Improved Clinch Knot

The Improved Clinch Knot is the most used knot for attaching the line to the eye of the hook. It doesn't make a loop and you can't tie it by brail like the Duncan Knot, but I use it a lot of the time.

I'll make two knots at the same time for visibility and use the finger loops on the scissors to represent the eye of the hook.

Put the line throught the eye of the hook.  Twist the line around 5 times or so.  Then pass the line through the twist tight nest to the hook eye.  Then pass the line through the last twist you made which is farthest from the hook eye.  Any other twist will work too since this is just the one additional grip on the loose end of the line to prevent slipping.   Then tighten and you are done. The line should be wet with water or saliva to prevent over heating the line where it is bending tightly in the knot to keep it from weakening when it is pulled tight.

Perfection Loop (you will use this knot with the following knot)

I think the Perfection Loop is the most loveable of the knots.

Here are 2 knots being made at the same time.  Make first turn under. 

 Second turn is over.  Third turn is in between.  Then pull the second turn in over the third turn and under the first turn and tighten.   The line should be wet with water or saliva to prevent over heating the line where it is bending tightly in the knot to keep it from weakening when it is pulled tight.

Needle Knot (used with the above knot)

This is basically a nail knot except the leader is shoved through a hole in the end of the fly line which was made by a needle.

Push the needle through the end of the fly line and out at the side around a quarter inch of the way from the end.  Heat the needle at the end far from the fly line with a match or lighter for about 4 seconds.  After it cools, slide the needle out and the hole will now stay open for the next step. The plastic in the fly line was melted slightly and the hole has a memory for the diamter of the needle. Cut the Permanent leader loop line at a 45 degree angle with you clippers or a razor blade. This helps it enter the hole in the fly line. Push the monofilament through the tip of the fly line and have it exit where the needle is exiting in the photo.  Pull about 6 inches out and tie the nail knot with that end. The line for the permanent leader loop is often 25 to 40 pound test monofilament like Amnesia orange or some bright color. That can help be an indicator when nymphing like reaching over a boulder and all you can see is the leader loop in the air and if it moves from a bite.  Shove the line through the path that the needle made. Put the lines in the nail knot tool and tie a nail knot and you are done      After you trim the lines, tie a Perfection Loop at about 12 inches and this loop can be used for a long time to attach your leaders with a loop to loop connection, assuming you tied a Perfection Loop at the butt end of the leader. The Needle Knot cannot slide off the fly line like a plain Nail Knot can. Also it is smoother through the guides and the leader sticks out straighter in line with the fly line. The line should be wet with water or saliva to prevent over heating the line where it is bending tightly in the knot to keep it from weakening when it is pulled tight.

There is even a better way to attach leaders to fly lines, but I haven't tested it enough to have confidence in it so I will wait till at least the end of summer '07 to write the details here.  It involves the use of cyanoacylate cement (Zap a Gap) and I know that it isn't exactly waterproof.  I have seen a lot of crowns and tooth pieces cemented in a human mouth by cyanoacrylate fall apart within 24 hours. I will also be testing an idea I have for a different cement.

Copyright © 2007 Jay Capachi - All Rights Reserved.