{"id":115,"date":"2026-06-16T14:26:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T14:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mylivingsacrifice.com\/devdemo\/JoeHumphreys\/knots\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:01:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:01:32","slug":"knots","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mylivingsacrifice.com\/devdemo\/JoeHumphreys\/knots\/","title":{"rendered":"Knot Reference"},"content":{"rendered":"

ONE-PAGE REFERENCE<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Knot Reference<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>

The five knots, the steps, and the one rule that matters. Everything that lives on the laminated card, pulled together in one place so a kid never has to hunt across six weeks of lessons to find a knot.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Print This Card<\/a><\/p>\n

Hit print and the whole reference comes out on one sheet. Laminate it and clip it to the vest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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THE ONE RULE THAT MATTERS<\/p>\n

Wet it or regret it.<\/p>\n

Lubricate every<\/strong> knot before you seat it. Saliva or a quick dip in the stream, then cinch slowly. A dry knot can lose up to 30% of its strength to friction heat as it tightens. Wet it, pull it slow, leave a short tag, and trim. That one habit is the difference between landing the fish and telling the story about the one that broke off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

THE FIVE AT A GLANCE<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Five Knots, One Card<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Teaching order, not difficulty order. Each knot reuses a motion from the one before it, so the set builds on itself. Use thick cord or a shoelace for ages 6 to 10 before anyone touches real tippet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nKNOT<\/th>\nWHAT IT DOES<\/th>\nLEVEL<\/th>\nSTEPS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nDavy Knot<\/td>\nFly to tippet (the beginner's go-to)<\/td>\nBeginner<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nDouble Surgeon's<\/td>\nJoin two lines \/ add tippet<\/td>\nBeginner<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nImproved Clinch<\/td>\nFly to tippet (classic standard)<\/td>\nIntermediate<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nPerfection Loop<\/td>\nLoop at the leader butt<\/td>\nIntermediate<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nBlood Knot<\/td>\nJoin two same-diameter lines<\/td>\nAdvanced<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Warm-up for the youngest hands:<\/strong> before Knot 1, have 6 to 8 year-olds tie a plain overhand knot in a shoelace (\"make a circle, the mouse runs through the hole, pull his tail\"). Every knot below reuses that one motion, passing a tag end through a loop, so it builds confidence with zero frustration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

KNOT 1<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

The Davy Knot<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Fly to tippet. The beginner's go-to: three steps, ties in under five seconds, a tiny profile, and it wastes almost no tippet. The first knot a kid should own.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\n

FLY TO TIPPET · BEGINNER · 3 STEPS<\/p>\n

The Davy Knot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

WHAT IT IS FOR<\/p>\n

Fly to tippet<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

DIFFICULTY<\/p>\n

Beginner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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HOLDING STRENGTH<\/p>\n

Strong for its size; double it for more<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

THE STEPS<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Pass the tippet through the hook eye, front to back. Pull about 4 inches of tag through.<\/li>\n
  2. Cross the tag end OVER the standing line toward you, making one small loop.<\/li>\n
  3. Pass the tag through that loop once, front to back.<\/li>\n
  4. Wet it. Pinch the fly, pull the standing line firmly to cinch. Leave a 1\/4-inch tag and trim.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Double Davy:<\/strong> for extra holding power, make a second pass through the loop before you cinch. Same knot, one more tuck.<\/p>\n

    \n

    COACH'S CUE<\/p>\n

    \"Through the eye, cross over, through the loop, wet and pull.\" Always leave a 1\/4-inch tag so the knot cannot slip under load.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    KNOT 2<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

    The Double Surgeon's Knot<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

    Join two lines or add tippet. It is just an overhand tied with two lines and passed through twice, far more forgiving for cold or young fingers than the blood knot, and it works even when the two lines are different diameters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

    \n

    JOIN TWO LINES · BEGINNER · 4 STEPS<\/p>\n

    The Double Surgeon's Knot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n
    \n
    \n

    WHAT IT IS FOR<\/p>\n

    Join two lines \/ add tippet<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n

    DIFFICULTY<\/p>\n

    Beginner (easiest join)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n

    HOLDING STRENGTH<\/p>\n

    Reliable; the kid-friendly join<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    THE STEPS<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Lay the leader and new tippet alongside each other, overlapping 4 to 6 inches, running opposite directions.<\/li>\n
    2. Hold both lines as one and tie a simple overhand knot.<\/li>\n
    3. Before pulling tight, pass BOTH tag ends through the loop one more time (that second pass makes it 'double').<\/li>\n
    4. Wet it. Pull all FOUR ends evenly, two standing lines and two tags. Trim both tags.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n

      COACH'S CUE<\/p>\n

      \"Two lines, one loop, through it twice, pull all four.\" The #1 mistake is pulling only the standing lines, which makes the knot roll instead of stack and fail. Pull all four ends at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      KNOT 3<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      The Improved Clinch<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

      Fly to tippet, the classic standard. The most widely used fly knot in the world and a staple of the George Harvey and Joe Humphreys tradition. Once the Davy is solid, this is the next fly knot every angler should know.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      \n

      FLY TO TIPPET · INTERMEDIATE · 5 STEPS<\/p>\n

      The Improved Clinch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      \n
      \n

      WHAT IT IS FOR<\/p>\n

      Fly to tippet<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      DIFFICULTY<\/p>\n

      Intermediate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      HOLDING STRENGTH<\/p>\n

      The 'improved' tuck roughly doubles a plain clinch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      THE STEPS<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Pass the tippet through the hook eye. Pull 5 to 6 inches of tag through.<\/li>\n
      2. Hold the fly and wrap the tag around the standing line 5 times (4 for heavier 3X and up).<\/li>\n
      3. Pass the tag back through the small loop nearest the hook eye.<\/li>\n
      4. Then pass it through the big loop you just created (this is the 'improved' tuck).<\/li>\n
      5. Wet it. Pull the standing line and tag together to seat. Trim close.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Joe-link:<\/strong> a clean clinch lets the tuck cast turn over and drive the nymph down. The knot serves the drift.<\/p>\n

        \n

        COACH'S CUE<\/p>\n

        \"Through the eye, wrap five, through the little door, then through the big door.\" Use 5 wraps for 4X and lighter, 4 wraps for 3X and heavier. Coils should be neat, never crossed, and never pull the tag alone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

        KNOT 4<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

        The Perfection Loop<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

        A clean, in-line loop at the butt of the leader so it connects loop-to-loop to the welded loop on the fly line. Swap a whole leader in seconds. This is the join that makes the leader modular.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

        \n

        LOOP AT THE LEADER BUTT · INTERMEDIATE · 4 STEPS<\/p>\n

        The Perfection Loop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n
        \n
        \n

        WHAT IT IS FOR<\/p>\n

        Loop at the leader butt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        DIFFICULTY<\/p>\n

        Intermediate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        HOLDING STRENGTH<\/p>\n

        Strong and perfectly in-line when tied right<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        THE STEPS<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Form a loop with the leader butt, bringing the line back over itself.<\/li>\n
        2. Form a second loop in FRONT of the first; hold both with your fingers.<\/li>\n
        3. Pass a bight of line between the two loops and pull it through.<\/li>\n
        4. Pull the front loop through. Wet, tighten by pulling the standing line and the new loop, then trim.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Loop-to-loop:<\/strong> pass one loop through the other, then the far end through its own loop and snug into a square \"handshake,\" never a twisted larkshead.<\/p>\n

          \n

          COACH'S CUE<\/p>\n

          The loop must sit perfectly in-line with the leader. If it sits at an angle, redo it: a twisted perfection loop makes the leader hinge at the connection and kills a natural drift.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

          KNOT 5<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

          The Blood Knot<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

          The traditional knot for joining two lines of similar diameter. Lower profile than the surgeon's, so it slides through the guides smoothly. The 'graduation' join in the George Harvey tradition: it takes more practice and rewards with a cleaner connection.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

          \n

          LINE TO LINE · ADVANCED · 6 STEPS<\/p>\n

          The Blood Knot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

          \n
          \n
          \n

          WHAT IT IS FOR<\/p>\n

          Join two same-diameter lines<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

          \n

          DIFFICULTY<\/p>\n

          Advanced (ages 14 to 17)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

          \n

          HOLDING STRENGTH<\/p>\n

          Cleaner, lower-profile than the surgeon's<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          THE STEPS<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Overlap the two lines by about 6 inches, running opposite directions. Pinch the center.<\/li>\n
          2. Wrap the left line around the right line 5 times; bring its end back to the center.<\/li>\n
          3. Wrap the right line around the left line 5 times the OPPOSITE direction; bring its end back to center.<\/li>\n
          4. The two tags should now point opposite directions through the center gap.<\/li>\n
          5. Pass both tags through the center opening, each going the opposite way through the same gap.<\/li>\n
          6. Wet thoroughly. Pull both standing lines slowly and evenly so the wraps stack neatly. Trim tags.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n

            COACH'S CUE<\/p>\n

            Diameters must match within one X size or the knot slips. Wet thoroughly and cinch slowly: rushing makes it twist. This is a 14-to-17 knot; younger anglers use the Double Surgeon's instead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

            WHY THIS ORDER<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

            Teaching Order: Each Knot Reuses a Motion<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

            The order on the card is built for kids, not for difficulty. Every knot reuses the same single motion, passing a tag end through a loop, so the set compounds instead of starting over each time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

            \n
            \n
            \n

            WARM-UP<\/p>\n

            The Overhand<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            Tie a plain overhand in a shoelace. The mouse runs through the hole. This is the one motion every knot below reuses.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            KNOT 1<\/p>\n

            Davy Knot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            The overhand, refined: pass the tag through a single loop. Same move, now it holds a fly.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            KNOT 2<\/p>\n

            Double Surgeon's<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            Two lines treated as one, the same overhand passed through twice. The motion you already know, doubled.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            KNOT 3<\/p>\n

            Improved Clinch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            Adds wraps before the tuck, but the finish is the familiar pass-through-the-loop. Wraps plus the known motion.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            KNOT 4<\/p>\n

            Perfection Loop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            Two loops and a bight pulled through, the same through-the-loop idea turned into a clean in-line loop.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            KNOT 5<\/p>\n

            Blood Knot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            The advanced join: opposing wraps with tags passed through a center gap. The graduation knot for teens.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n

            THE SHOELACE RULE<\/p>\n

            For ages 6 to 10, drill every knot in thick cord or a shoelace before anyone touches real tippet. Big, visible, and forgiving for small fingers builds the muscle memory; the thin stuff comes once the motion is automatic. Two different-colored cords make the joining knots easy to see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

            STEP IT THROUGH<\/p>\n

            Tie Each Knot, One Step at a Time<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

            Knot trainer<\/p>

            Step Through the Five Knots<\/h2>

            Pick a knot, then walk it one step at a time. Tie it three times unassisted and mark it learned.<\/p>