FLY BY KNOT!!!
By Montana Grant

Posted: May 15, 2021

Tying fishing knots can be tough. Loosing a great fish because of a crappy knot is tougher. Learning to tie good knots quickly and efficiently is tougher.

There is nothing worse than fishing when the bite is on and you break off a fly or lure. For many anglers, this means a 15-minute break. While they are fiddling with line, tippet, flies, and lures, the fish are going bonkers.

Speedy knots mean more fishing time. Guides become quick tiers but fail to teach the skill of tying knots. Fishermen rarely practice tying knots. Time is money, especially when the hatches and rising fish are limited.

90 % of fish feeding is nymphs and sub surface. Fly Guys that are Purists for a dry fly have a limited window of time to strike. Most suffer when it comes to tying knots.

Here are some tips to help you become a better knot tier.

Use your fingers!    When I tie a knot, finger dexterity is critical. All 5 fingers become important. After the line is through the hook or lure eye, place your finger on top of the hook eye. Build your knot on top of your finger. When you need to pull the tag end back through the eye loop, your finger is in place to lead it through the finger fat opening!

PRE-RIG    if you are a slow knot tier and like to fish double rigs, tie the rigs ahead of time. An average rig requires several knots. If the tandem rig is tied before you are on the water, only one knot is needed.

LICK IT!    Before you snug up any knot, lick it. Friction creates heat and dry knots will be weaker if snatched tight with friction heat. Saliva cools the tie.

USE ENOUGH LINE   Too many fishermen become cheap when with line when tying a knot. Extra line is better than not enough.

OPTICS    If you cannot see it, you can’t tie it! Do not be afraid to put on some Cheaters!

NIPPERS!!!    Use a pair of nippers to cut the fishing line. Do not use your teeth. When you cut the line, do not cut across the line, cut the line into a point, at an angle. This will make it easier to thread into the hook eye.

PRACTICE    It’s ok to do your homework. Select a knot and learn how to properly tie it. Watch some YouTube Videos to figure it out. Use heavier line for practice. When I teach knot tying, I use Polypropylene yarn. Its easier to manipulate with your fingers.

Knot Up!

Montana Grant

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