Rigs Lab · Fishing knots
Also called surgeon's knot, surgeon's join, double overhand join
The fastest way to add tippet or join two leader sections, strong and forgiving of a step in diameter.
Step 1: Lay the new line alongside the end of the leader so they overlap about six inches, the ends pointing opposite ways.
Step 2: Holding the two lines as one, tie an overhand knot, passing the whole new piece through the loop.
Step 3: Pass the same ends through the loop once more, twice in all.
Step 4: Wet the knot and pull all four ends evenly until it seats. Trim both tags.
A 5' 6" (66 inch) all-fluorocarbon leader for fishing small chironomids and nymphs on a sinking or intermediate line in clear lakes. It runs 18 inches of 20 lb Seaguar Blue Label (.016"), 24 inches of 10 lb fluoro (.011"), a #12 barrel swivel and 24 inches of 5X (.006") fluoro tippet. A short leader lets the line set the depth, and the finer tippet helps with wary fish.
A 5' 6" (66 inch) all-fluorocarbon leader for fishing chironomids and small nymphs on a sinking or intermediate line in lakes. It runs 18 inches of 20 lb Seaguar Blue Label (.016"), 24 inches of 10 lb fluoro (.011"), a #12 barrel swivel and 24 inches of 4X (.007") fluoro tippet. A short leader lets the line set the depth, so the fly fishes right where the line tip is.
A mono rig for fine, tight-line nymphing in clear water. A 72 inch RIO Powerflex butt runs to a 4 mm tippet ring, then 216 inches of .011 Sunset Amnesia and a 36 inch Cortland bi-color sighter to a second 4 mm ring. Below it, 72 inches of 6X RIO Fluoroflex Strong carries a small tungsten nymph. There is no indicator and no shot: the fly carries the weight.
A 15-foot dry-fly leader for flat, clear water and wary trout. A 72 inch RIO Powerflex butt runs to a 4 mm tippet ring, then 36 inches of .013 and 24 inches of 2X copolymer and a 12 inch step of 4X to a second 4 mm ring, with 36 inches of 5X RIO Suppleflex at the fly. The long, fine tip lets a small dry drift without drag.
A 15.5-foot stillwater indicator rig for hanging a small chironomid near the bottom of a clear lake. An 18" butt of 20 lb Seaguar Blue Label leads into 120" of 10 lb (2X, .009") Blue Label, a #12 barrel swivel and 48" of 5X (.006") fluorocarbon to a size 16 tungsten-bead chironomid. A 7/8" release indicator rides near the top, and a No. 4 split shot sits just above the swivel.
A 15.5-foot stillwater indicator rig for hanging a chironomid near the bottom of a lake. An 18" butt of 20 lb Seaguar Blue Label leads into 120" of 10 lb (2X, .009") Blue Label, a #12 barrel swivel and 48" of 4X (.007") fluorocarbon to a size 14 tungsten-bead chironomid. A 7/8" release indicator rides near the top, and a No. 4 split shot sits just above the swivel.
