PITZEN KNOT 

I started using this knot to attach fly to tippet about three months ago and have yet to have it fail. It's about as close to 100% line strength as you can get. If you have been using a clinch knot and have had it fail as often as I have, you'll appreciate how strong this knot is.

Knot Tying Instructions

1. Position fly to the right as shown.

2. Thread 3" to 4" of tippet through the hook-eye and loop as shown. Hold in place between your left thumb and finger. Now let the fly hang.

3. Make 3 twists (only) as is illustrated leaving a loop through which you thread the tag-end exactly as shown...(i.e. 'in' top front and 'out' back of loop!)

4. Pull the tag end with the left hand so twists close up loosely, not firmly! Now pull the tippet line (not tag-end) so that the knot slides to the hook-eye; do this steadily and then firmly until you feel the knot set

With repeated ties you will feel the knot set; pull it a second time as sometimes you may feel a second smaller 'knot-set'. Retie if you do not feel at least one 'knot-set'. This knot is as easy to tie as a Clinch-knot but it tests, on average, an incredible 95% to 100% of straight-line strength of my tippets vs. as little as 65% for the Clinch-knot. The "Pitzen-knot" is so simple; it's a small knot, not at all bulky and you can snip the tag-end close!