I was glad to see the article on the Pitzen Knot. Just for what it is worth, this is the only knot I have ever used, over I don’t even remember how many years now, and I have never had this knot fail on me.
Bob is right in describing the speed at which it can be tied. Back when spider wire first came out, the one draw back everyone was talking about was the knot seemed to come untied. This knot works on everything and remains tied. I might add, it’s good to moisten this knot with a little saliva so the line doesn’ burn itself as you cinch it down. I have found it only takes three wraps to be effective.
Reading instructions on how to tie a knot is about as easy as trying to tell someone how to rebuild an engine. The perspective in which you read may not be the perspective in which the person wrote…
“Now take the camchain off, but make sure you mark the timing before you do…”
Those pictures do not show when or where you put the fly.
I’ll keep using the clinch knot until I run into one of you guys that ties this knot and you can SHOW me how to do it. Functionally it looks like a clinch knot.
BB Wulff: Do a google on the knot and you can find some sites that show what you are looking for. I read about this knot some years ago, did the google thing and learned how to tie it. In my not so humble opinion it is 100 times better than the clinch not and easier to tie.
In my personel testing the pitzen is the strongest knot I tie for trout size tippet. I am not certain but it does seem at least for me to break at the knot after a dozen or so fish. I know I should re-tie occasionally, but when it is cold I don’t retie unless I notice a frayed tippet.
The last few winter trips I have been experimenting with a 3 turn uni knot that seems to be a little more durable. Not really very scientific just my experience
I’m a user of the Pitzen. I find it a very good knot however I’ve had a time when THREE (consecutive) flies tied on “properly” broke when I set up on some smallish fish. It amazed me and I “still” don’t know why. I’m darn careful as I use 6X mostly…
That only happened once. A good friend who’s a darn good fisherman simply said “lousy knot!” Hard to debate that but I’m also baffled because I knew to be careful. This was over rising fish so it drove me nuts!
It never has happened since and it wasn’t bad tippet.
Anyway, and FYI regarding that 3 turn Uni. She’s a fine, fine knot. My son and I use it a lot and find it quite reliable.
I still need to test it against the Pitzen in a pull test between two hooks though. Thanks for the reminder…it’s a very good knot. My son also uses it for those new GSP lines mentioned earlier in this thread.
Written instructions are tough.
A book can tell you how to make love, but not how to make love well.
So…look at the illustrations and consider these additional notes:
Thread the fly on the line.
Make the loop and hold it between your middle fingers
Now when you are holding the line you have the loop in the crook of the first knuckle of your middle fingers and each end of the line in your forefingers and thumbs.
Hold the fly in the crook of your right hand middle finger
You shouldn’t have to do anything special to hold the fly there, the tension of the line will keep anything smaller than a size 6 in the crook. For larger flies, I usually let them dangle below the right middle finger.
Make several turns around the middle of the line. I note that several Pitzen users say 3 turns but I use 5 (which is the same I use with an improved clinch).
I spit on any monofilament knot before I tighten it because it makes the monomers on the line slicker to tighten. I used to lick the knots, then it was suggested to me that there are a lot of things in fishing waters you don’t want to introduce to your mouth.