Fly fishing knots: the top 5 you need to know

There are five popular knots that you can use to securely connect your fly line, leader, tippet, and fly. In this article, we’ll start with the fly line-to-leader connection and work down to the fly. Let’s get started!

Nail Knot

To create a smooth transition between your fly line and your leader, install a stiff piece of monofilament to the end of your fly line using a Nail Knot. With the loop you’ll create on the other end, you’ll have a reusable connection point for attaching leaders. Grab the butt end of a used leader or a fresh piece of stiff mono and tie a Nail Knot, as described here.

Steps to Tie a Nail Knot

1. Lay a nail alongside the end of your fly line. Position your mono line against the fly line and nail. Leave about 10-12” of tag end.
2. Make 6-8 close wraps, working left to right, around the leader, line, and the nail. Pass the tag end through the space made by the nail and remove the nail.
3. While pinching the wraps, pull on the tag end until it tightens against the wraps, then pull on the standing end and repeat until the wraps are snug on the fly line.
4. Pull on both ends of the monofilament. Then pull firmly on the fly line and the standing part of the leader. Trim the tag end close to the knot.

Perfection Loop

Use the stub of mono you’ve attached to your fly line to install a Perfection Loop so you can change out leaders with ease. Start by trimming the mono down to about 5", then follow the steps below.

Steps to Tie a Perfection Loop

1. Form Loop A at the end of the line by passing the tag end behind the standing line.
2. Make one turn around the standing line, forming Loop B. Hold everything in place and take another turn around the line, this time crossing over Loop B.
3. Hold the tag end in place and pass Loop B through Loop A.
4. Pull Loop B up until the knot tightens, then trim the tag end.

If your leader doesn’t already have a loop, repeat the steps above to add a Perfection Loop to the end of your leader.

Loop-to-Loop Connection

With a loop at the end of your fly line and another at the end of your leader, connect the loops as described here.

Steps to Create a Loop-to-Loop Connection

1. Slip the leader loop over the fly line loop.
2. Pull the whole leader through the loop.
3. Pull the lines in opposite directions to lock the loops together.

Surgeon’s Knot

To attach the leader to your tippet, you can use a Surgeon’s Knot. It’s smooth, strong, and easy to tie. 

Steps to Tie a Surgeon’s Knot

1. Lay the tippet and leader on top of one another, overlapping by about 4".
2. Form a simple loop.
3. Pass both the tag end and the entire tippet through the loop two times.
4. Moisten the knot and pull all four ends tight.

When using a Surgeon’s Knot to connect your leader to your tippet, each time you replace the tippet, you’ll slightly shorten your leader. Instead, consider using a tippet ring, a small (2-3mm) ring that attaches to the small end of your leader. When replacing tippet material, you simply tie directly to the tippet ring. For both the leader knot and the tippet knot, you can use a Cinch Knot, which is our final topic.

Cinch Knot

The Cinch Knot is a popular knot for attaching a fly to your tippet.

Note: Animated instructions can help you quickly master the Cinch Knot and the other four knots covered in this article.

Steps to Tie a Cinch Knot

1. Thread the end of your tippet material through the hook eye. Double back and form 5 turns around the standing line.
2. Bring the end of the line back through the small gap that formed behind the eye.
3. Wet the knot, then pull on the fly and the standing line to form tight coils.