Fishing Knots Basic fly fishing knots for all situations - illustrated instructions on how to tie some of the best and most popular fishing knots, fly fishing knots in particular, linking reel to backing to fly line to leader to fly.
In fly fishing, as in all fishing, the knot the fisherman uses is crucial to success, as many of us have learned to our cost. It is important to get our fishing knots right, in securing our backing line to the reel; in connecting our backing line to the fly line; in joining our fly line to our leader; and in tying on our fly. A number of the most reliable fly fishing knots are illustrated below. These are the fishing knots I use in my salmon, trout and sea trout fly fishing. These knots are simple, strong and reliable and include some of the most popular fly fishing knots in use today, such as the Perfection Loop and the Water Knot, as well as one or two not so well known knots, such as Gray's Loop. For those who like to attach their leader to the fly line by a loop-to-loop connection, Gray's Loop, shown above, is a simple, neat, strong, and durable alternative to the braided loop.

Fly Fishing Knots

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REEL > BACKING LINE > FLY LINE > LEADER > DROPPER > FLY

	1 - Slip Knot 2 - Constriction Knot 3 - Gray's Loop 4 - Loop to Loop 5 - Perfection Loop 6 - Water Knot 7 - Slip Knot

 

  SLIP KNOT  -  Backing to reel

SLIP KNOT A reliable knot for attaching backing line to the reel. For full tying instructions see  Fly Fishing Knots

  CONSTRICTION KNOT  -  Backing to Fly line

CONSTRICTION KNOT This knot is suitable for attaching nylon monofilament, dacron, braided terylene or twisted nylon backing to a traditional PVC coated, terylene core fly line. It is not suitable for some modern lines with kevlar or monofilament cores. Nor should it be used with hollow braided nylon backing line. For full tying instructions see: Fly Fishing Knots

  

  GRAY'S LOOP  -  Fly line Butt Loop

   See also Needle knot version of GRAY'S LOOP - tying method with photographs.

GRAY'S LOOP A version of the Constriction knot for attaching a semi-permanent loop of nylon monofilament to the end of a traditional PVC coated, terylene core flyline to facilitate a loop to loop connection with the leader. Such a loop might last a whole season. For full illustrated instructions on the tying method, see Gray's Loop

	See Needle knot version of GRAY'S LOOP

  LOOP TO LOOP  -  Butt Loop to Leader

LOOP TO LOOP A convenient method of attaching a leader to the fly line, avoiding wear and tear on the butt loop. For full tying instructions see Fly Fishing Knots

  PERFECTION LOOP  -  Leader (or cast) Loop

PERFECTION LOOP A reliable leader loop which lies in line with the leader. The loose end can be trimmed very close to the knot. Easier to tie than it looks. For full tying instructions see Fly Fishing Knots

 

  WATER KNOT  -  Dropper Knot

WATER KNOT A good dropper knot. Stronger, more reliable and easier to tie than the blood knot. Although the typical advice is for three turns, I often use only two turns and the resultant knot seems quite reliable. Note that the length used for the dropper should be the one pointing away from the reel For full tying instructions see Fly Fishing Knots

  

  SLIP KNOT  -  Fly or Hook connection

SLIP KNOT An alternative to the half - blood knot which has served me well for over thirty years. Similar to the Grinner knot. Tighten well and don't trim too close to the hook. For full tying instructions see Fly Fishing Knots