Clinch Knot: Tutorial

[@matthewcox5668]

The "middle finger" tip is the best, most useful part of this video. That finally allowed me to tie this one with much less frustration. Good tip.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here!

[@lorenzojantociii7394]

Thanks so much for this. Used this knot for the first time today, and brought two big Kala here in Hawai’i . These fish are heavy, and strong, they pull and run on you. I was using the Palomar knot, and lost a few fish, but this knot worked great ! Thanks again, Aloha from Hawai’i - Lorenzo

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@zackbond9257]

I have been fly fishing for less than a month. I was taught the improved clinch and I’m so glad to hear it’s not necessary. Pushing the tag back through was the trickiest part. Thanks for the info!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@weisswurstfruhstuck8523]

Actually it’s better for me at least. I lost a lot of fish and flies with the normal clinch not. Not much at all anymore since I use the improved clinch not. Just my 5 cents it simply doesn’t slip anymore that easily. Though there’s better knots for sure anyways. But not as easy of course.

[@fatsidekick]

Have ALWAYS tied an improved clinch knot my whole life. Recently changed to the clinch for the reasons you mentioned and because it’s easier to tie. Have had zero issues.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Amen! Thanks for watching. Very common response.

[@danfloros4267]

Brian thank you for all your knowledge online..yes we will be placing orders with you to be delivered to Sydney, DOWN UNDER..cheers mate!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the support!

[@Sagittarius-88]

All the fancy knots out there and 99 percent of the time the clinch knot is all you need. I use that knot for surf fishing, slinging 5-6 ounces of lead with bait on an 11 foot conventional rod. Never had that knot fail me. Obviously there's a time and a place for other knots, but if I'm tying up bait rigs or leaders, the clinch knot will serve my purpose almost all of the time.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Clinch knot pretty much takes care of it!!!

[@JohnArnoldPhotography]

All these years I thought you were supposed to pull on the tag end and I could never figure out why my knot slipped, so frustrating now I know why. THANK YOU!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@j.taylor7361]

I agree with this: I’ve lost more flies on the ‘improved’ clinch not than the regular clinch! Nice video with clear visuals!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here.

[@dougiasgardy4450]

Thank you for talking about improved clinch knot

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@dougiasgardy4450 Thanks for watching.

[@lachlanmaple4868]

Thanks - your tutorials are the best. Glad I found you early on and learnt to do things the right way.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@alwaysbereadym8]

Thx buddy, massive help, I've been pulling both lines when tying it an have lost some big fish, thx again, good day

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help.

[@alwaysbereadym8]

@@Madriveroutfitters dude never lost 1 hook yesterday 👍 and landed some big bream, thx again 🙂

[@kitchenwitchkaz]

Thanks for this. I'm actually making wind chimes, but needed to know how to tie monofilament line for them! Cheers!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Happy to help!

[@kristymiller2098]

I'm learning fishing to help my daughter and her troop earn their fishing badge. I have been so stressed about tieing the knots this helped thanks!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help.

[@papadave532]

Really great tutorial! I've been fishing for decades and wish I would have known this knot (and the easy trick to tie it) from day one. You sir earn 1000 interweb points.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here.

[@JB-tz9pi]

It's the only knot I ever knew to fish with until youtube came around. I just learned about power and action too. I feel cheated in life.

[@Bannflyfisher]

What knot do you normally use? Just out of interest. Lol

[@dennisrphymurphy7929]

Thank you. For 60 years I have been tying the improved clinch knot because my Dad told me it was better. I'm so happy to not have to go through that hardest final step.. lol.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Most people believe that based on the name.

[@brettmason4866]

Brian, well done and thank you to both you and the team! Keep it up and appreciate it!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks! As long as folks keep supporting the shop, we’ll keep making videos.

[@brettmason4866]

@@Madriveroutfitters unfortunately I dont live in the states otherwise I would certainly be a patron! If I ever head state side I'll be sure to drop by.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@brettmason4866 Keep in mind that we ship all over the world....every day.

[@blakemartin2481]

Recently switched back from the improved clinch knot to the regular. Noticeable improvement in strength when fighting fish with the regular. Not sure why, but happy nonetheless.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

We know why.....the improved is NOT improved.

[@dmac5x1]

Thanks for another great video ! Even though I have been fly fishing for years, I still enjoy watching your videos. I will no longer use the "improved" clinch knot !

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching!

[@koltleo]

This is the knot I always use and it works too damn well

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@metalgrootvader6832]

Great video! Love your store...even if I am a spinning tackle guy.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Metal Grootvader Thanks a ton. We don’t discriminate. All are welcome!

[@glennfriedley1833]

thanks for this! very helpful, easy to follow.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Glad it helped!

[@Shelleyann13]

This is so helpful- thanks again.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

We appreciate you watching.

[@haydengumlaw2642]

Yo thanks. This will help me go fishing on my own.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

Awesome video! I just watched a video by the "Salt Strong" guys and they did a comparison of the clinch knot against the uni knot which is what I usually used. They used a machine like you mentioned to do this and the clinch knot was much better for mono, slightly better for floro and the uni was better for braid.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and for backing us up here!

[@timothybinkley3853]

I believe you about the improved clinch knot .It failed me and I lost more fish due to that than anything else . You can tell when a knot fails and its not just line breakage . The tag end will be all curled and kinked .

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Comes straight from Lefty and Flip......thanks for backing us up though.

[@BenHeath]

Very helpful - thanks a lot!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here.

[@buckappel6835]

Best news I've heard all day the clinch knot is better than the improved clinch knot. I hate the Improved version

[@Madriveroutfitters]

That knot was named wrong! Thanks for watching.

[@wernergrundlingh3591]

Like always a great help..

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here!

[@jonsitron11]

Glad to see I know the knot already! Just bought my first pole for fly fishing, excited to try it out. Been using this (didn’t know it had a name) knot for 20 years, as my dad taught it to me. Would it be beneficial to remove the “extra” tip? I’ve usually done that with my spinning tackle and other lures, but I’m completely new to fly fishing so not sure if it’s recommended or not.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Feel free to contact the folks at the shop with any and all questions. They are always happy to help!

[@leafysfishing]

I use this knot but come back threw the hoop to the side (so called improved clinch knot, we call it a blood knot too in uk) .. I didnt know you could tie it this simply lol .. the one I do has never let me down but thst looks easier!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@kevinmedeiros9281]

I use this knot all the time but i have had it slip on braided line. I was tying a safety knot on top to prevent slippage and the knot failed under fish load/pressure. I am talking 15lb braided line. I usually do 10 twiststs before pulling through the finger hole. Do you recommend more twists, safety knot or just use a different knot with braided line? Ty

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching! Please send any and all questions directly to Brian at the shop and he’ll be happy to help. You can email him or give him a call.

[@philthy8150]

Thank god this one was easy

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@darhlvercaigne8795]

Thank You

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here.

[@briansullivan1402]

That middle finger over the eye is going to save me so much frustration. I feel like such a fool for not having always done it that way. So much time wasted!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help. Stay tuned.

[@mikhaylomikhaylik7880]

Great video! Thank you! A quick question - how short should you clip the tag end after the knot is set?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

You can trim it pretty close! Thanks for watching.

[@timothybinkley3853]

Ive always heard 1/8 in. Which I always am in the ballpark of .

[@deantreloar]

I fell for the Improved Clinch Knot! Lost two flies in a row. I THINK, not sure, but I think it actually creases the line creating a weak point.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

That is correct!

[@michaelbmenjivar]

i’ve got a question, when i tighten the knot up, it sometimes pops right off the fly. what could be causing that?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Send those questions over to the shop and they will help you out there. Thanks.

[@outstandinggamingbrothers2074]

It could be because u pulled on the tag end this happened tonme as well

[@bigtim7743]

The craftsmanship of that bailing wire hook is uncanny

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Made in the USA....right here in our shop. Thanks.

[@rileyjfoster27]

I’m new to fly fishing. I have always used the uni knot or the palomar knot to tie on baits. Is the clinch knot recommended over the those knots for tying on fly baits?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Seems that way.

[@rileyjfoster27]

@@Madriveroutfitters thank you

[@garethschnehage6067]

Just to confirm, would this be the same for saltwater fly tying? Including when fishing for GT on the flats?

[@garethschnehage6067]

Loving the videos thank you!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@garethschnehage6067 Thanks for watching. Best to contact the shop directly with questions. They will be happy to help.

[@ARCSTREAMS]

this knot was the first and only knot my dad ever taught me ,but i am wondering if instead of having only one line or loop though the eye of the hook if a second line or loop would make it better or not?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Never heard of anyone doing that so must not be needed?

[@ARCSTREAMS]

@@Madriveroutfitters yeah i guess,also its all still one line going to the hook so might not make a difference for tensions strength but it might for keeping the tag from slipping if its sitting on one of the lines instead of the bare metal of the hook ,at least for my 4lb line which keeps coming apart on my small #8 hook,seems to work for me there

[@TeemuNord]

@ ARCSTREAMS My dad and i do that, if it's what your thinking of, i dont know. I was taught by my dad to pass the line through again a second time so that it forms a perfect loop inside of a triangle, then wrap it 5 or 7 times never 6 (fishing superstition i know) and pass it though the inner loop before tightening it, it only works if the eye of the hook is big enough to pass the line through twice. We just call it a double knot or just double for short, what people call a clinch knot we have always called a single knot or single for shirt, i have experienced this knot being less prone to slipping out than a normal clinch knot, why that is i dont know, my dad have used this knot for 40+ years and me for around 20 years of fishing, never fails.

[@ARCSTREAMS]

@@TeemuNord the knot i do sometimes is similar,i pass the line twice through the eye ,so once from the back and again another time from the back and i tighten to make sure that double loop is snug towards the top and not just curled somewhere on the eye,i then pinch it to hold it there while i wrap the tag end several times to make the clinch but i do not pass the tag through the double loops that are snug,but simply pass it through like a normal clinch knot but the difference now is that the tag is sandwiched between the lines and not sitting on the bare metal where it might slip,,i usually use this stronger knot(imo) on a swivel but then use regular clinches for my leader under the swivel and for my hooks or lures,,this way if it gets snagged i can save my floater or slip float system that is above the swivel and only loose a split shot and the hook or lure,,i also sometimes use a palomar knot and instead of trying to run a loop through the eye like most fools try i simply pass the line through the eye and then take the tag and pass it through again ,its much easier that way specially with smaller eyed hooks

[@zeissOholic]

Yes, two loops through the eye of the hook substantially increases the strength of the standard clinch knot. I've tested it on a line testing machine. The uni knot and the clinch are pretty close to each other strength wise as well. Often depends on the particular mono or fluoro being used. The advantage of the uni knot is that you can pull the line back a bit (as it's a slip knot) and form a nice little loop which will give streamers a lot more movement in the water. Of course, it will tighten back up again if you hook a fish.

[@joebostic1783]

This hold up against 20 30 lb salmon or steelhead?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Of course. Holds up to most anything that swims.

[@davidball5002]

It holds up to 30lb golden trevally, which would pull two of your 30lb salmon backwards

[@stevecoscia123]

Can u pass thru eye twice??

[@Madriveroutfitters]

You can if you want but not sure what that would do. Feel free to call the shop as they would be more qualified to answer. Thanks.

[@frostizz2072]

For me sometimes it just doesn’t tighten up when I pull and it just slips out

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Making sure to pull the standing end only? Keep practicing and feel free to call or email the shop and they may be able to help. Thanks.

[@benmarks7364]

I have the same issue and wonder if it happens because I fed the tag end through the loop the wrong direction or I should have made more than 5 twists with smaller diameter tippet.

[@waylonlegend4603]

Standard clinch is all you need

[@Madriveroutfitters]

That is correct!

[@ARCSTREAMS]

you said you put your middle finger over the eye? i think you meant over the main line

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Yes, he did and that is what he meant.

[@alucard6675]

Yeah lets say basic...but this is the strongest knot of all..when the fish keep on pulling the knot is getting tighter and impossible to loose..ive been using this knot for long time and never failed me...

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and backing us up here.

[@sweetsourpork111]

Improved knot seems to strain the line too much. If anything may be good for braid but I never use it.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@scottfuhrer7488]

Brian, What is the Monkey face on the Tumbler? Kinda looks like my Mother-in-Law!!!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@scottfuhrer7488 Howler Brothers logo!

[@jamesfitzgerald1684]

That middle finger trick is not something I knew. I also didn't know I wasn't supposed pull the tag end. No wonder I keep losing flies.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help.

[@412Angler]

Couldn’t you just use a Palomar knot ?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Probably so but why not just use this one?

[@highc6866]

All this time I’ve been using the improved clinch. Oops

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.