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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Making sense of knots



Tying saltwater knots can be an itimidating event for even the most experienced angler. After all there is a lot riding on the quality of your knots. A 100lb tarpon will blow up rig on the bite if everything is'nt seated properly and tied correctly.

Below I will show you you the only three knots you will ever need to know for saltwater fishing. You can conform them to meet any type or size leader requirments even IGFA (also stands for "It Got Fucking Away").

The first knot is a Double Over Hand Loop Knot. You will use this knot to create a loop to loop connection between your fly line and leader butt section. Every new fly line out there has a welded loop on the end of it. I have never seen one fail yet. So I always use the loop to loop connection here.
The next knot is a Two Turn Blood Knot. You will use this connection for your class tippet to Butt section and your class tippet to bight tippet in your tarpon leaders. It can also be used to taper down your leaders for anything you dont need a large bite tippet for. Such as Bonefish,Permit, Redfish Strippers, etc.

The final knot in your system is a No Name Loop Knot. It's fast easy to tie and very strong. I use this knot to tie on all my flies


The Double Over Hand Loop Knot



Double over the leader material making sure you give yourself plenty of tag end to sinch down the knot. Next make an overhand knot in the doubled line. Pass the loop end of the doubled line through the over hand knot twice , lubricate and sinch tight. Trim the tag end Thats it. With a little practice you can get the loop what ever size you like.










The Two Turn Blood Knot





Double over the thinner line once again making sure you give yourself plenty of extra to sinch down the knot when completed.





Now make 5 or 6 turns of the doubled line over the thicker line passing it back through the x or y you have created with the turns. ( just like a standard blood knot)

Hold the line at the y and now make 2 1/2 turns with the heavier line over the doubled thinner line once again passing it back through the hole youve created. A little tip I like to make sure I pass them through opposite each other. Lubricate and sinch tight making sure to have a good grip on the doubled line so it sinches down evenly. Inspect the wraps if any of them overlap each other the knot will fail. If it looks good carefully trim all the tag ends and you will end up with a very strong and beautiful knot.

The No Name Loop Knot










Tie an over hand Knot in the leader give yourself at least 6 inches of tag to work with.





Pass the tag end of the knot through the hook eye and then back through the over hand knot. Make 2 to 4 wraps depending on line diameter and then pass it pack through the over hand knot. Lubricate and sinch. If done correctly you should not have to sinch it further with the tag end. Trim the tag end and your done....Hint on larger diameter lines 2 wraps is all that is needed.










These are really the only knots I use in slatwater fishing. Keep it simple and you will have less breakoffs. I'll go into leader recipes another time.










Monday, January 4, 2010

Permit Flies



As I sit here in Montana waiting for the next powder day on the mountain. I dream of warm tropical spring days filled with visions of tailing permit. It brings me back to one of my all time favorite permit flies. We started fishing this fly over twelve years ago and I still fish it today. It has caught more permit for me and my customers than I cant count. This is a great late winter early spring pattern when the fish are looking for something substanial to eat. This time of the year you want to feed them not fool them. I have seen a similar this version of fly in shops from time to time but I have never seen it tied correctly.
I typically tie this fly on a size # 2 34007 stainless Mustad. You will need to hand sharpen this hook but I like them because they never rust. I also like the fact that it has a big barb so when it sinks into the rubby flesh of a permits face it almost never comes out.
You also want to make sure that you tie the EP fibers on the hook side of the shank so that the flie will not tumble when diving or being stripped. This often why a permit will spook off a fly while inspecting the offering. You can tie this fly in just about any color or size you choose. I like it in a brown, light tan or an olive.
I also like to add a shinny belly of thin skin to give the fly a more realistic look as well as a little flash if you cast is slightly off target. It will help to get the fishes attention as the fly is sinking towards the bottom.

Happy Tying and Good fishing.







Capt. Kris' "Jelly Belly Permit Fly"

Material List
Hook: Mustad 34007 size #2
Eyes: Lead Dumbell Eyes Medium
Body: EP Fibers Light Tan
Legs: Sili Legs Brown or tan with Pumkin flake
Tail: Bar dyed rabbit strip White and Brown
Belly: Sili Skin or thin skin white or pearl
Weed Gaurd: 16lb hard Mason doubled over hook shank