Harvey Dry Fly Knot

Tying procedure — Harvey Dry Fly Knot

1. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Harvey Dry Fly Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 01 / 4

   Check that the fly has an up-turned or down-turned eye before you start. On a straight-eye hook, use a different knot.

   You should now see: Seen from the side, the hook eye bends clearly up or down away from the line of the hook shank.

   If it goes wrong: Judging the eye from above and starting on a straight-eye fly. Viewed from the side, the eye lines up with the shank.

   Fix: Tie on with a knot meant for straight eyes, or change to a fly with a turned eye.

   Why: NetKnots lists this knot for up-turned and down-turned eyes and advises against it on straight eyes. The finished knot sits behind the turned eye on the head of the fly.

   If wrong: Used on a straight-eye fly — The knot rolls around the eye; presentation is lost.

2. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Harvey Dry Fly Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 02 / 4

   Push the tag end through the hook eye and bring it back toward the standing line. Make a small loop around the standing line, then a second loop the same size, and hold the two together.

   You should now see: Two small loops of the same size lying together around the standing line, pinched so neither one slips.

   If it goes wrong: Making the loops different sizes, or letting one slip out of the pinch. The loops no longer lie together and the tag cannot pass cleanly through both.

   Fix: Let the loops go and form them again one at a time, matching the second to the first before pinching them together.

   Why: The two loops slide back over the eye at the end. Loops of the same size move together and seat as one.

   If wrong: Loops lost — Turle-shaped mess — Fly pulls nose-down.

3. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Harvey Dry Fly Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 03 / 4

   Run the tag end through the two loops twice, making two wraps around them.

   You should now see: The tag wrapped twice through both loops, the wraps lying side by side, and the loops still held together.

   If it goes wrong: Passing the tag through only one loop, or making a single wrap. The knot pulls apart instead of closing when the standing line is pulled.

   Fix: Loosen the wraps, check that the tag goes through both loops, and add the second wrap before tightening.

   Why: Two wraps through both loops bind them together, so they slide back over the eye as one unit when the standing line is pulled.

   If wrong: One pass only on stiff tippet — Will not hold the angle.

4. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Harvey Dry Fly Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 04 / 4

   Wet the knot. Hold the bend of the hook in one hand and pull the standing line with the other until the loops slide back and pop over the hook eye. Trim the tag.

   You should now see: The knot resting behind the eye on the thread wraps at the head of the fly, with the tippet coming straight out of the eye.

   If it goes wrong: Pulling on the tag instead of the standing line, or stopping before the loops pass over the eye. The knot stays in front of the eye and the fly hangs at an angle.

   Fix: Hold the hook bend and pull the standing line again until the loops pop over the eye. If they will not go over, cut the knot off and tie it again.

   Why: Once the loops pass over the eye, the knot grips the head of the fly behind it. The tippet leaves the eye in a straight line without an open loop passing over a bulky fly.