Knots for the Flyfisher
King Sling
We finish
our discussion of knots for fly fishermen with a method of tying the King Sling using
hemostats developed by Bruce E. Harang making properly tying the knot in fine tippet
material much easier.
In general, whenever you tie knots in mono-filament you need to thoroughly wet the knot
and draw it up with a single smooth tightening motion. This applies whether the
monofilament is nylon, fluorocarbon, or any other monofilament polymer or co-polymer.
The following discussion and knot selection is for freshwater fishing. In saltwater there
are several alternative knots, which are, in some cases, more suitable.
The knot is started in the same manner whether or not you are using a set of forceps to
assist with tying the knot.
Form a double loop at the end of
the line by folding the end of the line back on itself forming a loop. Then fold the loop
back on itself forming a second loop. Grasp this second loop with your forceps. See Figure
1 below
Now rotate the second loop end and the forceps around the double line
three times. See Figure 2 below.
Next, push the second loop and the forceps holding the second loop through
the first loop. Then release and withdraw the forceps leaving the second loop extending
through the first loop. See Figure 3 below. Note: you can also reverse the procedure by
placing the closed forceps through the first loop and then grasping the second loop,
wrapping the forceps and grasped loop around the standing line and tag three times.
Finally, draw the forceps out of the first loop along with the second loop.
Wet the knot and using one hand to pull the single loop and the other to
pull both the standing line and the tag end start to draw the knot tight. Once the knot
forms, even out the knot loops on each end of the knot itself. See Figure 4 below.
Finally, complete drawing the knot tight. Clip the tag end leaving a short
stub and the loop knot is complete. See Figure 5 below. Note that in Figure 5 the tag has
not yet been cut off.
This is one of the strongest, safest loop forming knots in the fly
fisherman’s arsenal. Learn to tie this easy loop knot and you won’t loose fish
to failed loops. I have tied this loop knot in monofilament up to 50 lb. Breaking strength
with a diameter of 0.028" with no problems getting the knot to tighten. |
