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Knots for the Flyfisher
The Eugene Bend

We continue our discussion of knots for fly fishermen with a method of tying the Eugene Bend using hemostats developed by Bruce E. Harang so as to make properly tying the knot in fine tippet material much easier.
In general, whenever you tie knots in mono-filament you need to thoroughly wet the knot and draw it up with a single smooth tightening motion. This applies whether the monofilament is nylon, fluorocarbon, or any other monofilament polymer or co-polymer.
The following discussion and knot selection is for freshwater fishing. In saltwater there are several alternative knots, which are, in some cases, more suitable.
The knot is started in the same manner whether or not you are using a set of forceps to assist with tying the knot. Start the knot by running the tippet end through the hook eye and back up the line. Form a second loop in the opposite direction with the tag. Hold the tag end and the hook eye between your fingers (Fig. 1).

Insert a closed pair of forceps through the second loop and rotate the closed ends of the forceps around the standing line three times. This automatically also wraps the second loop around the standing line three times (Fig.2).

Now grasp the tag end of the tippet with the forceps and pull the forceps out of the second loop thereby pulling the tag end of the tippet through the second loop (Fig. 3).

Pull the tag end until the end loops of the knot are small enough that they cannot slip over the hook eye. The knot should be snug, but not tight, and should be located several inches above the hook eye (Fig. 4).

Wet the knot to lubricate it and protect the monofilament from frictional heat damage. Then with a smooth steady motion, pull the standing line until the knot slides down the standing line to the hook eye and seats. You will know the knot is properly seated when you hear and feel the knot click into position. In addition, a properly tied and seated knot will have the tag end forming a very pronounced V with the standing line (Fig.5).

The knot works best with monofilament lines of about 12 pounds breaking strength or less. It also works better with soft lines than with hard stiff lines.

By using a pair of forceps (hemostats) to assist with tying the knot you will find changing flies with very light tippet and tying with wet hands to be far easier and the cause of many fewer impolite words on stream.