Fly Fishing

Boz · Location: Portland

If you had to pick only three knots to use for all of your fishing situations, what would they be?

This is what I use on a regular basis.

Fly line to Leader = A Nail Knot

Leader to Tippet = Double Surgeons Knot

Tippet to Fly = Duncan Loop

What three knots do you use day in day out?

lunchbox · Location: Utah

Since most fly lines come with a welded loop on the end I would say

Perfection loop

triple surgeons

and the good old clinch

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

Fresh Water

Clinch

Perfection Loop

Double Surgeon

Salt Water

Homer Rhodes Loop

Perfection Loop

Barrel

lunchbox · Location: Utah

Boz, have you tried the non slip mono loop? I have used it in lieu of the Duncan loop for a few years now and it is MUCH stronger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18di2YBLTrU

Boz · Location: Portland

LB,

I do use the no slip mono loop... mostly for fishing the salt.

For fresh water I use the Duncan loop because I can tie it in the dark by "feel" which comes in handy when the hawgs are rising at last light on the West Branch of the Penobscot. When I use the Duncan I generally wet it and set it down to the eye of the hook, if I need more "wiggle" from the fly, I use a "no slip" but the regular ol' Duncan has yet to fail me...

The three knots I listed are the ones I use most...there are many others I use as well when situations call for it.

Perfection loop was fourth on my list...great knot.
I used to use it alot but have strayed from "loop to loop" connections. Hence the nail knot.
I do still use the welded loops from the factory occasionally, and while they have improved alot, I've yet to find one that lasts the life of a flyline.

Good discussion, and thanks for the great input.

lunchbox · Location: Utah

Good point, Boz. Eventually the welded loop "unwelds" itself. I usually take a 12-14 inch piece of .022" Rio butt material and tie a perfection loop on the end of it then, loop it directly to the welded loop. Then just blood knot my leader onto the butt section. This does a couble of things.

- makes the loops last longer

- promotes better leader turnover. This setup with one of the Rio hand tied leaders (with Maxima Chameleon butt and mid sections) turn over unbelievably, even with tons of 6x throwing right into the wind.

-helps the tip of the fly line float better. By keeping the end of the fly line sealed, (a nail or needle knot cuts into the PVC coating) the tip does not absorb water into the mulifilament core of the line, causing the tip to sink which is a pain in the ass when dry fly fising or indicator nymphing. With the tip of the line sunk, it is almost impossible to mend without disturbing the flies. A little mucilin on the end helps even more.

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

Good post, lunch,

miscotty · Posted: Tue 12/16/08 5:24 pm Post subject:

I asked my local shop-guy what loop knot he liked best for fly fishing and he says:

perfection loop

I says, no I mean for attaching tippet to fly. he says:

yep, perfection loop.

So I tried it and now I don't tie anything else to my flies and I've never seen one pull out or fail. It works well with heavy saltwater tippets 20-40 lb., not sure how it would work on smaller lines....

You have to expand the "first" loop (that is, the loop you make first) to allow the fly to travel through it, but then you tighten it up and you are off.