15 Knot Tying Tips for Fly Fishers

Use Code TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off at . . .
skwalafishing....
-- -- --
Find the companion Troutbitten article here . . .
troutbitten.co...
-- -- --
Video production by Wilds Media . . .
www.wildsmedia...
-- -- --
Visit the Troutbitten website: 900+ articles about fly fishing for wild trout in wild places.
troutbitten.com/
Listen to the Troutbitten Podcast:
podcast.troutb...
-- -- --
Since 2014, with over 900 stories, tips, commentaries, podcasts and videos, Troutbitten is a free resource for all anglers.
troutbitten.com/
Thank you for your support.
Fish hard, friends.
Dom

[@CarlosGarcia-507]

One tip that helped me tremendously is to tie your tippet knots before you clip it off the spool. Can’t tell you how many times I would cut the length I needed and either drop it or get it caught on a zipper or something and it’s gone. Tie it first, pull to length, then clip. Cheers

[@Troutbitten]

Interesting. I like that one.

[@DPM-dp9on]

Just found this video. I really appreciate your no nonsense approach to the subject. Thank you.

[@Troutbitten]

Right on. Thanks for that. Cheers.

[@craigisonychia]

I've been addicted to your articles, videos, and podcast episodes for the past month or so. The quality of everything and the plentiful, useful information is appreciated. You got me to purchase my own mono rig combo and I cant wait to use it.

[@Troutbitten]

Hey now.

[@TheGhs1]

The foam spools and hair band to secure has changed my fishing . Have loads of leaders made up, so easy to change and back fishing quickly and stress free 👍

[@Troutbitten]

Right on

[@williambuterbaugh4976]

Thanks!

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@daveschlom4033]

This was one of the most beneficial instructional videos I have ever watched. So many great tips. I am 63 and my close up vision ain't what it used to be. I use magnifier/readers but keep em in my bag. It never occurred to me to put them on holders and wear them too. Duh! So many little things to learn that make you a more efficient (that generally exponentially creates fun) angler. Great video. Thank you.

[@Troutbitten]

Thanks very much. Those glasses are from a company called Clic. Pretty common these days. The holder is built in. Magnet in front to join the sections. Neat idea, really. They have a patent. Link to then is in the companion Troutbitten article, and that's linked in the description here. Cheers.

[@daveschlom4033]

Wow...thank you. I am gonna get some. It's amazing how much easier tying on little flies is when you can clearly see!

[@springteen3743]

Thanks great tips, I had been flying fishing for ever and there is always something to learn, 🙏

[@Troutbitten]

For sure.

[@Tjk186]

Thanks a lot for these knot tying tips Dom…they really helped …appreciate all that you kindly share with / do for us

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@jshada58]

That’s an incredibly helpful video. The pinch is a fabulous tip. Thank you again. Be well.

[@Troutbitten]

That's cool

[@larrybraswell7167]

I just started listening to your podcasts starting from season 1. A lot of great information. Thanks for sharing in video format.

[@Troutbitten]

Nice. Thanks

[@kirkshammett94]

Thanks for all you do in the fly fishing world!

[@Troutbitten]

That's kind, man. Thanks for your support. Cheers.

[@ericyamashita7273]

Great advice and tips! Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to share with all of us.

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@tomt5176]

Hello, I just found your channel and I was impressed by your to the point tips in this video so I also subscribed. I’ve been fly fishing for about 40 years now and always open to learning something new. Thanks for the nice video and I’ll be checking out more in the future. Tom T from NJ.

[@Troutbitten]

Hi Tom. Glad to hear it. Understand too, that these videos are the tip of a very big iceburg. Troutbitten is a very large resource that you might enjoy digging into. 950+ articles on the website and about 75 podcasts now. Check 'em out. Cheers.

[@tomt5176]

Thanks, and I say it because it’s true and not true because I say it. I’m checking into your slighter article now. Typically I nymph fish below a float, but the euro nymph system is starting to grow on me. Transition is eminent, Again, I’m impressed with the quality of your work. Keep on going!

[@Troutbitten]

Right on.

[@dcproductions7418]

Love your videos thanks for giving back. I def utilize the techniques out on the water.

[@Troutbitten]

Nice

[@troymachamer9011]

great info... thanks for sharing!

[@Troutbitten]

Thanks for watching!

[@glenndotter5065]

Very good tips.

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@sgdukerable]

Great Tips. One thing I'll add would be to use a TY-RITE to hold the fly and have the TY-RITE attached to your chest pack. It's too easy when tying on a fly to have it drop in the water

[@Troutbitten]

I'm glad that the tool works for you.. For me, as I mentioned in the video, my hands are the fastest tools. I feel like all the other stuff just slows me down.

[@jainalarr7713]

Very very very good channel. Thanks a lot!

[@Troutbitten]

Thank you too.

[@alexargyros7186]

Another wonderful video. Many thanks. I like your Clic glasses idea. As you know, magnification in glasses is a compromise between power and focal distance (the stronger the glasses, the closer to you the must be to focus). What magnification offers you the best compromise?

[@Troutbitten]

Right on. I do think that's very much up to each person. Mine are 1.5

[@sputnick66]

Great tips, thanks.

[@Troutbitten]

Right on.

[@goswo]

First time here. Great job Bro. I will follow for sure :-)

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Great, as always. Some very helpful tips. I might need some of those reading glasses soon 🤔

[@Troutbitten]

Cheers

[@scottlowe3355]

That hold the loop tip is so simple. I need to start doing that. I imagine it makes you a bit faster.

[@Troutbitten]

Right on.

[@andrewstager1378]

Yeah this was a game changer for me recently. Wish I could have all those frustrating minutes back before I implemented this.

[@billadolf4382]

Good one Josh. 👍

[@Troutbitten]

Right on. Josh Darling, of Wilds Media.

[@patches152]

idk if it's technically a knot tying tip, but learning how to measure line on the water using whatever you have available for reference - i usually measure using my arms. full wingspan, hand to opposite shoulder, hand to near shoulder, and then the width of my palm for measuring off dropper tags on a surgeon's knot.

[@Troutbitten]

Great tip.

[@bdfishingandphotography9676]

Sooooo sad you did not include my undo knot and re-tie

[@Troutbitten]

I still think it's a myth, Delly.

[@joezepp]

Rick Flair approves this video woooo!!

[@Troutbitten]

Wooooooo!

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

My hands shake so badly (present from my army service) that it makes tying knots such a frustrating endeavor. The clinch, and the triple surgeons knot are my go to for about everything. Whenever I need to tie to a tippet ring I use a non-slip loop or perfection loop, they break much less frequently. I'm unsure why tying a clinch or improved clinch to a tippet ring just breaks with very little effort, but thats something i've been dealing with ahah. Probably because my tippet rings are really cheap.

[@Troutbitten]

YES. That's exactly why. Bad tippet rings break leader material. If it's breaking with a clinch, something's wrong.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

@Troutbitten curse you maxcatch tippet rings!! Hmmm... going to use a toothpick and some stopping compound to see if I can polish the inside of the rings to remove any imperfections like sharp edges or burrs. Works on cheap bobbin holders. Maybe it'll work on tippet rings. Hah.

[@Troutbitten]

@@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy Respectfully, that's a lost cause.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

@@Troutbitten you are right. What i'm finding is that I cannot grip the rings without damaging them further.

[@patches152]

@@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy i use rio tippet rings and occasionally i find one that's bad, and end up just tossing it and getting a new one. alternatively, you can try to tie micro loops at the end of your sighter, not my style but some people prefer them kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ildYKfYs93o8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3fGiZioeJJqi7c

[@reidruhmel8967]

Great video! Thank you. New subscriber. Dig the channel.

[@Troutbitten]

I appreciate that.

[@neilcox2739]

Do you have any tips for managing the tags that are cut off? I don't want to drop these and currently try to use a small ziplock in my wader pocket. What do you do?

[@Troutbitten]

Sure. Put 'em in your pocket.

[@patches152]

my second tip is that if you don't have confidence in a knot, clip it and retie it. i'd rather tie two or three knots to get it right instead of be lazy or rushed, then hook a fish on a bad knot and lose 'em. this spans into some of the ethical side of things, if you're gonna fish, do everything you can to harm the fish as little as possible. tying good knots where you won't break off and leave a fly in their mouth is important.

[@Troutbitten]

Good point

[@Trluce8972]

I am a surgeon and my knots are pretty good. I am not surgeon because my knots started out great, my knots got good because I am a surgeon. My point is… Practice! The only thing that will make your knots solid, reliable, and efficient (saving priceless time with your fly in the water!) is simple practice. Your first knot of any kind will take a while, and may fail altogether. Clip down to fresh leader and do it again. The 2nd or 3rd will take half the time, and the 5th will probably be half of that. Think about it, watch yourself, find the rough spots and concentrate on smoothing those out. Listen to the tips so you don’t have to find them all yourself. Knot #10 will be pretty easy. #20 or so will probably be mostly muscle memory and you will be able to tie it while you are thinking about something else. You are off to the races, and you are a decidedly better angler for the little bit of effort and concentration that made it happen. Success always comes down to fundamentals. Videos on fundamentals help people achieve success. Well done, Troutbitten.

[@Troutbitten]

Right on

[@austindando897]

G3 Readers!

[@Troutbitten]

That's right, Austin.

[@ChasingDreamsLivingLife]

Now let’s do this video tying 6x and 7x and size 26midges!

[@Troutbitten]

Well, the same principles apply, right? And the smaller the hook eye and tippet, the more all of this stuff matters. I think that's the right way to look at it. #26 midges just have a smaller hook eye. So we need to find that contrast in the background, good magnification, clean tags, etc.

[@troutmanoutdoors2332]

Dom, is that the standard Skwala belt? I'm in the market for waders and am considering the Skwalas. But with the built in belt, it seemed that I would not be able to stick my net in the rear of my belt like I always have with my other waders. I see that your net is behind you in your belt in this vid. Just wondering what the deal is. Thanks!

[@Troutbitten]

Good question. I cut the belts off, if they are integrated into waders. I feel like the wader manufacturer can't know where my or your waist is or how I want to position my belt. Integrated belts are another unnecessary frill. But some people like them, so we'll keep getting them. Just cut 'em off.

[@WanderingFromKansas]

What are the glasses? Readers? Magnifiers?

[@Troutbitten]

Oh yeah. Just readers. I'm older now than I once was. Ha. Clic readers are perfect for the river.

[@paoloiannarelli809]

I’d love to show you an easier way to tie a blood knot, how could I share a video with you?

[@Troutbitten]

You may email me. Visit the Troutbitten website and find the About page in the menu.

[@Littlewildtrout]

Although your fingers are definitely your best tools, I love tying knots using hemostats during the winter when fingers start to get numb. The 16-20 and Orvis tippet knots are a breeze with some hemos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/roibc4lpj8qUpac kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZuUamWtfaeWmLc

[@Troutbitten]

Good stuff

[@jessevadala6313]

Alright, I’ll bite. Tools on the vest looks pretty standard; forceps, tippet spools, thermometer…. Cigar clip?!

[@Troutbitten]

Ha. Not sure what you're looking at, but glad to help out. No thermometer hanging anywhere. And no cigar clip.

[@RobertMichaelAuthor]

Great tips. Thanks!

[@Troutbitten]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamescooper2618]

Good tips! Thanks!

[@Troutbitten]

Right on.