The No-Slip Mono Loop Knot is my favorite loop knot. I have learned to use this knot with all fishing situations where a loop is called for. More often than not, I use a No-Slip Mono Loop when I connect Tarpon Flies on the end of my customer's line. This knot has been tested and proven with heavy and light lines in big game fights. The advantage to using a No-Slip is that it can be made with all diameters of line, dressed to size and it provides an open, round loop which is different than the "tear drop shape" of knots like the Perfection Loop. Open, circular knots have less tendency to allow the hook to get "snarffed" and disrupt the action of the fly in the face of the fish.
Capt Matt guides fly fishermen for
all sorts of big fish in the Gulf of Mexico and the Colorado Rockies. If
you would like to have a wonderful guided experience in Colorado,
Louisiana or Florida, go to http://www.riplips.com
The Perfection Loop Knot is one of the best Loop Knots for connecting hooks to line. This strong loop is easily mastered with a little practice. One of the advantages to using a Perfection Loop Knot is that it can be tied very fast and "dressed" to maintain a slim profile, even with heavy fishing lines.
This short instructional knot tying video shows you how to tie this knot:
The Double Surgeon's Knot is one of the strongest line to line connections and it works well for connecting Mono to Braid Lines. I find that smaller diameters will sometimes slip, the simple solution is to make a Triple Surgeon's. Two or three times through the knot and you have a strong, simple way to get the job done!
Capt Matt is a fly fishing guide in Colorado, Florida and Louisiana throughout the year. From 300lb sharks on light tackle to the almost imperceptible strike of a Lake Trout through the ice, this Simple Mono to Braid Knot is big game and time tested. Knot tying is a critical step to fishing success, if you would like to test your knots on a huge fish, go to http://www.riplips.com
Tarpon are notorious for breaking leaders, fly rods and men. This short saltwater knot tying video is a recipe for the construction of a Tarpon Leader. The knots in this Big Game Leader are very strong and your fly will stay connected to you and the fish. This Tarpon Leader can be tied with flouro or mono and is adjustable to any length, I prefer a 12' leader, give or take.
~ The key to fishing with good knots is testing them, before you cast. ~
This Tarpon Leader can be tied to meet the standards and formula of the IGFA
Fly Line to Leader (60lb butt section) - 6ft.-7ft.
This knot connects the fly line to the leader. You should have a loop on the end of your fly line. This loop can be factory welded or created as a Nail Knot Loop. In this saltwater knot video I use a factory Welded Loop to a Clinch Knot. This knot in a tarpon rig must be super reliable, clipped flush, slim and smooth so that it can be reeled into the rod repeatedly without catching or snagging on the guides. I prefer using a 6ft stretch of butt section so that as I reel down on the fish there are no other knots to catch my rod or sabotage the mission.
Watch how to Connect a Leader to a Fly Line
Step 2:
Butt Section to Class Tippet (60lb to 30lb) - 2ft.
Line to Line connections are critical with any sort of fishing, but tarpon will test even the best knots. That is why I prefer a Blood Knot or the Double Blood Knot for my line to line connections. This knot can be made to join two vastly different sizes of line with a slim, strong profile. I prefer using 30lb Class Line because it is strong enough to keep my customers in the game and still provides a way to protect the terminal tackle (Fly Line and Backing).
Watch how to connect 60lb line to 30lb line:
Step 3:
Class to Bite Tippet (30lb. to 50lb) - 3ft.
This Line to Line Connection is very similar to the last knot and should be tied and tested the same way. I like to use 50 lb Bite Tippetto my flies, I find that the hook I use has more to do with the fish sawing through the bite tippet than using heavier line. That said, when I fish for tarpon at night, I use the strongest tippet I have in the boat with every fly I tie on. This knot recipe will work for all sizes of line in your tarpon leaders. It makes sense to practice using 20lb Class tippet to 80lb Bite Tippet. Often, it takes more wraps with the Class tippet than the Bite Tippet in this Doubled Blood Knot.
Step 4:
No Slip Mono Loop (50lb to the Fly)
Ultimately, with any tarpon rig, the hook is what keeps you and the fish connected. For nearly all of my daytime tarpon rigs, I use a well dressed No Slip Mono Loop. With practice, this knot can be tied very fast, very small and trust worthy.
Capt Matt is a Tarpon Fly Fishing Guide in the Florida Keys. The Tarpon Migration occurs in the Spring months March, April, May and June. If you would like to stand on the bow of a flats boat and take your shot at fighting a monster fish on a tiny hook, look me up at:
In this short video, Captain Matthew Thomas quickly ties a Bimini Twist with thick yarn as a demonstration of technique...
When using monofiliment or fluorocarbon, I suggest 20+ hand twists and 5-6 single and/or double wrap hitches to finish this knot.
The trick to making this knot work is practice. Not only tying, but break-testing this knot over and over again will ensure a trustworthy knot tying process. You'll quickly realize that the way you tie the Bimini Twist has a lot to do with its integrity. Slow, steady, and good lube (spit usually) help keep the line from melting and losing strength.
I use the Bimini Twist daily with my customers. When my "Twists" aren't being tested to extreme between my fly line and backing, a Bimini Twist helps connect my light tackle braided line to a braided leader.
