what would you say the most used knot is when tying on a fly to your tippet?
I don’t know if it is the most used but I use a clinch knot most of the time for trout. When I use a heavier fly like a streamer; if I feel in the mood I may go to an improved clinch knot.
I know there are better and stronger knots out there but I haven’t had enough knot failures trout fishing to make it worth my while to go through the bother of using them. I’ve had more failures at my blood knots than anything else.
Besides; I can tie a clinch knot drunk with one eye closed and one hand tied behind my back which counts for a lot when it’s dark, a hatch is on and I have to change flies.
For “my” tippet, the Duncan Loop or Uni Knot.
I’m with Bamboozle on this one, usually an improved clinch.
This sounds stupid, but the best knot to use is the one that you can tie the best…the one you have the most confidence in.
Knots fail when they slip, so a mediocre knot tied well is much better than any good knot tied poorly.
I mostly use a regular old clinch knot.
The number of “turns” you use makes a lot of difference with a clinch
With a heavy tippet …up to 20# I’ll use only 3 or 4 turns
With a light tippet such as 6x I’ll make a 7 turn knot
Mudflaper. From reading many of the previous threads on knots I would surmise that most use either a clinch or an improved clinch knot.
Tim
I use 3 knots. For small flies and I’m in a hurry - Davy’s Knot. Small to medium flies - Clinch Knot. Larger flies where the eye is bigger - Palomar Knot. For all streamers I use a loop.
If you want to use a clinch type knot …the Trilene Knot is much stronger…
[quote[LEFT]=ducksterma[/LEFT]n;211485]If you want to use a clinch type knot …the[LEFT] Trilen[/LEFT]e Knot is much stronger…[/quote]
I disagree[LEFT] ducki[/LEFT]e
Because the[LEFT] Trilen[/LEFT]e loops twice around the hook eye, it has the tendency to not seat tight
This[LEFT]miniscule[/LEFT]e amount of slack allows the knot to slip.
When it slips, it breaks.
In theory the[LEFT] Trilen[/LEFT]e should be stronger …and when it’s tied well it is.
But if it’s not seated right, it will break every time
I disagree duckie
Because the Trilene loops twice around the hook eye, it tends to be harder to seat because it does not always draw tight
If it does not seat correctly it will slip.
If it slips it, it will break.
In theory it’s a stronger knot, in practice it doesn’t always work that way.
A wise man once said…
“This sounds stupid, but the best knot to use is the one that you can tie the best…the one you have the most confidence in.
Knots fail when they slip, so a mediocre knot tied well is much better than any good knot tied poorly.”
I say tie it correctly;-)
There was a MAMMOTH thread on the “other” FF board a couple of years ago called “Improved Clinch…the worst knot ever???” People argued for days about which knots were best.
I’ve pretty much settled on the Orvis knot.
That discussion on the “other” FF board must have taken place during the middle of a very tough winter !!??
Regular clinch knot works fine for the trout fishing I do, for tying tippet to the furled leader tip ring, tying flies to the tippet, tying tippet onto the bend of a lead hook when trailing a fly, for dries, emergers, nymphs, terrestrials, and streamers.
SURGEON’S LOOP. I can use much heavier tippet on tiny flies, like 6X on a #32. It’s all I use, plus gives movement to the fly, even dries.
I always use the improved clinch…mainly because I can tie it in my sleep.
I have heard, however, that it is one of the weakest knots (regular clinch being weaker). Does anyone else feel this way? and I do occasionally have problems with it…mostly it’s “tier error”…
I’m interested to checking out some of these other knots…I’ve never heard of anyone using the surgeons knot for tying tippet to the fly (that’s all I use for attaching tippet to leader).
~Randy
“Does anyone else feel this way?”…yes
Note Joni said surgeon’s loop…
That’s what I get for skimming through…duly noted…
(improved clinch) I have heard, however, that it is one of the weakest knots (regular clinch being weaker). Does anyone else feel this way? and I do occasionally have problems with it…mostly it’s “tier error”…
I guess we all know that the improved clinch is “improved” by a “lock” after the clinch part is done.
The trouble is that the clinch part is not completed (drawn tight) when the “lock” is put in place.
The whole knot is expected to draw tight all at once and that doesn’t work without lots of lubrication and a bit of luck.
Take, for example, an other “improved” knot, the improved albright.
The regular albright is first completed. Then it is locked into place by an abbreviated uni-knot. Two completely separate operations.
This is a good knot.
I could go on and on about this stuff but some of these things I have trouble explaining to myself 
Don’t assume that the "regular clinch " is weaker. That all depends on the number of “turns” in the clinch
I used the clinch knot and improved clinch knot for years, but I have converted to the Pitzen knot.
Steve
The Pitzen is a good knot because the standing line comes through the wraps without a kink or a bend.
All high percentage knots do this