Saturday, June 27, 2015

New England Fly Fishing Lessons: Fishing Knots

Fly Fishing Lessons: $5 per Hour!

We believe, in order to get more people into the sport of fly fishing, you deserve the very best instruction, at the lowest price possible.  This is why we offer lessons based on a donation only fee system.  In other words, if you have a well paying job, do the right thing by paying the suggested minimum donations.  If money is tight, make a donation that works for you and your family.  It's that simple.

Beginner Casting Class Donation Rates

  • (1) Angler: suggested minimum donation is $20.00 per hour
  • (2-3) Anglers: suggested minimum donation is $10.00 per hour, per person
  • (4-6) Anglers: suggested minimum donation is $5.00 per hour, per person
  • Minimum Course Time: 2 hours
  • Age: Under 12 years old, must be accompanied by an adult  
  • Monday- Sunday

You can read more about our lessons and guiding programs at 
http://firstcastflyfishing.blogspot.com/p/lessons-guiding_22.html

The purpose of this post is to direct you to the knot experts.  In my opinion the videos provided by http://www.animatedknots.com/ are the best of the best.  I have attached a few of their videos, but if I were you, I would bookmark their page, or download their app. The other purpose of this post is to simple say the following:

  • In your free time, practice tying knots.  I highly recommend grabbing two pieces of rope, take them to work, on the drive, on the plane, and on the couch. 
  • Visit your local fly shop and ask them if they have old backing and fly line.  Use this material to practice.   
  • Become the expert...don't rely on the guide/fly shop to set-up your line and tie your knots.  





The following are MUST know for fly fishing
  • Arbor: backing line to spool
  • Albright: backing line to fly line
  • Nail Knot: fly line to monofilament
  • Perfection Loop: monofilament to leader
  • Double Surgeon Loop: monofilament to monofilament
  • Double Surgeons: leader to tippet
  • Improved Clinch: tippet to hook
Arbor
Albright
Nail
Perfection Loop
Surgeons Loop
Double Surgeons
Improved Clinch

Saltwater Knots


A saltwater set-up (backing, fly line, leader) is identical to the set-up posted above. However, as you begin to use larger diameter monofilament fishing line, and as you tie your monofilament leader to a hook, the clinch knot, may not seat and bite properly.  Therefore, the use of the clinch knot is not recommended when fly fishing in saltwater.  When attaching a fly to a leader, the preferred saltwater knots generally are loop knots. Why?  One, they are easier to tie and hold excellent break strength. Two, loop knots are the preferred knot when fishing flies that mimic small and large bait fish.  In other words, when the fly is in the water, the open loop allows the fly to have more natural action. Just be sure to keep your loop size to a minimum.  By doing so, you won't spook wary fish.  

    
Non-Slip Mono Loop