In the Fly Fishing 101 section I read the following:
“Adding a “riffle hitch” to the head of the fly will help keep it riding on the surface. A riffle-hitch is simply a half-hitch that is secured around the head of the fly, usually about 1/4 inch behind the eye of the hook.”
I don’t understand what he means. Can anyone explain exactly what a riffle-hitch is and how it is done?
Thanks,
DieKatze
A riffle hitch is often used by salmon and steelhead fishermen to impart some action to their flies and keep them higher in the water column.
After tying on your fly using your know of choice, simply take your tippet and add a half hitch behind the eye of the hook. A half hitch placed on the side of the hook shank will add some action to the fly, one placed under the hook shank will get it to ride higher in the water column.
It’s just a halp hitch with your tippet.
REE
Riffle hitching is not just for Steelhead and Salmon fishing. Riffle hitching your favorite mouse patterns will help them wake better and in turn increase productivity. Also riffle hitching your Stonefly and Caddis patterns to immitate ovipositing adults can sometimes be deadly. Try it! Rob
Thanks, Guys.
I kind of figured that what is was but wasn’t sure how you actually tied it. I’ll give it a try on the White river in Arkansas when I’m there next week.
Be sure to pay attention to the direction of the current when you add the half-hitch. If you put it on the wrong way, it won’t be as effective. If the current is from your right to left as you face the stream, put the half hitch on the side of the hook so as to make the tippet exit the knot on the right side, as you are looking down on top of the hook. Just the opposite for a left to right current. If you add the half hitch on the underside, which is a new idea to me, btw, I would think the tippet should exit the half hitch on the side of the hook which will be towards the angler. I will try this underside half hitch next chance I get. ( Like April )
This not a joke, if you tie the half hitch on the wrong side, the tendenct of the fly is to ride wrong side to the current. The fly could even turn upside down on the downstream swing.
In Trey Combs’ very fine 1990 book " Steelhead Fly Fishing ", in the chapter on Presentation, there is dissertation on the Riffling Hitch, what it is supposed to do and some instructions.
Again thanks, I’m going to try and fine that book.
I’ve fished the riffling hitch for Atlantic Salmon for more than 40 years, and have caught more with this method than the standard connection. It usually takes 2 half hitches behind the head of the fly to make it stay in place. When Art Lee’s book on how to fish the riffling hitch for Atlantic Salmon was published, I found out I had been fishing with the the half hitch on the wrong side of the head for 30 years. I’ve since changed
to the book’s instructions. However, I don’t see much difference. Having the hitch come off the bottom of the head works too. One word of caution: The half hitching does weaken the leader material and you should use the next larger size.
Check out Art Lee’s book , “Fishing The Riffling Hitch.”
Have you seen a water-skier outside the wake of the boat, or a downrigger fisher using a planer board? With a riffle hitch the fly will tend to cut at an angle to the line rather than come straight to you. That’s why it is important to know which way you want the fly to swim and tie the knot accordingly.
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