this point, your loop should stand up from your line.

Dropper Loop Knot This loop is ideal for placing hooks, sink-ers or other tackle in different locations throughout your line. Catfish anglers and others who use live bait off the bottom commonly use this loop to present multiple baits with one line.

Page 16

Step 1

Create a simple loop in the line.

Step 2

Pull some slack from one side of the loop and bring it inward, creating a "U" shape inside the loop.

Step 3 Place a thumb or forefinger inside your loop. Use the "U" shaped line and wrap it around the top of the loop 6 to 8 times. Wet the knot area.

Page 9 Perfection Loop (continued)

Step 3 Now gently pull loop #2 through loop #1. Hold on to the tag end of the line and gently snug up the knot tight just tight enough to keep it from unrav-eling. At this point you can place a tool of some sort, like a nail knot tool or a ballpoint pen, to size the loop.

Step 4

Initially only pull the tag end to tighten this knot. If you place a pen or pencil inside of the loop before pulling it tight, the pencil will determine the size of the finished loop. Pulling the tag end will size the loop, then pulling on the running line will lock the loop in place. Tighten until knot turns over, sometimes you can hear it “click” into place. Once it is firm, trim the tag end.

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Non-Slip Mono-Loop Knot This loop is extremely strong when tied cor-rectly. Useful when maximum line movement is sought. This is a good knot for attaching streamers & steelhead or salmon flies to the leader. The fly will then swing at the end of the loop & this loop will not close up.

Step 1

Start by making a loose overhand "granny knot" in the line prior to attaching the terminal tackle. Allow about 6 inches between the end of the line and the overhand knot. Do not tighten down.

Step 2

Take the tag end and run it through the eye of the terminal tackle and back through the middle of the overhand knot.

Step 3 With the tag end make the suggested number of turns around the main line.

Pound Test Turns 6 - 8 7 8 - 12 5 15 - 40 4 50 - 60 3 60+ 2

Page 15

Surgeon's End Loop (continued)

Step 3

Hold the end of the loop and pull slowly while also holding on to the tag end and the running line (the part going to the rod) simultaneously. Once tight, clip the tag end.

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Surgeon's End Loop The Surgeon's End Loop forms a loop at the end of a line. This provides a means to quickly attach leaders and other tackle. This end loop is very easy to tie and very reliable, but it is slightly more bulky than the Perfection Loop. This knot couldn't be any simpler, it's quick and reliable. However the loop formed is always slightly off-set from the main line. No problem for bottom fishing, but for trolling with light tackle we would use either a Leader loop knot or a Per-fection loop knot. For heavy leaders use alloy or copper crimping sleeve swaged with a quality swaging tool.

Step 1 Take 12” of line and double it, making a loop that is approximately 6” long. Tie a loose overhand “granny knot” with the loop. Be sure not to completely tighten it.

Step 2

Take the end of the loop and pass it through the circle of line you have created with the overhand knot.

Page 11 Non-Slip Mono-Loop Knot (continued)

Step 4

Put the tag end back through the middle of the over-hand knot once more. Be sure there is at least 2 inches of tag hanging outside of the loop.

Step 5

Pinch the area right next to the eye of the terminal tackle and the line above the knot. Tighten the knot by slowly pulling at the same time. Assure tightness by pulling on the tag end and the line going to your rod then clip the tag end accordingly.

Buffer Loop Knot

This loop knot is great for situations that call for monofilament over 20-pound test, heavy test shock tippets, or coated multi-strand wire.

Page 12

Step 1

Tie a loose overhand "granny knot" about six inches up from the end of your line. Do not tighten!

Step 2

Run the tag end of your line through the eye of your termi-nal tackle then back through the center of the overhand knot you created.

Step 3

Tie another overhand knot above the first knot you created, with the tag end around the line going to your rod.

Buffer Loop Knot (continued) Page 13

Step 4

At this point, you can manipulate the size of your loop by sliding the lower overhand knot up or down. When you have the desired loop size, slowly pull the tag end and line going to your rod simultaneously to form the knot.

Step 5

Trim the tag end.