Tippet to Fly (Duncan Loop Knot)

Use to Tie fly to tippet. Creates a sliding loop that can be left open or tightened against hook eye. The open loop on this knot lets nymphs and other subsurface flies “swim” in the water and bass bugs pop better.

Step 1:

Pass 6″ to 8″ of tag end of tippet through the eye of hook. Form a 1.5″ diameter loop with tag end.

Duncan Loop or Uni-Knot - Step 1

Step 2:

Pass tag through and around loop and tippet five times, moving away from fly.

Duncan Loop or Uni-Knot - Step 2

Step 3:

Lubricate and tighten knot by pulling very tightly on tag end. The degree of tightening determines how knot slides on tippet for keeping loop open or sliding it closed. With heavy tippet materials (over.011″), grasp the tag end with pliers or hemostats and tighten the knot.

Duncan Loop or Uni-Knot - Step 3

Step 4:

Adjust loop between fly and knot as desired. Trim tag end.

Duncan Loop or Uni-Knot - Step 4

Tippet to Fly (Clinch Knot)

Use to tie fly to end of tippet. Sometimes tied as an “improved” clinch knot by passing the tag end back through the loop created at the end of step number 3. Our experience has shown that the improved clinch knot can be stronger only when it is tied perfectly. A well-tied regular clinch knot is stronger than a poorly tied improved clinch knot.

Step 1:

Insert 6″ to 8″ of tippet through eye of hook.

Clinch Knot Tying - Step 1

Step 2:

Hold fly in left hand and with right hand wind the end of the leader around standing part of leader five times, keeping a small loop immediately adjacent to hook eye open. This loop is easy to keep open if you pinch it between thumb and forefinger of left hand.

Clinch Knot Tying - Step 2

Step 3:

Bring tag end of leader back through loop next to the hook eye and grasp with thumb and forefinger of left hand.

Clinch Knot Tying - Step 3

Step 4:

Lubricate and tighten by pulling the standing part of leader and the fly in opposite directions. Do not pull on the tag end of the leader – merely hold it alongside the fly. Trim tag end close to knot.

Clinch Knot Tying - Step 4

Leader to Tippet (Barrel Knot)

Use to tie tippet to end of leader or to join sections of tapered leaders. More uniform than the surgeon’s knot, but also more difficult to tie and not quite as strong.

Step 1:

Cross both pieces of material in an “X”, leaving at least 8″ of overlap.

Barrel Knot or Blood Knot - Step 1

Step 2:

Wind one end around the standing part of the other piece five times and pass the end on the other side of the “X” formed by the intersection of the two pieces.

Barrel Knot or Blood Knot - Step 2

Step 3:

Pinch the line at this point and with the other hand wind the free end around the standing piece in the opposite direction five times. Pass this end through the same loop as the first end, but go through the loop in the opposite direction.

Barrel Knot or Blood Knot - Step 3

Step 4:

Lubricate and hold both ends together while pulling on the standing parts to tighten. The easiest way to keep the ends from slipping through is to hold them in your teeth. Don’t put any pressure on the short ends while tightening.

Barrel Knot or Blood Knot - Step 4

Step 5:

Trim tag ends as close to the knot as possible.

Barrel Knot or Blood Knot - Step 5

Leader to Tippet (Surgeon’s Knot)

Use to tie tippet to end of leader or for the finer sections of tapered leaders. Quicker and stronger than the barrel knot. Better that the barrel knot for joining pieces of leader material that differ by more than .003″ in diameter.

Step 1:

Clip off section of tippet material and lay next to end of your leader with two strands overlapping by 4″ to 6″.

Surgeon's Knot Tying - Step 1

Step 2:

Tie an overhand knot in this doubled section by forming a loop and bringing end of leader and entire end of tippet through the loop together. Keep loop open.

Surgeon's Knot Tying - Step 2

Step 3:

Double the overhand knot in this doubled section by bringing the same double strand through the loop once more.

Surgeon's Knot Tying - Step 3

Step 4:

Lubricate and tighten by holding all four ends and pulling steadily.

Surgeon's Knot Tying - Step 4

Step 5:

Trim tag ends close to knot.

Surgeon's Knot Tying - Step 5

Fly Line to Braided Leader Knot

Use to connect braided leader butt to fly line with either permanent monofilament loop or braided loop connector; or to connect smaller end of braided leader butt to monofilament leader tippet with the loop in butt end.

There is a right way and a wrong way to connect loops. Below we describe the method for attaching the fly line loop to the leader butt loop; the same technique applies to attaching the braided leader butt to the monofilament leader tippet.

Step 1:

Pass the end of the fly line loop through the larger end of the leader butt loop.

Loop to Loop Knot Tying - Step 1

Step 2:

Then pass the small end of the leader butt section through the fly line loop.

Loop to Loop Knot Tying - Step 2

Step 3:

Tighten by pulling in opposite directions. You can disconnect the loops by pushing them toward each other and reversing the process. The correct loop-to-loop connection looks like a square knot when complete.

Loop to Loop Knot Tying - Step 3

Step 4:

Incorrect loop-to-loop connection. Attaching the loops this way weakens the connection considerably.

Loop to Loop Knot Tying - Step 4

Backing to Fly Line (Nail Knot)

Use to attach leader butt to fly line or to attach backing to fly line.

Step 1:

Take a 1″ to 2″ long hollow plastic or metal tube of small diameter (a piece of drinking straw will do) and lay it next to the end of fly line. Lay butt end of leader on top of tube in the opposite direction with about 6″ to 8″ of leader butt extending beyond end of tube.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 1

Step 2:

Hold fly line, tube, and tag end of leader together in left hand. Grasp tag end of leader and wrap over itself, tube, and end of fly line in five or six closely spaced turns. Move from left to right toward end of fly line and hold wraps in place with thumb and forefinger of left hand. We’ve eliminated hand from picture to show wraps clearly.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 2

Step 3:

Pass the leader butt through the tube so the end passes back under the turns you’ve just made. Pull the ends of the monofilament in opposite directions, tightening them on top of the tube.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 3

Step 4:

Carefully slip the tube out, holding the wraps securely in place.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 4

Step 5:

Pull tag end of leader until the turns under your hand begin to tighten. Lubricate knot and pull tight on both ends of leader. Pliers or hemostat can be used to hold the tag end of leader.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 5

Step 6:

Trim tag ends of fly line and monofilament close to knot.

Nail Knot Tying Instructions - Step 6