How to tie the Improved Clinch Knot?

Use case: tippet to fly

You ever been out on the water, the sun just starting to peek over the trees, and suddenly—snap—your fly’s gone? Yeah, me too. More times than I’d like to admit. That’s when the Improved Clinch Knot becomes your best friend. It’s not the fanciest knot out there, but man, does it hold. And when you’re tying a tippet to a fly, you want something that won’t let go when a big brown decides to test your patience.

So here’s how I do it. First, thread the tippet through the eye of the fly. Give yourself a good five or six inches to work with—nothing worse than realizing you’ve cut it too short mid-knot. Then, take the loose end and wrap it around the standing line five or six times. Some folks swear by seven wraps, but honestly, five’s always done the trick for me. Keep the wraps tight but not strangling; you don’t want to weaken the line before you’ve even started.

Now, here’s where I messed up once and learned the hard way. After those wraps, you’ve gotta pass the loose end back through the little loop near the fly’s eye. Sounds simple, right? Well, I was in a hurry, didn’t double-check, and next thing I knew, my fly was sailing into the river like it had places to be. So take your time. Thread it through, then bring it back through the big loop you’ve just created. That’s the "improved" part—it locks everything down.

Finally, wet the knot with a little spit (classy, I know) and pull it tight. Not like you’re trying to win a tug-of-war, just a steady, firm pull. Trim the excess, and you’re golden.

I’ll never forget the first time this knot saved my butt. Middle of the Madison, hooked into what felt like a freight train. Line screaming, heart pounding—and that little clinch held like a champ. Since then, I’ve tied it a thousand times, usually while balancing on one foot, coffee in hand, trying not to face-plant into the river. It’s not perfect, but it’s reliable. And out there, that’s all you really need.