The Turle Knot

Billems

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Sep 23, 2020
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98
Every season, I resolve to use the double turle knot for my flies. But when a hatch takes wing, and I have to change flies, I can't tie the knot fast enough. Do any of you use the turle knot, and do you have any tip you can give to make the fly change go nearly as fast as the clinch?
 
I really like the Turle but can never remember how to do it (same for the Orvis knot). I've used a Davy knot for years since it's easy (for me anyway) to remember and uses hardly any tippet. Just be sure the tag is jammed against the hook eye at a right angle, and it holds very well.
 
Go to walmart and buy the cheapest spool of 2lb test you can find. Sit on your couch or porch and practice tying your knot of choice for at least 10 minutes every day for 2 weeks. You will now be a master with that knot. I actually need to do this with a few knots I struggle with. I learned blood knots this way and can whip one up pretty quickly
 
Go to walmart and buy the cheapest spool of 2lb test you can find. Sit on your couch or porch and practice tying your knot of choice for at least 10 minutes every day for 2 weeks. You will now be a master with that knot. I actually need to do this with a few knots I struggle with. I learned blood knots this way and can whip one up pretty quickly
I like your idea about knot practice at home. My first lessons/sessions regarding fishing when I was 6 yrs old were at the work bench in the neighbor’s basement. The lessons were knot tying and related topics, such as attaching a snelled hook to a line for an over/under rig, joining two lines together, etc.. I think we started with rope because it was stiffer than line and easier to work with initially and then switched to line once I got the hang of the knots. We didn’t even start casting (with a casting rod/reel, not push button) in the back yard until I could tie knots. I still practice a blood knot occasionally when watching TV. As for the Turle Knot, that’s what a friend swears by for pre-attaching large night wet flies to snells.
 
I like your idea about knot practice at home. My first lessons/sessions regarding fishing when I was 6 yrs old were at the work bench in the neighbor’s basement. The lessons were knot tying and related topics, such as attaching a snelled hook to a line for an over/under rig, joining two lines together, etc.. I think we started with rope because it was stiffer than line and easier to work with initially and then switched to line once I got the hang of the knots. We didn’t even start casting (with a casting rod/reel, not push button) in the back yard until I could tie knots. I still practice a blood knot occasionally when watching TV. As for the Turle Knot, that’s what a friend swears by for pre-attaching large night wet flies to snells.
I made all my kids do this to learn a clinch knot (and to handle a hook).

George Harvey and Joe Humphreys liked turle knots according to their books and Joe's video. Joe stated that the turle knot held a dryfly straight on the surface instead of allowing its butt to tip back. I've never tied it.
 
After looking it up quickly and looking at this picture, I think I'll stick to the Davy.

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Well Billems, I see why you have trouble with the turtle knot. Think I'll just stick with clinch knot and Davies and uni knot for streamers.
 
After looking it up quickly and looking at this picture, I think I'll stick to the Davy.

View attachment 1641242863
yep... nope.

While y'all are busy fiddlef**king with that knot, I just caught and released 3 fish. We're talking ultralight trout tackle here not snelling 2/0 Clouser minnows.

Why not go the other direction and switch to a knot that makes things easier instead of more difficult? A single Davy has superior strength to whatever goofy antique this is. There's a reason climbers use figure of 8 type knots and I'd argue they've got way more skin in the game than we do.
 
Why not go the other direction and switch to a knot that makes things easier instead of more difficult?
I agree that knot looks like more trouble than its worth, but there are many things we do in this sport that could be simplified down to an ultralight spinning rod with powerbait on the hook. Don't give someone a hard time just because they want to try something different.
 
A Clinch Knot has served me well forever. In addition, my angst after losing a fish I was going to release anyway because of a failed knot lasts about 15 seconds...

However, there is another reason I am a fan of a Clinch Knot, I have been using one of these on a zinger forever to hold my fly:
Minigrabber.jpg
This set-up makes it INCREDIBLY easy to spin the fly a few times to get the needed wraps around the running line. It is SO easy, I can't imagine going through the hassle of tying or trying any other knot no matter the supposed benefits or the trendy names.
 
I have tied improved clinch for a couple decades. I went to davy for a short window, but the improved clinch has never failed me. UNTIL SUNDAY. I fished a jig streamer on a popular limestoner in high water and landed a SMB. Then without much thought and without checking my knot, tossed the jig back into the same pocket and im hung up - but no - big headshakes and moving upstream. As I applied side pressure, pop. The curly end of the 3x told me that the knot slipped out.

Maybe time to go to davy again...
 
I use the double turle on steelhead and atlantics but this is 12-15# Maxima chameleon.
Tippet smaller than 1x it is too difficult for me so I clinch knot and on 4x and smaller the improved clinch.
The davey knot I have tried but I didnt stick with it, no particular reason, just that the clinch is an automatic for me for more than fifty years.
The orvis knot is harder than the clinch for me.
7x tippet is beyond my capabilities for any knot anymore.
 
Go to walmart and buy the cheapest spool of 2lb test you can find. Sit on your couch or porch and practice tying your knot of choice for at least 10 minutes every day for 2 weeks. You will now be a master with that knot. I actually need to do this with a few knots I struggle with. I learned blood knots this way and can whip one up pretty quickly
Actually, save your Wally money and do the birds a favor - just pick up discarded spinning line at the stream and use that up with knot practice. I also use the discards for tying leaders - when I'm ffishing 7X and 8X, even really rotten spinning line is not the weak link. Also the stuff is usually dull so less spooky to the trouts. And the weathered surface holds floatant really well - I like my leaders to float.
 
A Clinch Knot has served me well forever. In addition, my angst after losing a fish I was going to release anyway because of a failed knot lasts about 15 seconds...

However, there is another reason I am a fan of a Clinch Knot, I have been using one of these on a zinger forever to hold my fly:
View attachment 1641242869
This set-up makes it INCREDIBLY easy to spin the fly a few times to get the needed wraps around the running line. It is SO easy, I can't imagine going through the hassle of tying or trying any other knot no matter the supposed benefits or the trendy names.


I used to use a tool or forceps. Then I started doing this.


Once you've threaded the eye, you can literally do this in the dark or with your eyes closed.
 
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