The clinch knot is the most used knot in fly fishing. Its most common application is in connecting tippet to a fly. The knot maintains nearly 100% of the tippet strength and is fairly straight forward to tie.
{images to come}
Blood Knot
The blood knot is used for connecting two sections of tippet or to connect the leader to tippet. The sections of tippet should not differ by more than 2 sizes - attach 4x to 6x but not to 7x.
{images to come}
Surgeons Knot
This knot is the easiest in the fisher's repertoire. It is also used in connecting two pieces of tippet or to connect tippet to leader. The same principal applies to the sizes of the tippet as the blood knot.
{images to come}
Mono Loop
This loop knot, along with the Perfection loop below can be used to attach a fly to tippet. Commonly streamers are attached with loop knots to allow them to hinge better during casting and move more freely during retrieval.
{images to come}
Perfection Loop
Besides being used to attach streamers to tippet, this knot can be used in the butt end of a leader to connect it to a fly line in a loop-to-loop connection. This makes for easy switching of leaders. The slim profile allows the knot to move through the guides easily.
{images to come}
Nail Knot
This knot can be a challenge, but the use of a nail (hence the name) or a straw will help tremendously. This knot is used for attaching a leader to the fly line. It has no bulk and can withstand the strongest fish.
{images to come}
Arbor Knot
You will not have to tie this knot very often. It is a simple knot however, used to attach backing to the reel. Many variations are tied of this knot and this is the simplest, but should it fail you, your fish of a lifetime, not to mention your fly line and 150 yards of backing are gone for good.
{images to come}
For more knots related to fishing, hiking, sailing, rescue and decor visit animatedknots.com.
