Knots for fly fishing.

[bkbying89]

Just interested in what knots are you using to join tippets to line and flys to tippets. for instance is the Davy knot as good as I think it is. What loop knot not do you use.

Bill, (bkbying89)

[dgames]

fly fishing knots I use

If my fly line doesn't have a welded loop, I use a nail not to connect a short piece of amnesia to the fly line and then tie a small perfection loop in amnesia about 4"- 6" from the nail knot. 

Perfection loop in the butt section of the leader.  Connect to the loop in my fly line or amnesia with a simple loop to loop connection. 

Use double surgeons knot to tie together two pieces of leader material.  I try to stay within 2x on the diameters I am tying together (i.e. 3x connect no thinner than 5x)  

Use Davy knot to connect tippet to fly.  

I will occasionally use a blood knot to repair the butt section of a leader if I have a bunch of stuff rigged up already  on the leader and don't want to pull that stuff through the loop in tying a double surgeons.  

 

If you go to youtube, you can easily find videos on how to tie all of these knots.  

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

What dgames  said

[DainW]

Leader/tippet I've actually been using a seaguar knot. I used to have issues with my leader/tippet connection failing at the surgeon's knot (i was tying double and even triple surgeon's knots). Frustrating because I had lost more than one nice fish due to this knot failing. Since I've learned the seaguar knot, haven't had any more issues with my leader to tippet connection. Check it out, I'd say it might even be an easier tie than a surgeon's knot. 

Tippet to fly, I really like a palomar knot if I have enough excess tippet to do it and the fly is big enough to run the tippet through the eye twice (on those smaller flies it can be tough to do that even once). If I can't tie a palomar knot, then I like to tie a uni-knot. Not sure why but I've just never been good at tying a clinch knot or improved clinch knot. Never had a properly seated palomar knot fail on me. I also like the uni-knot for tying flies directly to the shank of another fly, you an actually tie on your finger the same way you would a clinch knot. 

[bkbying89]

I pretty much agree with what you people have been using but I am looking at the blood or improved blood knot for major repairs in an emergency. The triple surgeons knot has worked very well for me/ I was really interested in the Davy Knot and the no-slip loop knot for my use. I have been having trouble with the improved clinch knot and decided to find better knots. I was wondering about using the Palomar knot on flys Are you confident it works? Glad I got so many responses to this thread. We all get in a rut now and then and its good to shake things up.

[fishinwrench]

Sit down with some line and start tying and breaking.  That's how you decide on the best knots for you.   

To compare two knots take a 16" piece of your line, tie one and then the other, pull until one of them breaks.   Do it 3 times just to be sure.   

[bkbying89]

Good idea Mr. Wrench I'll give that a try.

[DainW]

Yes the Palomar knot is the knot I have the most confidence in. The only drawback like i said is that it can be a little tougher to tie on smaller flies. 

[ChiaPet]

I have been using double loop line and a braded double loop cut throat leader. 

[Al Agnew]

I always figure that a good knot that you can tie in your sleep is better than a possibly better knot that you can't tie well and quickly every time.  I use a blood knot for attaching tippet to leader because I've tied it for so many years that I can do it quickly and efficiently.  I also use only 4 loops on each side rather than 5 loops as is usually recommended, and I tie it somewhat differently than the usual directions because I can do it more quickly.  As for tippet to fly, if I'm using a double fly rig, either two nymphs or a dry and dropper, I tie the upper fly on with a palomar knot and leave the tag end of the palomar long enough to serve as the line between the two flies.  Then if I'm tying the trailing fly on or just tying one fly to tippet, I'll either use a palomar if the fly is big enough or an improved clinch (again with only three or so loops rather than the five loops that are recommended).  The Davy's knot looks to me to be a little simpler to tie than the clinch knot, so I may try it...who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?