Fly Fishing Knots
"There are lots of fly fishing knots. But in reality, you only need to master a handful."
Tying the knots used in fly fishing lets you accomplish a great many things such as, tying your leader to the eye of the fly, splicing line together, or even saving a good day of fly fishing from becoming a bad one because your line broke.
The great thing about learning to tie fishing knots is that you only need to know a few, and with a little practice you'll have them all mastered in no time.
Below are links to specific fly fishing knots you should master as these are the knots that will cover just about any situation you might encounter while out fly fishing.
You should practice and master these knots first at home before heading out to the stream. If you don't frustration will only rear its ugly head. Fly fishing should be fun so practice. You can practice with line, string, rope or whatever. Just be sure to practice so all your time out on the water will be for fishing not for frustration.
One last thing, when your fishing don't throw your line or clippings on the ground or in the water. Put them in your pocket and throw them in the trash when convenient.
Below are the fly fishing knots. So get practicing.
The Arbor knot is a great fly fishing knot for the beginner to master as it is very quick and easy. This knot is used to tie your backing to the spool center or the arbor of your fly fishing reel. Learn more about the Arbor knot.
The Nail knot is a bit of a tricky knot to master for a beginner. It is used to tie your fly line to your backing and or your leader to your fly line. Learn more about the Nail knot.
The Blood knot is a bit of a tricky knot to master for a beginner. It is used to tie two similar diameter lines together like your leader if it breaks and you want to join it back together. Learn more about the Blood knot.
The Surgeons knot is a very easy fly fishing knot to master for a beginner. It is used to tie two different diameter lines together like your tippet to your leader. Learn more about the Surgeons knot.
The Clinch knot was a very easy knot to master for a beginner like me. It is used to tie the tippet to the fly. Jim taught me how to tie this fly fishing knot one day out fishing on the Columbia. If I remember correctly I think I tied on a Wooly Bugger. Learn more about the Clinch knot.
The Improved Clinch knot is a very easy knot to master for a beginner. Like the clinch knot, it is used to tie the tippet to the fly. Learn More about the Improved Clinch knot.