tippet to leader

[clarksvalley326]

I'm just curious what knot everyone uses to tie their tippet to the leader. I've been using a surgeons knot, but it hasn't been all that faithful. I'm using a basic 5x tapered leader to 2lb fluorocarbon. Give me some insight on what I might wanna change or a different knot to go to. Thanks for any help.

 

[tomgamber]

I use a blood know unless my hands are freezing or its getting dark, then I use a double surgeons knot.

 

[trowpa]

I use a bloodknot but... when my hands are cold, its too dark, or i'm too excited or impatient i'll use a double uni knot.

 

[albatross]

I use a triple surgeon's.

The blood and surgeon's are illustrated here: http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html

They also have an Orvis Tippet knot illustrated that looks interesting...

 

[jayL]

Blood knot. They are tough to tie with cold hands, but get easier with practice. They don't kink the leader like a surgeon's knot. Also, a completely useless reason for using them is that they are aesthetically pleasing and fun to tie. I guess I'm a geek, but I'm a man that can admire a well tied blood knot for a good 30 seconds.

I've cut back to once in a blue moon frequency with my dipping habits, but I'm pretty sure the inventor of the blood knot chewed. A gob of mint skoal juice slides them right into place every time.

 

[gemiller]

I originally used blood knots but got tired of doing them standing in the water trying to hold everything.

I've been using double surgeon's every time since with no issues.

 

[pete41]

a trick from an old timer for you freezing finger types.
works in hot weather also.
Half a blood knot.
make a loop on end of leader-put tippet through it,tighten loop,make your five wraps around leader with tippet material,tighten
always moisten while tying of course.
You will be pleasantly surprised to find half a blood knot is as strong as a full blood knot as long as you remember the loop goes in the thicker line-duh.lol
You don't have to pay me for this-it used to be common practice but young,brilliant,college boys couldn't figure it out-lol
And no the loop[wind knot ]does not weaken the line 50% because the tippet material wrapped around it strengthen it. thats why blood knots work.

 

[tomgamber]

pete41 wrote:
a trick from an old timer for you freezing finger types.
works in hot weather also.
Half a blood knot.
make a loop on end of leader-put tippet through it,tighten loop,make your five wraps around leader with tippet material,tighten
always moisten while tying of course.
You will be pleasantly surprised to find half a blood knot is as strong as a full blood knot as long as you remember the loop goes in the thicker line-duh.lol
You don't have to pay me for this-it used to be common practice but young,brilliant,college boys couldn't figure it out-lol
And no the loop[wind knot ]does not weaken the line 50% because the tippet material wrapped around it strengthen it. thats why blood knots work.

that's just tying a clinch knot to a loop. You risk the one cutting through the other, especially if you use floro. You;d be better off tying two loops and going loop to loop. That's a much better connection in spite of its bulk.

 

[pete41]

Politely disagree-can't say about flouro but if done correctly on mono,the half blood is as strong as tippet material[the thinner line]
works fine -try it before disregarding-lol

 

[tomgamber]

its just a clinch knot...I have tried it...seemed like it might work. Its just not a good knot for that purpose.

 

[JasonS]

I just use a double surgeons. It's a quick, simple knot to tie and I've never had any issues, atleast I don't think I ever did.

 

[MKern]

I use a triple surgeons. If I'm in a rush it's a double.

 

[Acristickid]

Primarly use the blood knot- feel it gets a better connection and feel to the end of my leader. Probably just a personal psychological issue.

I agree with MKern on the triple. I think sandfly told me once in a post that the triple does'nt cant to one side as much.

 

[scotto]

I use a knot I saw in an article by Lefty Kreh called the Forcep Blood Knot. Fast to tie, holds great and because forceps are used in place of 1 hand, it works well for those w/ less nimble fingers or cold hands.

 

[shakey]

i go loop to loop

 

[afishinado]

acristickid wrote:
Primarly use the blood knot- feel it gets a better connection and feel to the end of my leader.

Wow Paul, you've risen to such a level of sensitivity that you can feel the difference between two different types of knots on your leader!

I use a triple surgeons when tying on my tippet section. If I'm joining a length of tippet with the fly already attached, I use a blood knot. Either works just as well IMO, but I usually use the surgeons because it's a little easier and faster to tie.

 

[tomgamber]

scotto wrote:
I use a knot I saw in an article by Lefty Kreh called the Forcep Blood Knot. Fast to tie, holds great and because forceps are used in place of 1 hand, it works well for those w/ less nimble fingers or cold hands.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/videos/hemostatbloodknot.wmv

I found this demonstration of that knot...am I seeing this wrong? The knot does not end up parallel to the line as a regular blood knot would but appears to end up perpendicular to the line.

 

[clarksvalley326]

You guys that say your using a loop to loop or something similar, wouldn't that effect your presentation? How long is your tippet?

 

[pete41]

I goofed up and Tom the proof reader caught it and I fought it.dang-tough getting old-apologies to Tom.
Several times I said loop when of course meant overhand knot-
overhand knot the heavier line clinch the lighter and its as strong as a regular blood knot because the lighter gives first

 

[tomgamber]

got it...I think I'll just practice tying knots with my eyes shut.