Streamer Fishing - We Test Whether a Loop Knot Adds Movement!

Do you fish streamers? Then surely you know to use a loop knot, rather than a clinch knot, so your fly will have more movement in the water! 🤔 But wait, is that “common knowledge” really true? Sounds like something worth putting to the test! So we did.
#flyfishing #streamerfishing #streamers #streamerjunkie #streamerfly #streamerflies #trout #browntrout #fishstreamers

[@jdf585-p2g]

This really isn’t a test that would show which knot provides more movement as it is a single constant force pushing more or less one direction against the fly. Jerking and stripping where the fly pauses and changes directions would be a much better test especially with articulated flies. But you don’t need a fancy current tank to see which is better. Just go fish both knots in clear water and watch the difference. The loop knot allows more movement in those circumstances.

[@SweetwaterFlyShopLivingston]

🙄

[@SweetwaterFlyShopLivingston]

🙄

[@franklentine9436]

Your means of testing is similar to spin fishing trolling and not fly fishing stripping. When stripping, you will see a lot more movement with the non-slip loop knot versus the clinch knot. Just in the stripping pause, the loop knot with show a lot more movement.

[@SweetwaterFlyShopLivingston]

🙄

[@MichaelKuczynski-u7o]

I don’t think it’s a valid test that’s not how you fish a streamer. That being said if you put in front of a fish they will eat it . Thank you Doctor :-)

[@mrdragon1653]

IMHO, a fish in the mood would grab either one. The type of knot is irrelevant.

[@ruthcoldsmith5376]

I think ,# 1 is the loop.not .don't think the fish would care either way Rjc

[@fishincabin]

Knot #2 streamer appeared to have a greater range of motion than #1.

[@erichandyauto]

#2? The head seems to bob more in #2.

[@JCS_72]

My guess would be the loop knot is #1. The current would move the tippet, which is directly connected to the fly via a clinch knot. A loop would break contact as that line moves around.

[@ronaldbarnes3327]

This fly's materials offer lots of movement anyway. The same could be said for maribou or one with long saddles like a Deceiver. What he should do is test the knots using a simple bucktail like a Thunder Creek or a Mickey Finn. Thanks for the test, however.

[@matswesen2713]

In this case it really doesn't matter. I use a non slip loop knot all the time for Scandinavian coastal sea trout fishing with a shrimp streamer.

[@BruceBaillie1]

I thought the #1 knot seemed to have more movement, but the difference between it and #2 was negligible at best. The comment the fly materials giving this particular fly a lot of movement I think was a relevant obsevation. I think a better test might be using some nymphs like a Copper John, a Hare's Ear, or maybe a Rickards Callibaetis (my personal favorite).

[@darrellwadden6031]

So i enjoyed the video but please answer the question about what u did

[@SweetwaterFlyShopLivingston]

Sorry, I posted another video later that revealed the truth. Knot #1 was the loop and #2 was a clinch knot.

[@PaulN-x2q]

My guess is that one piece of mono pulling a fly is better than two (as in a loop)?

[@mattdetorres]

1. 😅

[@mikelundrigan2285]

So tell us which is which! I suspect #1 was the loop but am I right? Not sure if the trout care though?!

[@SweetwaterFlyShopLivingston]

#2 was the loop knot. I was surprised how little difference there was!

[@mylesreilly5912]

Knot number 2 sir

[@SalSavia-y7x]

#1!

[@darjokturr]

2?

[@ronaldbarnes3327]

Homer Rhodes, Florida tarpon guide, developed the loop knot in the 1950s so 80 lb. shock tippets could be tied to flies directly. A simple bucktail like any of the tarpon blonde series would have a lot less action clinch-knotted to a shock tippet.