The exact origin of the Clinch Knot is unclear, but it is believed to have been developed by anglers in the United Kingdom in the 19th century. The knot is thought to be named after the Clinch River in Tennessee, USA, where it became popular among fly fishermen.
The Clinch Knot is a reliable and easy-to-tie knot that works well with monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines. It is particularly useful in fly fishing with small tackle because it provides a strong connection between the tippet and the fly, allowing the fly to move naturally in the water without excessive tension or drag on the line. Additionally, the knot is relatively small and unobtrusive, which can be helpful when trying to present a fly to a fish in a realistic manner.
The Clinch Knot is a great knot to use for trout fly fishing, and it’s relatively easy to tie. Here are the steps to tying a Clinch Knot for trout fly fishing:
1.) Begin by threading the end of the tippet through the eye of the fly. Double back and overlap the standing line by 6 inches.
2.) Hold the doubled line and make 5 to 7 wraps around the standing line with the tag end. (I usually go with 5 wraps because this keeps the knot smaller – which makes the knot less likely to give your fly micro drift and other attributes that are detrimental to a good drift!)
3.) Next, thread the tag end through the loop created just above the eye of the fly.
4.) Then, bring the tag end back through the loop that was just created.
5.) Moisten the knot with water or saliva to lubricate it, and then pull on the standing line to tighten the knot. Make sure the coils of the knot are snug against each other, and the tag end is pointing away from the fly. THIS IS A CRUCIAL STEP! If you do this without spitting up your line your fishing line will crimp and not lay true, MAKE SURE TO DO THIS STEP!
6.) Trim the tag end to about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch from the knot using scissors or nippers.
7.) Finally, test the knot by pulling on the standing line and ensuring that it holds securely.
Congratulations! You have successfully tied a Clinch Knot for trout fly fishing. Remember to check your knot frequently while fishing to make sure it stays secure.
- Fly Line: AirFlo or Royal Wulff (Lee Wulff’s Brand)
- Leader/Tippet: Scientific Anglers or Rio Products