Turle Knot

Tying procedure — Turle Knot

1. 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.

   1Tag end, about 10 cm

   2Fly, slid up the tippet

   Step 1 of 4 · move 1 of 1

   Thread the fly onto the tippet and slide it well up the line

   Hold: Left hand holds the tippet, a hand's width from its end

   Move: Right hand threads the fly on and pushes it up the line, out of the way

   You should now see: The fly hangs on the tippet well clear of the end, with about 10 cm of tag to tie with, and its eye is turned up or down.

2. 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.

   1Large loop at the fold

   2Tag, back along the tippet

   Step 2 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Double the tag back along the tippet, toward the fly

   Hold: Left hand pinches the tippet where the tag will lie beside it

   Move: Right hand folds the tag back and lays it along the tippet toward the fly

3. 1Behind, then over the doubled line

   2Small loop

   Step 2 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Bring the tag behind the doubled line, then over it, to make a loop

   Hold: Left finger and thumb hold the doubled line and the large loop

   Move: Right hand takes the tag back, behind the doubled line and over the front

   You should now see: A small loop beside the doubled line, closed where the tag crosses behind and then over it, and the large loop still wide open.

4. 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.

   1Two passes through the loop

   2Small loop

   Step 3 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Pass the tag through the small loop twice, round the doubled line

   Hold: Left hand holds the small loop open against the doubled line

   Move: Right hand passes the tag through the loop, then through it again

5. 1Double overhand, tightened

   2Large loop, still open

   Step 3 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Pull the tag to tighten the double overhand, keeping the large loop open

   Hold: Left hand holds the tippet and keeps the large loop open

   Move: Right hand pulls the tag until the overhand closes on the doubled line

   You should now see: A small tight overhand on the doubled line, and the large loop still open; pulling the tippet slides it smaller.

6. 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.

   1Loop round the head, behind the eye

   Step 4 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Slip the large loop over the fly so it sits behind the eye

   Hold: Left hand holds the fly by the bend

   Move: Right hand passes the loop over the fly and settles it round the head

7. 1Loop closed round the head

   2Tippet out through the eye, along the shank

   Step 4 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Pull the tippet to draw the loop tight behind the eye, then trim the tag

   Hold: Left hand holds the fly

   Move: Right hand pulls the tippet until the loop closes on the head, then trims

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