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Unless you are brand-new to fishing, the chances are good that someone has shown you how to tie a clinch knot. It’s often the first knot an angler learns.
The clinch knot is used to attach a fly to a tippet. This knot is quite strong and can be tied with light and fairly heavy tippets alike. There are many other nonloop knots you can use for tying a fly to the bitter end of a leader, but this knot is definitely one, if not the most popular — more than likely because of how easy it is to tie.
The clinch knot in its most basic form is no doubt a great knot, but you can modify it by tying an improved clinch knot, which many prefer and is actually a bit stronger. To tie an improved clinch knot you must add one more easy step, which is simply passing your tag through a second loop prior to cinching the finished knot.
Tying Difficulty: Easy
Breaking Strength: Approximately 85-90%
Tying Hint: It’s a great knot to use in place of a loop knot if you want your fly to sink a little bit slower. The absence of a loop adds just enough resistance to keep your fly higher in the water longer. It may sound subtle, but the difference between the two types of knots is definitely noticeable.
