Tip of the Month... DW Leader Knot

[ajfromnj]

Thanks to my good friend Davy for showing me this knot. It's quick and easy to tie and small! It flows through the guides very easily and is strong. You can step down from very large diameter leader to small tippets with this knot. Try this knot on your next trip to the stream.

Be sure to hit the HD button as it was shot in that format. It looks a lot better.

YouTube - "Davy Wotton Leader Knot" - March 2009 TPO Tip of the Month

 

[AKSkim]

That looks like a quick knot and simple to tie.

Thanks.

 

[dcabarle]

The problem with overhand knots is that as they tighten up, they start to rip into each other and eventually break. It's not the size of the knot that bothers me, it's how it's tied. I probably wouldn't use this knot myself.

 

[babyblue]

AJ,
Isn't that called a jam knot?

 

[Burtbords149]

Nice knot, I think you showed me that at Tight Lines once....then my poor short term memory kicked in.....but now it's back!

 

[ajfromnj]

DC,

The way that knot cinches down does not create the friction that other knots cause to the line. Also, its the best knot to use when ramping down from heavy leader to light tippets in one step. It also saves a lot of time when rigging.

 

[onemorecast]

I think this will come in handy for someone like me, who couldn't tie a blood knot if you put a gun to my head. Next time I find myself having to rebuild a leader (like I did on Sunday), I'll give it a try.

 

[leadhead]

Has anyone tried the "j" knot that was shown in the last issue of Field and Stream?

lh

 

[kindanewbie77]

I like it....putting new line on today, and I will surely be using this!

 

[Matt Grobert]

That's interesting. One of the guys I fish with in the salt uses a knot that is almost identical to tie his fly to his tippet for stripers.

He ties an overhand knot in his tippet 6 inches or so from the end. Then he feeds the end through the hook eye and back through the overhand knot. He then lubricates the overhand knot and pulls it tight, and then cinches it down to the hook eye while pulling the tag end through it. Next, he does the same loop and return wraps that you show around the leader with the end of the tippet, and then cinches it down to the overhand knot the same way you show here. The knot, once pulled tight, is about 1/2 to 1 inch away from the hook eye and the loop it forms allows the fly to swing freely, which he swears by. I don't know what he calls it, but it does the job. I've used it and it has held well, but I tend to stick to the old improved clinch knot out of habit.

Matt ><)))))'>

 

[jcstikfish]

That's interesting. One of the guys I fish with in the salt uses a knot that is almost identical to tie his fly to his tippet for stripers.

He ties an overhand knot in his tippet 6 inches or so from the end. Then he feeds the end through the hook eye and back through the overhand knot. He then lubricates the overhand knot and pulls it tight, and then cinches it down to the hook eye while pulling the tag end through it. Next, he does the same loop and return wraps that you show around the leader with the end of the tippet, and then cinches it down to the overhand knot the same way you show here. The knot, once pulled tight, is about 1/2 to 1 inch away from the hook eye and the loop it forms allows the fly to swing freely, which he swears by. I don't know what he calls it, but it does the job. I've used it and it has held well, but I tend to stick to the old improved clinch knot out of habit.

Matt,

I actually use that on any fly the has heavy head weight, that I want to jump and dip as much as possible. Even if I was fishing a conehead muddler/bugger, etc for trout and I want a animated, cast and retrieve presentation. I use it with Clousers both fresh and salt all the time.

I just refer to it as a loop knot, but I think it goes by a couple other "official" names.

I like it.
~James

 

[babyblue]

Matt,
That's called a Rapala Knot. I also use it for the same purpose, for most streamers and plugs.

 

[Matt Grobert]

Matt,

I actually use that on any fly the has heavy head weight, that I want to jump and dip as much as possible. Even if I was fishing a conehead muddler/bugger, etc for trout and I want a animated, cast and retrieve presentation. I use it with Clousers both fresh and salt all the time.

I just refer to it as a loop knot, but I think it goes by a couple other "official" names.

I like it.
~James

James, that's exactly what my buddy Rich says "the fly looks alive, dude, like animated". He (and I) almost always fish clousers.....green or chartreuse and white w/ red eyes!

Matt ><)))))'>

 

[jcstikfish]

. He (and I) almost always fish clousers.....green or chartreuse and white w/ red eyes!

Those get it done. Chartreuse over white clousers are like the size 12 Pheasant Tails of the surf!


~James

 

[Matt Grobert]

Matt,
That's called a Rapala Knot. I also use it for the same purpose, for most streamers and plugs.

I do recall that, and just Googled it. That is the Rapala knot. It is essentially the the same as the DW knot, except they make a clinch knot above the overhand knot, as opposed to the barrell knot. Six of one and a half dozen of the other..........

As for the overhand knot, Dennis has a good point. Anyone up for knot testing? :crap:


Matt ><)))))'>

 

[babyblue]

Is this bench testing or field testing?

 

[Matt Grobert]

Is this bench testing or field testing?

I was thinking bench at the time, that's why I used the :crap:

But to your point, field testing is the only one that really matters. So have at it salters, and report back later in the spring. I'll use the knot, too, and report back. I suspect it will hold just fine. In my experience, it's usually the knot tyer, not the knot. :dizzy:

Matt ><)))))'>