My Favorite Tippet to Fly Knot: Tying the 16/20

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3 жыл бұрын

When I was 17 years old I picked up an issue of American Angler magazine. In it there was an article about a knot called the 16/20. The knot was apparently favored by an informal club in Canada where you need to catch a 20 lb Atlantic salmon on a size 16 hook to qualify. This article ended up being one of the most useful articles I have ever read. I have tried a lot of tippet to fly knots over the years but this knot has been the strongest for me in addition to being easy to tie. As a bonus, if you work on how you tie the knot you can limit your tippet use dramatically compared to most other knots. This video shows the way that I tie the knot. I hope it helps you out on the water.
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Пікірлер: 94

@caseysayre4250 3 жыл бұрын

Also known as the Eugene-Bend knot, I believe. I got it out of a Fly Fisherman article. You are truly committed to the art to suffer the countless hook piercings required to build up that callus! I usually use my hemostats or my index finger to do the wraps and pull the tag end through the loop. Your method does use much less tippet though, I'll give it a try, sans finger stab though.

@BrandonStRandy-jo3ot 3 ай бұрын

I learned the Pitzen knot just a few years ago after 20 plus years of using clinch and Davy knots. It's hands down my favorite knot now. So strong and is nice and small when fishing big foam pattens. I still use the Davy to tie on small droppers but the Pitzen (16/20) is unbeatable!

@jayfalzarano8046 2 жыл бұрын

What 4 knuckleheads didn’t like this video? it’s awesome!!!

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the early morning chuckle Jay! Much appreciated and I'm certainly glad you liked it!

@jayfalzarano8046 2 жыл бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 You are certainly welcome Devin! As my daddy used to say, “humor is the spice of life!”

@Strontyum Жыл бұрын

I didn't like the hook point in the flesh! I could see that losing a few needle phobic people.

@andytillack6998 3 жыл бұрын

Will for sure be giving this a try and start using it. Thanks!

@JH-mn3zj 3 жыл бұрын

Devin, you got some badass finger...thanks for the video and learned! Just ordered three different PIERRE SEMPE SIGHTER materials on the TFF shop. Good stuff!

@mikelundrigan2285 4 ай бұрын

This appears to be very similar to the Jack Miller knot but I will have to be convinced it is better !! I will have to try it to compare!

@irideaduck939 3 жыл бұрын

This has been my go to know since the mid 90's, I was taught it in a UofU fly tying class.

@tedroesch9133 Жыл бұрын

I learned the knot in the early 90s from the back of a Hook and Hackle catalog.

@antoniotorres1604 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video! I’ll update MCR I can get back out there and test it! Looks easy enough 🙂

@MarcTelesha 3 жыл бұрын

I have been using a Jack's Knot because I HATE clinch knots since I have lost numerous fish do to the knot slipping. I saw this knot two days ago somewhere and here you have just made a video on the very knot I saw, Jack's Knot is a better uni-knot for adding to the main line after a dropper is too short. It is so fast and holds its loop easier then a clinch or uni-knot. .

@chillipphi 3 жыл бұрын

Tried this today adding on new tippet to my leader from a tippet ring. I still like the Davey for small flies but this one seems good and I’ll use it more

@decoydavesmith 2 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna be crazy here and not lead with what my favorite knot is or how long I've been already using this knot lol. I'm gonna just say this looks super cool; I learned something valuable as usual, and I appreciate this vid a ton

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

Happy knot tying!

@flytyer2368 3 жыл бұрын

I have used this knot extensively for my tipped to fly connection. I also came across an article somewhere and started using it because of the knot strength, and haven’t looked back.

@PeachyFlyFishing 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Devin, excellent as always! I tend to tie the 16/20 with my haemostats, very quick and easy but the downside is it's not as simple to get a really short tag, and it's difficult to do on a short dropper. Works great for the point fly though. I also use the 16/20 to tie to tippet rings, and even euro leader to micro loop on the end of the fly line. Great knot, it hasn't failed me yet. :)

@garyglen-young7480 2 жыл бұрын

Functionally the same knot as the "Quick Penny" - the Penny is tied using a loop which makes it easy to do with foreceps should you want to. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nc6Ha5eVyNTMep8.html

@PeachyFlyFishing 2 жыл бұрын

@@garyglen-young7480 Thanks Gary, I just had a look. Yes it does look the same, the only minor difference I guess is that I do 3 or 4 turns around the main line instead of 2. Great knot! :)

@Perspari Жыл бұрын

Awesome, will give it a go

@srodeman 3 жыл бұрын

Cool knot., thanks for the info! the hook point in your finger gave me the heebee geebees.

@decoydavesmith Жыл бұрын

At around 3:18, as soon as you put the tag end through the loop, you pull on the hook. I didn't notice this important move the first 80 times I watched this lol. I've been having problems threading the tag end through the loop and keeping it through, plus struggling to keep the tag end short. This fixes those; I was supposed to be paying attention lol. Thanks again for this vid; I LOVE this knot

@tacticalflyfisher3817 Жыл бұрын

Yep, that's actually the main reason I put the hook in the tip of my finger. I can pull back on the hook with my finger and that ends up closing the loop over the tag end. I apologize if I didn't make that very clear in the video but I'm glad you noticed it.

@justaman33 3 жыл бұрын

Would this work as well connecting tippet to the tippet ring? Thanks for making the video.

@ecomed-davidhagan2996 2 жыл бұрын

Good Knott. Not seen that one before. Thanks.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

Give it a try and I'm sure you'll like it.

@ronuhlenhopp2715 3 жыл бұрын

I've used this knot for dry fly fishing because it is small, strong, and quick to tie. You can use your finger nails to slide the knot so you have a small loop that is useful for wet flies and streamers. Is this also called the Pitzen Knot? I've used it for 40 over years.

@chach3 3 жыл бұрын

I know it it as the Pitzen knot. It is a great knot that I use all the time.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Yes. I mention it is a pitzen in the video as well.

@unionse7en 5 ай бұрын

these type of sliding knots are useful ,... after you set the knot you can slide it back open to create a small loop (adjustable) that allows free movement for the fly. It will cinch down on hook sets...or tree sets lol. Easier too tie than most fixed loop knots.

@johnmckay9328 3 жыл бұрын

First, any thoughts with using 16/20 knot to connect two pieces of tippet. Similar to using a double uni knot. Very quick and easy with an forceps instrument tie. Second, easy tie to add a fly off the bend of upper fly, or thru the eye of upper fly.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

I haven’t tried it to connect tippet together. I don’t think it would work though because the knot has to invert over itself to seat properly. If you were closing two pieces of tippet on each other the friction would be higher during that step than when it closes around a hook eye. If you are tying dropper flies onto the eye or bend you can use the 16/20 for that too.

@E-M-C 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing; I'll practice this and try it out next time I'm on the water. Are there any variations that need to be considered, depending on the diameter of tippet or size of hook? For example, do you use three turns regardless, or are there some combinations that don't work well with this knot? Also, is lubricating the line to cinch it down unnecessary with this knot (some say the Davy knot does not need to be lubricated)?

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

I don’t use any variations but it only works well up to about 2x tippet. You should wet the knot as I mentioned in text in the video.

@E-M-C 3 жыл бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Oops, I guess I missed the text in the video -- thanks for clarifying.

@rjf1877 3 жыл бұрын

Devin, thanks for the video. I have always heard that the 16/20 was a good knot, my only question is that it seems to require quite a bit of tippet, are you able to use it to tie a fly on a dropper tag ? Thanks much

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

I suggest watching the video Bob. I talk specifically about how little tippet I use when tying it.

@TheElectronCloud 3 жыл бұрын

I always seem to run into fluoro clinch knot slippage (and wastage) definitely going to give this a go. Any chance we can order the callus from TFF? You could hang a cinder block from a hook on that thing. 🤣

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! That callous has been earned. It’s definitely not for sale. 😊

@dmcortho 2 жыл бұрын

Devin. Thanks for the info on this knot. It has become my go to knot, and it is super strong. I also use the knot to tie to my tippet ring. Since using the 16/20 knot, when my fly gets stuck and I know I must break it off, the tippet breaks at the tippet ring. It's like the knot doesn't slip, but the break is always there. It's uncanny how often it breaks at the tippet ring. When I was using the clinch knot on the fly, it always broke at the fly connection. Do you use a different knot at the tippet ring? I wondered if it were the tippet ring itself- so thin that it cuts the tippet like a knife. Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

Most often, I use a double Davy knot at the ring and the 16/20 on my fly.

@dmcortho 2 жыл бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Thanks

@jaredmummert2813 2 жыл бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Devin, I tried this combo, but I found that for me the knot consistently breaks at the double Davy knot. Would be interested in seeing a video on best knots for tippet rings, as for many of us the number one waster of tippet material is a rig breaking at the tippet ring. For me the hardest part with tippet ring knots is keeping the ring from spinning as I tie. I figure this is one of the reasons you use the double Davy. Anyways, thanks!

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

@@jaredmummert2813 that’s interesting. I rarely have the knot break at the ring. You could try this same knot at the ring as well if you’re careful about how you close it. You might also have a ring with a rough edge.

@jaredmummert2813 2 жыл бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 good points, thanks Devin. I probably also need to keep practicing my double davy knot. Do you do the hackle pliers method for the double Davy (saw this on tightlinevideo’s page) or do you go by hand?

@musphuss 2 жыл бұрын

@Tactical Fly Fisher , curious if Eugene and Pitzen/16-20 are the same? I see one subtle difference in loop shape diagrams, that occurs when you wrap loop (Eugene) vs wrapping the tag end (Pitzen/16-20) end. Wondering if this difference is negligible.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not familiar with the Eugene knot myself. The San Diego Jam is another similar knot with an extra step.

@dsknudsen 3 жыл бұрын

I know Dom over at troutbitten is a big believer in the Davy knot for tippet to fly knots. Any thoughts on this knot versus the 16/20? I have been using the Davy and it seems to work well so trying to determine if I should switch knots or not

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

I haven’t used the Harvey knot

@fortfly 3 жыл бұрын

I like the simplicity of the Davey knot but I have had it slip several times with fluoro... I will be giving this 16/20 a try next time I hit the water, it looks a tad easier to tie than my old stand-by improved clinch.

@phoult37 3 жыл бұрын

@@fortfly I too have had the Davey knot with flouro, especially if the hook gauge is too thick compared to the tippet diameter

@rjf1877 3 жыл бұрын

I had a real slippage problem with the Davy when I used Rio 5x or 6x flouro. Haven't had any problem since I switched to Cortland Premium.

@dsknudsen 3 жыл бұрын

@@rjf1877 That is strange as I basically only fish Rio 6x fluoro with the Davy on the Colorado tailwaters with zero knot issues on fish of all sizes including 20+ inch. Maybe I am tying them different.

@tedroesch9133 Жыл бұрын

You can pull out the knot after tying and it will create a loop on your fly, it will slide tight when you hook up.

@48ford8n Жыл бұрын

Just realized this is the noose knot, 13 wraps for the hangman’s noose.

@RobboJ30 3 жыл бұрын

Great knot, thanks. I’ll give it a go! What is the music at the start of the video? Jill 🇬🇧

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Random song I found on a music subscription site for filmmakers.

@jaykaneshige2201 3 жыл бұрын

16/20... hmm, nice... what are clinch and mono non-slip loops rated, Devin?

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Both are not as strong in my experience especially the clinch.

@MarcTelesha 3 жыл бұрын

The issue is when you use light tippet for the fly. The clinch knot will fail if you use a light tippet to the hook. I have used 7x tippet on size 14 nymphs and clinches fail so easily. I learned the palmer knot for spin fishing just for this reason. Too much material waste for the knot.

@jaykaneshige2201 3 жыл бұрын

@@MarcTelesha Thanks for sharing your on-water experience with me. Much obliged.

@allkite 3 жыл бұрын

I use a uni-knot and this seems somewhat similar - would you say they are pretty comparable as far as strength and size ? I'll give yers a try !

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve found the 16/20 to be stronger and smaller than a uni knot personally.

@ottosflyfishingchannel5859 Жыл бұрын

If you don't want to stab yourself every time you tie this knot palm any tool with a metal loop or keyring. I flip my hemostats around and secure the hook on the finger loop and then when finishing the knot just pull back on the tool to "seat" the knot.

@jp410 Жыл бұрын

The loop in your left hand is easy to see with the yellow line, but I'm having a devil of a time seeing it between my left-hand fingers with tippet. It's hard to find that loop for threading the tag end through.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 Жыл бұрын

It is tough to find at first but with practice you'll be able to predict where it will be and thread it almost without seeing it.

@AT-eq8kc 3 жыл бұрын

Now to go get me that callus.

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Get to work! 😉

@AT-eq8kc 3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir!

@N_Co_Fish 3 жыл бұрын

Nooooooooo 😂😂😂 that knot is to good

@charlesrobbins534 3 жыл бұрын

I'll start rapping on my right index finger with a hammer to start that callus!

@tacticalflyfisher3817 3 жыл бұрын

Get to work!

@edelms3255 3 жыл бұрын

I've been tying fishing knots for over five decades; I think I will forgo body piercing (on purpose) in tying one...hehe

@feroxgordon 8 ай бұрын

What is the difference between this and the Uni Knot?

@tacticalflyfisher3817 8 ай бұрын

Look up some animations or videos, the UNI knot is tied quite differently.

@feroxgordon 8 ай бұрын

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Hi thanks for taking the trouble to reply to me. I’ve had time to think about the 2 knots and realise that although they seem similar they are tied differently 👍

@lydiedevred2801 3 жыл бұрын

This seems quite a good knot but I would not dare put the hook in my finger because my hooks are quite sharp and it would probably hurt me badly. I think I will use a cork to try this knot. Thank you for this tip