How to tie theTucked half blood knot or Improved clinch knot

Tucked half blood knot or Improved clinch knot

Use: Tying on flies.

Description: This is one of a number of knots to use to attach a fly to the end of the tippet. The final tuck makes it a much more secure knot than the basic half blood knot.

Tying:

1. Thread about 100mm (4 inches) of the end of the tippet through the eye of the hook, from the underneath side.



2. Hold the fly and the tippet with the thumb and finger of one hand. Using your other hand make five turns of the tag end around the tippet; keep the tippet under tension while doing this.



3. Thread the end of the tippet through the loop next to the eye of the fly and then back through the (larger) loop that you have just formed: this is the 'tuck' part of the knot.



4. Moisten the knot and then tighten it by taking up the slack by pulling the tag end and finally tighten it home by pull on the standing part of the tippet.



5. Trim the tag end to finish the knot.

Graphics of knots drawn by Tim Pegg of Thilmcraft Graphics. E-mail: thilm@paston.co.uk