Knots Tutorial

This page contains a tutorial to help people that are new to flyfishing learn how to tie knots that are regularly used while flyfishing.

I found a website that has some great pictures and video clips of knots being tied. You can acess their website with the following link.

Animated Knots

Surgeon's Knot

1. Lay the two lengths of line to where the tag ends overlap about 4 inches
2. Grab both lines at the tag ends
3. Form a loop with both lines
4. Wrap the tag from one and the length of the other through the loop
5. Cinch down

Double Surgeon's Knot

1. Perform the same steps as a Surgeon’s Knot, but take an extra wrap with both ends through the loop prior to cinching it down.

Triple Surgeon's Knot

1. Perform the same steps as a Surgeon’s Knot, but take two extra wraps with both ends through the loop prior to cinching it down.

Improved Blood Knot


1. Wrap the two lines around each other 10 times.
2. Separate one of the wraps in the center
3. Insert both of the tag ends through the separated wrap from opposite sides.
4. Cinch down

Clinch Knot


1. Put the tag end of the line through the eye of the hook.
2. Bring the tag end back up parallel with the running line.
3. Wrap the tag end around the running line five times
4. Pull the tag end back down and go through the loop formed at the bottom.
5. Cinch down.

Improved Clinch Knot

1. Perform the same steps as a Clinch Knot
2. Before you cinch it up bring the tag end back up through the loop formed at the top.
3. Cinch down

Barrel Knot

1. Form a loop at the end of one of the lines
2. Insert the end of the other through that loop
3. Wrap each tag end around the line 5 times
4. Bring the tag ends back through the first loop created from opposite sides
5. Cinch down

Nail Knot

Perfection Loop

1. Form a loop in the end of the line
2. Bring the tag end down and under the first loop and form a second, slightly larger loop behind the first.
3. Bring the tag end around like you would make a third loop, but bring it across between the loops.
4. Take the smaller loop and pull it up through the first while holding onto the tag end and cinch.

General Knot Information

ALWAYS wet the knot before cinching it down. This provides cooling and lubrication to the line to prevent it from getting brittle from the heat caused by friction.

PRACTICE – Nothing beats it. Buy a cheap spool of monofilament like 4-pound test and practice tying these knots before you head out fishing.

Jackson Weather Courtesy of Accuweather.com

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