This is a great thread. What is especially interesting is how many knots have names that I am not familiar with but look just like other knots I have seen or used.
I used to spend a lot of the non-fishing time researching knots and practicing them, but usually in the field I use the double turle for drys and small flies and the improved clinch for nymphs and larger flies. I use the SA reference book I got once with some line to do the rare nail knot and attach the backing to the spool or to the line; usually at the bench, seldom in the field. I use the perfection loops for the leader butt to a little piece of mono with a perfection loop tied to the bitter end of the fly line. I have thought of using the loops for leader end to tippet, but the time I tried it I could not get the cast to behave properly. Maybe it was just that day, because it would be a lot easier than the blood knots. As I am getting older, I am also perfecting the granny and Gordian. Especially in the failing light of day (not much early light of dawn any more). I thought it may have been something else when I tied it, but when I look at it later in the light, its something else. Tight lines, Steve > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Sean Grier > Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 10:50 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Knots > > > I was out on a local lake today, and was thinking about > knots. I was tying on a fly with the expectation of getting > into some VERY large fish with light tippet, so the idea of > good, high-percentage knots just naturally came to mind. > > My question in many-fold: Just how many knots does a good > flyfisherperson really need to know? I regularly use > improved clinch, duncan loop, orvis, blood, surgeons, and > less often a nail knot. That's just six knots that cover > almost ALL of my fishing endeavors. On those terminal knots > we use most often (Improved Clinch, Duncan Loop, Orvis > Perfect) how many wraps do you fellow fisherpersons use? > Does it change with tippet size? FWIW, I tend to go tippet > size plus 1 on the Improved Clinch and Orvis Perfect (5x > would be 6 wraps, 4x would be 5 wraps, etc., etc. and never > less than 3 and never more than 6 wraps) while my Duncan > loops are 4-5 depending on leader thickness (4 wraps on > steelhead tippets, and 5 on trout). Surgeons are ALWAYS 3, > though I've heard of folks going to 4 wraps. > > Hoping for a spirited thread (pun intended!) on this one, as > this might be of some use to the newer members who can > benefit from the wealth of knowledge of our more seasoned vets. > > Sean > >
