Blood knot tying for fly fishing step by step

Here's a clean, reliable way to tie the Blood Knot for fly fishing:

What it does: It joins two pieces of line (great for leader to tippet or two monofilament sections).

Step-by-step:

1. Overlap the two strands by about 1–2 cm (0.5–1 inch).
2. Take the end of Line A and wrap it around Line B 5–6 times, keeping the wraps neat and close to the overlap.
3. Bring the end of Line A back through the loop nearest the point where you started the wraps.
4. Now take the end of Line B and wrap around Line A in the opposite direction 5–6 times.
5. Bring the end of Line B back through the loop created by its wraps.
6. Moisten the knot with water or saliva and slowly pull on the standing lines to snug the wraps toward the center.
7. Trim the tag ends close but leave a small stub (about 2–3 mm).
8. Inspect the knot; it should sit clean, with parallel wraps and no gaps.

Tips:

• Keep the wraps tight and neat; sloppy wraps lead to weak spots.
• Use a knot-tying tool if you’re new to two-line knots: Knot Kneedle or TIE-FAST Knot Tyer.
• If you’re tying fluorocarbon or braid, you can practice the same pattern; the knot still holds well when snug.
• Visuals help: Blood Knot Tutorial and Costa Fly Fishing: How to Tie a Blood Knot.

Season note: with mid-spring conditions, you may be dealing with cooler water; a clean, tight knot helps prevent slipping in flows and wind.

You’ve got this—practice a few times on the bench, then head to the water and land some trout! 🎣