Winter is the perfect season to turn our time to a facet of fishing neglected by many, especially those trying to squeeze a little river or lake time into an already hectic schedule: knots. Come on now, how many of you out there sit and practice your knot tying on a regular basis - anyone, anyone? That's what we take our husbands, boyfriends, and guides along for - right? So we can catch the fish and they can tie all the knots so we won't lose the fish...
I discovered years ago that lack of knot tying proweress was a major downer in my life. Even if we hired a guide when we went on the "big trips" out west or fishing somewhere new, one guide for two anglers means you spend a lot of time NOT FISHING if you can't tie the basics. Oh, I knew the improved clinch and a few others for getting the fly to stay on the end of the tippet, but what if I broke my tippet? What was that knot again that Will uses for the tippet-to-leader, um, how does that loop thing work again...
Look, ladies (and anyone new to the sport of fly fishing), the true and full joy of this sport or any other can only be brought about by attention to the detailed nuances - in this case, it's the knot, the right knot for the job, that brings success - and , ultimately, more enjoyment of the sport. It's like taking up golf and saying, "Oh, I'll just let someone else putt for me since I enjoy hitting off the tee." Play golf long enough and you're going to have to learn how to putt. The same holds true for fly fishing; do it long enough and you have to learn the knots.
Now don't think you have to be the I-make-my-own-leaders-queen or anything like that; just master the basics and your enjoyment will soar. There's nothing like a little self-sufficiency to stir the soul. Fifteen to twenty minutes a couple of times a week will bring both the nimbleness and confidence to boost your stream experience, even if you don't lean toward being a technophile.
Resolve to learn these basic knots in 2004:
- The Nail Knot - used to tie the fly line to the leader (Learn the Paragum or Shock Knot too if you plan to go after bigger fish)
- Perfection loop - speeds up the connection process
- Albright Knot - for tapered leaders or tippet
- Palomer knot - used for a lot of saltwater and non-fly angling, I've found it to work well on large flies
- Surgeon's Knot and Blood Knot - more good ones for joining two types of line together
- Improved Clinch - still the preferred for most for tying the fly to the line
Great references: Two you should not be without are:
- Practical Fishing Knots by Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreh - over 50 knots and leaders for fly fishing, trolling, baitcasting and spinning in fresh and salt water.
- The Art of Knot Tying with Chico Fernandez - 90 minutes of straight-forward instruction on tying essential knots, rigging the fly line, constructing the leader all the way to the fly, with a few tips for casting as well.
Tight lines!
