How to Tie Fly Fishing Knots

Fly Fishing Knots.

One thing that will lose you a lot of fish is poorly tied knots. The last thing you need, when you eventually catch that big trophy fish, is to watch it swim away with your fly in its mouth, and maybe the tippet and leader trailing along as well. Properly tied fly fishing knots are one of the first things you need to get right. And, you need the right one for the job. Many people only know how to tie a granny knot, and it just won’t do.
There are a range of fly fishing knots available. Some are very easy to learn and some are quite complicated, but generally, if you’re a beginner you don’t need the more difficult ones. There is a fairly simple knot available for just about any fly fishing application: Reel to backing, backing to line, line to leader, leader to tippet, and tippet to fly. Many of the simpler fly fishing knots still retain more than 90% of line strength, provided they are tied properly and moistened with water or saliva before the final tightening. Some fly fishermen seem to want to experiment with every knot in the book, as well as some that aren’t. My advice is, once you found a knot for each join in the line that you are happy with, stick with it. Practice your knots until you can tie them with your eyes shut. Sometimes you will need to tie them in the dark.
When you start reeling in big heavy fighting fish, you can start practising the more complicated knots. In my opinion, the fewer knots you have to use, the better. Some people will use two loop knots where one knot will do. Any knot is a potential weak link in the chain. Before using a knot, always test it by tensioning the line. Then inspect it carefully to make sure it’s not starting to come loose. Fishing glue will stop your knots coming loose, but it’s horrible to work with and usually ends up all over your fingers.
Here are two of the easier fly fishing knots. Practice these before moving on to other slightly more complicated knots.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Arbor Knot.
   
   An easy way to attach the line to the reel.
   Step 1: Wrap the line around the arbor of your spool and tie an overhand knot around the standing line.

2. Step 2: Tie a second overhand knot on the tag end a few inches from the first.

3. 
    

   Step 3: Moisten the line and the two overhand knots. Tighten the smaller knot and holding the spool in your left-hand pull on the standing line with your right hand sliding the first overhand knot against the arbor of the spool. The second overhand knot will keep this from slipping. Trim the tag end.

4. 
    

   Davy Knot
   
   This knot is used for tying the leader to the fly. Many fishermen use it because it is easy to tie, and tremendously strong.
   
   Step 1: Feed the leader tippet through the hook eye, Leaving enough line to tie the knot. Pass the tag end underneath the line, then over the top and down through the loop formed.

5. 
    

   Step 2: Bring the tag end back up on the other side and back through the loop you just formed. Lubricate and draw tight.

6. Keep practising, and happy fly fishing.
   
   For more info, visit http://www.betterflyfishing.com/knots.html