hey everyone i am just learning how to fly fish. i have tried tying the tippet with the fly line using the nail knot but i just can't get it down. what other knots do good for this.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
basscatcher
fly knots
hey everyone i am just learning how to fly fish. i have tried tying the tippet with the fly line using the nail knot but i just can't get it down. what other knots do good for this.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
basscatcher
Keep trying the nail knot.
It's really a cool knot when you get it down. It took me like 8 months to figure out a way where it works every time, and I do it by hand.
Once you have the knot ready for cinching,
Pull one of the tags first until it stops, then pull the other side tag until it stops. Then slide the two halves of the knot together in the middle and pull both lines on each side to tighten while snugging it up.
I think I do 5 turns for this method. One vanishes in the mess of it all and it makes 4 even loops. After pulling the two tags one at a time, it will look like 2 knots with two loops each, then you scoot them together and tighten and it forms a 4 turn nail knot.
Kinda funny but you'll get it..
Last edited by tacklejunkie; 12-25-2008 at 11:02 PM.
thanks tj ill see ya laterOriginally Posted by tacklejunkie
There are serveral knot tying tools on the market. I like one called "TIE-FAST". You can pick one up at sports chalet for about $6. Read the instructions... Pratice a few knots from the comfort of home, and you'll be good to go. Even with ice cold hands you'll be tying on a fresh tip-it without any problems.
Good Luck.
I only know of the Nail knot for tying the leader to the flyline. Its a knot I really don't have to tie too much so I also suck at it even when using the Tie-Fast tool. I normally have to do it more than once to get a smooth knot then I coat it with super glue.
I started using Tippet rings earlier this year to tie the tippet to the leader. This things are about the greatest things I've seen in awhile. I no longer use up my leader tying on tippets with double surgens knots. Which now means I no longer use up my flyline tying on new leaders with nail knots.
http://www.wapsifly.com/acctpr.html
I use the Climax brand but I think they all come from the manufacturer.
I don't dry fly fish but they say they will float.
I keep a few Coffee stirring straws in my vest for tying a nail knot. They work great, just put the tip down through the straw to finish the knot off.
For the leader, I found the quick connect devices work great. When I see something big swimming I can change my leader to a higher weight line in seconds.
Overall the best knots are the ones you can tie quickly so practice at home and get them down so you don't waist time when on the water. You can't catch fish unless your line is in the water, and I haven't figured out a way to tie knots while keeping my line in the water, Yet
You need to get yourself a short 1.5" piece of teflon tubing to tie the nail knot. That knot frustrates me too, but you don't have to tie that connection often. The nail knot is best used on floating lines for dry fly presentations as it is the least likely to suck the fly line under. If you're throwing sinking lines, then you'd use braided loop connections applied to the fly line:
http://www.danblanton.com/gettinglooped.html
To tie it without the straw or tube, just pinch each loop with your thumb. They neatly coil up and you can slip the line right through. If you take the time to learn it with no tools or helpers, it's the fastest way to do it.
Just double back and wrap five times, pinching each loop. Then slip the tag through and you are ready to tighten it up. (the hard part)
Last edited by tacklejunkie; 12-26-2008 at 09:22 AM.
The TJ way.
The whitish line is the fly line.
The bright yellow stuff is supposed to be your clear fly leader or tippet depending on what you are fishing for.
straighten line
Double back and form first loop.
Form 4 or 5 loops and keep pinching them
Slip tag back through all the loops.
Pull main leader until it stops while keeping knot pinched.
Pull leader tag until it stops while keeping knot pinched
You end up with this..
Snug the knot together neatly while pulling both ends of the leader and holding the flyline tight.
It will finish off nice and clean and you can trim it up. I thought I Was making a 4 turn but I must have been using 4 turns in the field when I did so. This comes out to 5 turns.
Takes a bit of practice but once you get it you wont lose it. It's all about finding your own trick to snug the knot down to where it comes out clean.
Last edited by tacklejunkie; 12-26-2008 at 09:56 AM.
Nice instructions TJ! I use a nail knot tool, it has other uses, great pic for when you get a tangle/birds nest. But you are hard core, my uncoordinated fingers get in the way, that's also why I leave the fly tying to a buddy of mine.The TJ way.
The whitish line is the fly line.
The bright yellow stuff is supposed to be your clear fly leader or tippet depending on what you are fishing for.
straighten line
Double back and form first loop.
Form 4 or 5 loops and keep pinching them
Slip tag back through all the loops.
Pull main leader until it stops while keeping knot pinched.
Pull leader tag until it stops while keeping knot pinched
You end up with this..
Snug the knot together neatly while pulling both ends of the leader and holding the flyline tight.
It will finish off nice and clean and you can trim it up. I thought I Was making a 4 turn but I must have been using 4 turns in the field when I did so. This comes out to 5 turns.
Takes a bit of practice but once you get it you wont lose it. It's all about finding your own trick to snug the knot down to where it comes out clean.
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