How to Tie the Davy Knot?

Use Case: Tippet to Fly

Man, the Davy Knot—what a little lifesaver. I’ll be honest, I stumbled onto this one years ago after snapping off one too many flies with my usual clinch knot in a hurry. Some old-timer at the riverbank saw me cussing at my tippet and just goes, "Kid, you’re overcomplicating it." Showed me the Davy right there, and I haven’t looked back.

So here’s the deal: it’s stupid simple, strong as hell for its size, and you can tie it with cold, wet fingers—which, let’s be real, is half the battle when you’re waist-deep in a trout stream.

Step-by-Step (Sort Of)

1. Thread the tippet through the fly’s eye. Leave a few inches of tag end to work with. None of that "just enough" nonsense—give yourself room to screw up.
2. Make a loop. Hold the tag end parallel to the standing line (the part going to your reel). Now, pinch them together so they’re side by side.
3. Wrap the tag end around both lines once. Just one turn—don’t get fancy. This isn’t a DNA helix.
4. Pass the tag end back through the loop you just created. It should look like a lopsided figure-eight at this point.
5. Pull it tight. Here’s where people mess up: moisten the knot (spit works, don’t be precious), then pull slowly on the standing line while holding the tag end. The knot should slide down snug against the fly’s eye. Trim the tag, but not too short—leave a smidge so it doesn’t unravel if the knot settles.

Why Bother With This Knot?

First off, it’s tiny. Like, invisible tiny. When you’re throwing dry flies to spooky trout, the last thing you want is some bulky knot making splashy landings. The Davy sits flush, no drama.

Second, it’s quick. I’ve tied it mid-cast when a hatch exploded and I was still fumbling with my box. And yeah, it held. Not saying you should rush, but… it’s nice to know you can.

Common Screw-Ups

• Overwrapping. More turns ≠ stronger. One wrap is plenty. Two, max, if you’re paranoid. Any more, and you’re just giving the knot weak points.
• Not lubing it. Friction is the enemy. Spit on it, dunk it, whatever—just don’t let it burn itself tight.
• Trimming too close. Leave a millimeter or two. I learned this the hard way when a 20-inch brown trout laughed at my perfectly-trimmed knot… right before it popped.

When It Shines (And When It Doesn’t)

The Davy’s killer for small flies and light tippets. Think size 18 midges or those finicky mayfly patterns. But if you’re chucking streamers with 0X? Nah, use something beefier. This knot’s a finesse player, not a linebacker.

Last thing—don’t overthink it. The beauty of the Davy is its dumb simplicity. Tie it right, and it’ll hold. Tie it wrong, and hey, at least you didn’t waste half your tippet trying to remember some convoluted surgeon’s loop. Now go lose some flies.