Volume: Trout & Grayling flyfishing

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BACKING

FLYLINE

LEADER TIPPET FLY

3 Knots to connect the Leader to the Flyline- Perfection Loop- Surgeon´s Loop

1 Knot to attach the Backing to the reel- Duncan Knot

2 Knots to join the Backing to the Flyline- Albright Knot- Nail Knot

4 Knots to tie the Tippet to the Leader- Surgeon´s Knot- Double Uni-Knot

5 Knots to tie the Fly to the Tippet- Improved Turle Knot- The Snare Knot- Duncan´s Loop- The Dry-Fly Knot

6 Other useful knots- The Indicator Knot- The End-Dropper Knot

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Knots to trust!Knots to trust!

>> Be thoroughly familiar with all the knots you tie and continually practice the tying of those knots <<

>> Always lubricate knots before tightening them, either with saliva, water or another similar lubricant. Knots tied in nylon monofilament, copolymer and cofilament lines are highly susceptible to heat friction <<

>> When tightening the knot, do so gently but firmly. Do not draw the knot quickly as this can generate heat damaging the line. Give a few test pulls on the newly tied knot <<

>> If you are not happy with a knot, always re-tie it until you are satisfied. Remember that a knot is effectively the weakest link between you and the fish and the stronger and better tied it is, the more chance you have of catching fish <<

Knots to trust! 1 Knot to attach the Backing to the reel

Use to attach backing to fly reel. This is basi-cally a single Uni-knot. This knot tightens by drag from the standing line, a good quality in a backing to reel knot.

Duncan Knot Step 1: Pass tag end of backing around spool hub two times and bring it out again between the same set of reel pillars. Hold together the two lines and form a loop with the short end.

Step 2: Make 6 turns around the two lines. End the knot by passing through the loop.

Step 3: Lubricate and tighten the knot by pulling very tightly on tag end.

Step 4: Pull on standing line until the knots tighten against reel hub. Spool backing on tightly.

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Knots to trust! 12 Knots to join the Backing to the Flyline

This knot is commonly used for tying backing line to fly line. Can also be used for securing a leader to the flyline, without using loop-to-loop connection.

Albright Knot

Step 1: Form a loop of the flyline´s tag end. Insert the leaders butt end into the loop and wrap around both lines 6 times

Step 2: End this part of the knot by ending the wrap by putting the butt-end in the loop. Lubricate and tighten by pulling both the butt-end and the flyline.

Step 3: For extra security make a uni-knot by forming a loop infront of the first knot. Then wrap around 4 times ending through the loop.

Step 4: Lubricate and tighten the knot. Cut and trim the knot. Always test-drag the knot before fishing.

The Nail knot is one of the most important knots that every fly fisherman should learn. There are a few variations in the way this knot is tied. The angler can use a tube or a piece of nylon (forming a eye or loop) in replacement of the nail. With a little practice, this knot can be tied very quickly. Two common areas for use, is attaching the leader to the fly line and to attach the fly line to the backing.

Nail Knot

Step 1Cut the butt-part of the leader on angle. Thread it on a needle. Push the needle through the flylines core, take a couple of centimeters.

Step 2Wrap the nylon around the flyline and the needle 5-6 times in tight wraps.

Step 3Thread the tag end of the leader in the needle-eye and push the needle and tag end forward and through the knot, Tightend the knot by pulling the leader-line and the tag end

Step 4Trim and cut the tag end. For extra security use some knot-cement or aqua-seal, make it a secure and neat knot.

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The perfection loop knot is used for attach-ing two looped pieces of monofilament together. Sometimes used for a quick change of leaders. Makes a neat, small loop, ideal for putting a loop in the end of a leader. This is a dependable and strong loop when formed properly.

Perfection Loop Use to tie loop in end of leader. Stronger and easier to tie then perfection loop, but not quite as small or neat. Step 1: Form a loop in the end of leader. Step 2: Make a simple overhand knot in the double line. Step 3:Then bring the loop end through the overhand knot again. Lubricate and tighten by pulling on the loop end with one hand and the standing leader and tag end in the other. Step 4: Trim.

Surgeon’s Loop

Step 1With the lines pinched in your left hand make a loop in front of the first loop with the tag end. Again, make sure the tag end exits behind both loops.

Step 2Pass the tag end between the 2 loops, continuing to pinch all lines with the left hand.

Step 3Pass the loop closest to you over the tag end and through the rear loop.

Step 4As with all knots, lubricate before tightening. Pull the loop (the one passed through the rear loop) and the standing end in opposite directions and tighten down firmly.

Step 1: Double the line intended. Make a loop roughly six inches (15 cm) long. Tie a loose “granny knot” with the loop, but wind the end tag twice thorugh the circle.

Step 2: Lubricate the knot and pull gently from both ends, until the knot is nice and tight. Clip the tag end. This knot has the advantage of a tag end that lies close to the main line.

Step 3: With the finished loop, you can use it to attache it with other loops. To the right you see how the two loops i connected.

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Knots to trust! 3 Knots to connect the Leader to the Flyline

Knots to trust! 4 Knots to tie the Tippet to the Leader

The Surgeon’s Knot is a knot also used for attaching two pieces of monofilament together. It is a very fast and easy knot to tie and is usually preferred more than the blood knot. This is a great knot for joining two pieces of monofilament that are greatly differ-ent in diameter. When you are building a tapered leader, tied correctly, this knot is generally stronger than the blood knot. Very quick and easy knot for attaching 4X-5X-6X-7X tippet to each other. You can do this one in the dark.

Surgeon´s Knot Basically this is a knot for joining two lines. This is a stronger and finer knot than the blood-knot, and there-fore a better alternativ for salmon-fishing. A good thing is that the end butts in the knot is pointing sideways, (compared with the blood-knot) and not up & down.

Double Uni-Knot

Step 1: The main line should come in from the left and the line to be attached should come from the right. Overlap the two pieces approximately 6 or so inches.

Step 2: Create a loop with the two lines as if you are working with one line. Make a “granny knot” first once.

Step 3: Pass it though once more.

Step 4: Lubricate and tighten the knot. Cut and trim the knot. It´s nog recommended to use this knot for lines over 30 lbs becuse it will be hard to tighten and the strenght will suffer.

Step 1: Overlap the lines to be joined and en-circle one line with the tag of the other. Continue to wind the tag around both lines inside the loop. Make five wraps in all, then close up the knot but not to tight.

Step 2: Repeat the process with the other line.

Step 3: You should end up with one line tied around the other like so.

Step 4: Lubricate and tighten the knot, by slide them together , tighten once more and trim the tags

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Knots to trust! 5 Knots to tie the Fly to the Tippet

This is a simple knot to tie in the dark and strong enough for most fishing situations. This knot is also a s.c, “stear-ing”, meaning the fly is fixed and can´t turn on the sides.

The Snare KnotThis knot provides a strong, neat connection to flies tied on hooks with turned-down eyes.Improved Turle Knot

Step 1Thread the tippet through the eye of the hook and over the body of the fly.

Step 2Then thread the tippet back through the eye of the hook.

Step 3Tie an overhand knot in the tag around the standing part of the tippet

Step 4Add a second wrap to the overhand knot.Step 5

Close the overhand knot, but do not pull i really tight yet.

Step 6Pull the knot up with gentle pressure on the tippet so the knot slides right down into the eye of the hook. Pull the knot up tight and trim the tag.

Step 1: First make a loop in the end of your line & tie an overhand knot with the tag, encircling the main line.

Step 2: Pass the loop through the eye of the hook.

Step 3: Pass the loop entirely over the hook & pass the tag through th loop as well.

Step 4: Close the overhand knot & pull the noose up tight around the hook.

Knots to trust! 5 Knots to tie the Fly to the Tippet

Duncan´s Loop is used for attaching the fly to the tippet. It´s big advantage over most other loops is that it allows the loop to be reduced in size before the knot is closed.

Duncan´s Loop Use this knot on dry-flies with turned-down hook eyes; it does not tie well to ring-eye hooks. It´s very strong and does not allow the fly to cant to one side, as some knots do.

The Dry-Fly Knot

Step 1Pass about 6” to 8” of the tag end through hook eye and bring back up along bottom of standing line.

Step 2Take tag end back towards hook eye forming a loop on the bottom and two lines on top. Pinch tag end against two top lines.

Step 3Wrap tag end around the two lines five times. Use four wraps for lines 40-50lb.

Step 4Wet knot and tighten by pulling on tag end. This knot can be slid down to the hook eye and tightened or tightened up away from the hook, providing a loop knot for a free-swinging fly. Note: When using fine diameter lines and tightening down at the hook,some anglers prefer to go through the hook eye twice.

Step 5Bait up, and catch fish.

Step 1Thread the leader through the eye of the hook. Make first one loop overlapping the other line.

Step 2Make another loop in the same way.

Step 3With the free tag end wrap around the two loops - first one time.

Step 4Then one more time.

Step 5Tighten the knot gently and slowly. First pulling the tag end to tightend the two loops. Then carefully push the knot over the eye of the hook. Pull standing line.

Step 6Trim the tag end and your knot is ready.

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Knots to trust! 6 Other useful knots

To use when you want a visual indica-tion that a fish has taken the fly. Here is a simple way of tying on a piece of coloured yarn to the leader.

The Indicator Knot This is a knot which allows an additional dropper to be attached to a fly tippet. For use of a dropper on the leader use a Surgeons Knot to tie a second nylon monofilament-strand.

The End Dropper Knot

Step 1First make this double loop configuration in the leader where the indicator goes.

Step 2Extend one side of the loop through the centre.

Step 4Close the loop to secure the yarn to the leader.

Step 3Put the yarn in the extended loop.

Step 1Make an overhand wrap in the tippet.

Step 2Then pull a loop of line through it as if to make an indicator knot.

Step 3Take the separate lenght of dropper line and thread it through the loop and wind the tag back around the main line.

Step 5Tighten each knot in turn.

Step 4Having made three of four wraps, thread the tag back through the first wrap.

Step 6The result is a dropper on your tippet which allows a double presentation.

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pursuit of perfectionPerfection

The X-Designation ChartX is a factor that designates leader tippet diameter. It was used during the era when all leader was made from silk worm gut. X equals eleven. If you subtract the X factor from eleven you will arrive at the diameter of the leader in one-thousandths of an inch. Ex, Tippet Size 8X = 0,003 inch (11 - 8 = 3).

Tippet Size (mm)

Tippet Diameter (inch)

Breaking Strength in Super Strong Nylon in pounds

Balances with fly sizes

8 X (0, 08 mm) 0,003 1, 75 (0,8 kg) 22, 24, 26, 28

7 X (0, 10 mm) 0,004 2, 5 (1,13 kg) 18, 20, 22, 24

6 X (0, 13 mm) 0,005 3, 5 (1,6 kg) 16, 18, 20, 22

5 X (0, 15 mm) 0,006 4, 75 (2,15 kg) 14, 16, 18

4 X (0, 18 mm) 0,007 6, 0 (2,7 kg) 12, 14, 16

3 X (0, 20 mm) 0,008 8, 5 (3,85 kg) 6, 8, 10

2 X (0, 23 mm) 0,009 11, 5 (5,2 kg) 4, 6, 8

1 X (0, 26 mm) 0,010 13, 5 (6,12 kg) 2, 4, 6

0 X (0, 28 mm) 0,011 15, 5 (7,0 kg) 1/0, 2, 4

0, 30 mm 0,012 17, 6 (8,0 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

0, 35 mm 0,014 23, 1 (10,5 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

0,40 mm 0,016 30, 8 (14,0 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

0,45 mm 0,018 38, 6 (17,5 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

0,50 mm 0,020 46,3 (21,0 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

0,60 mm 0,024 57,3 (26,0 kg) 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0

Produced by Flugfiske-Media in cooperation with Loop Tackle Design AB © 2009.

Volume: Trout & Grayling flyfishing