How to Tie a Fly to a Fly-Fishing Line

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

1. Thread about 5 to 7 inches of tippet through the eye of your fly.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

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