Turle Knot

Tying procedure — Turle Knot

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

   Step 01 / 4

   Thread the fly onto the tippet and slide it well up the line, leaving several inches of tag, about 10 cm (4 in), to tie with. Check the fly has a turned-up or turned-down eye.

   You should now see: The fly slides freely on the tippet, well clear of the tag, and its eye is bent up or down from the shank.

   If it goes wrong: Starting on a fly with a straight eye. You can see the eye in line with the shank, and the Turle is meant for turned eyes.

   Fix: Use a different knot for straight-eye flies, such as a Davy or a clinch.

   Why: The Turle's loop closes around the fly's head behind the eye, so the tippet comes out of the eye in line with the shank. A turned eye leaves room for that.

   If wrong: No loop formed to collar the eye — You cannot Turle without the loop.

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

   Step 02 / 4

   Double the tag back along the tippet toward the fly, then bring the tag behind and over the doubled line to make a loop.

   You should now see: An open loop in the doubled line, large enough for the whole fly to pass through later.

   If it goes wrong: Making the loop too small, or crossing the tag in front first instead of behind, so the overhand in step 3 twists and the loop will not open over the fly.

   Fix: Undo the tag and form the loop again, behind and then over, a little larger than the fly.

   Why: This loop is the part that goes over the fly and grips its head, so its size decides whether the fly can pass through.

   If wrong: Collar sitting mid-shank instead of the eye — Fly cocks off-axis.

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

   Step 03 / 4

   Pass the tag through the loop twice to tie a double overhand knot, and tighten that overhand while leaving the large loop open.

   You should now see: A small, tight double overhand knot on the tippet, with the large loop still open and able to slide.

   If it goes wrong: Passing the tag through only once, or pulling the loop closed while tightening the overhand, which leaves no loop to put over the fly.

   Fix: If the overhand has only one pass, undo it and add the second. If the loop has closed, slide the knot back along the tippet to open it.

   Why: NetKnots shows the Improved Turle with a double overhand. The second pass gives the knot more grip on the tippet than a single overhand.

   If wrong: Incomplete cinch on a ring eye — The knot rolls and the fly fishes off-axis.

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

   Step 04 / 4

   Slip the loop over the fly so it sits behind the eye, then pull the tippet to draw the knot tight against the eye. Trim the tag.

   You should now see: The knot sits behind the eye around the fly's head, and the tippet comes out through the eye in line with the hook shank.

   If it goes wrong: Pulling tight before the loop is fully behind the eye. The knot sets on the front of the eye and the fly hangs at an angle.

   Fix: If the knot has set on the eye rather than behind it, cut it off and tie again, checking the loop position before the final pull.

   Why: Seated behind the eye, the pull comes straight down the shank, which keeps the fly riding level.