How To

How to Tie a Fly to a Fly-Fishing Line

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Rate: (21 Ratings)

Adding the fly to your line is the finishing piece that will help bring the fish in. Use the "clinch" knot to tie the fly to the tippet on your line.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Fly-fishing Wading Jackets
  • Backing/fly-fishing
  • Fishing Fly Box
  • Fishing Fly Kit
  • Fly-fishing Flies
  • Fly-fishing Leaders
  • Fly-fishing Lines
  • Fly-fishing Nets
  • Fly-fishing Reels
  • Fly-fishing Rods
  • Fly-fishing Vests
  • Waders
Step1
Thread about 5 to 7 inches of tippet through the eye of your fly.
Step2
Hold the fly in one hand. Use the other hand to wrap the tag end (the loose end of the line, the part used to tie a knot) of the tippet around the standing end (the rest of the line, not used to tie a knot) of the tippet five times.
Step3
Use two fingers on the hand holding the fly to hold open a loop of line while you are wrapping the tippet around itself. This small loop should be in front of the eye of the fly that you threaded the tippet through.
Step4
Thread the tag end of the tippet (that has been wrapped around the standing end five times) through the loop that you have made at the eye of the fly.
Step5
Hold the fly securely with one hand, and with the other hand pull on the standing end of the tippet to tighten the knot you have just formed. For a secure knot, be careful not to hold onto or pull the tag end of the tippet while cinching it up.
Step6
Clip the ends of your knots, leaving about 1/8 inch so that they won't slip. You want them trimmed close to the knot, but allow a little room in case they move when tightened.
Step7
Test the knot before fishing - if the knot slips, you can cut it off and try again without losing a part of your line.

Tips & Warnings

  • Practice tying the knots with rope or clothesline. The larger-diameter string will be easier to work with while you get the hang of tying the knots.
  • Tighten knots with one steady and continuous motion. You can also moisten the knot before pulling it tight to avoid deformed knots.

Who Can Help:

Comments

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said

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on 11/22/2005 Spitting on the knot as you tighten it is one of the best insider secrets I know. The spit lubricates the knot and lets it slip into place properly.

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eHow Article: How to Tie a Fly to a Fly-Fishing Line

eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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