How to tie the No-slip Loop Knot?

Use case: tippet to fly

You know, there’s something about the no-slip loop knot that feels like a secret handshake among fly fishers. It’s not the fanciest knot out there, and it sure doesn’t get the hype of, say, the blood knot or the perfection loop, but man, when you’re out there on the water and the fish are being picky, this little guy can make all the difference. I remember one evening on the Madison—clouds hanging low, the river just starting to rise—and I was convinced my fly was dancing just right. But nothing. Then I switched to a no-slip loop, gave it that extra wiggle, and bam. First cast. Sometimes it’s not the fly; it’s how it moves.

So here’s the thing about tying it. You start with the tippet, obviously, and you’re gonna make a loop, but not just any loop. You want it loose enough to let the fly swing free but tight enough to hold when a trout decides to test your patience. Take the tag end, wrap it around the standing line three, maybe four times—honestly, I’ve done both, and it’s never failed me. Then thread the tag back through the little loop you left at the start, like you’re sneaking it into a backdoor. Pull it snug, but not too tight yet. Spit on it if you’re feeling old-school (or use water, I guess, if you’re civilized). Then cinch it down slow, watching the wraps spiral into place.

The beauty of this knot is in the name—no-slip. It’s not going anywhere, even when a fish goes berserk downstream. And that loop? It’s like giving your fly a stage to perform. Nymphs, streamers, even dries—they just move better. I’ve tried clinch knots, non-slip monos, all the usual suspects, but there’s a fluidity here that’s hard to beat. Once, on the Bighorn, I watched a buddy lose three fish in a row because his flies were stiff as boards. Switched him to a no-slip loop, and suddenly he was landing them. Magic? Nah. Just physics and a little bit of fisher’s intuition.

Oh, and don’t overthink it. I’ve seen guys measure wraps with rulers or whatever—come on. Just tie it. If it looks right, it probably is. Fishing’s supposed to be fun, not a trigonometry exam. And if it fails? Well, that’s why we carry extra tippet. But I bet it won’t.

Anyway, next time you’re rigging up, give it a shot. Maybe it’ll be the difference between a skunk and a story. Or maybe you’ll just like the way it looks, hanging off your fly like a promise. Either way, it’s worth knowing. Tight lines.