Non-Slip Loop

A LOOP KNOT is one of the most useful knots in fishing. A loop in the line allows the lure or fly to be more active during the retrieve. Anglers have used loops in monofilament and wire for decades, but most loop knots have some disadvantages. First, the tag end of most loop knots protrudes either outward or forward. This stub, even if very short, will tangle a thick tippet and often catch grass in the water, spoiling the retrieve. Second, most loop knots are not as strong as the line they are tied with and cannot be adjusted to loop size. Finally, many loop knots can be tied only in fluorocarbon or monofilament and not in braided wire.

The Non-Slip Loop overcomes most of these disadvantages. It doesn't snag. The tag end protrudes toward the fly, lure, or hook, reducing the chance of snagging grass during the retrieve. It is strong. When tied correctly, it will test near or at full-line strength in all kinds of weights — 150-pound-test monofilament or 8X tippet. It is versatile. You can use it to make a simple loop or a loop to attach the lure, fly, or bare hook. You can build the loop to any desired size. And best of all, it is perhaps the most effective knot for tying a loop in braided wire, especially the modern multi-strand wire.

The knot may appear to be difficult to tie, but it is rather easy. You make an Overhand Knot, insert the tag end through the hook eye, bring the tag end back through the Overhand Knot, and make a number of turns with the tag end before inserting the tag end a final time through the Overhand Knot. Now let's do it step-by-step.

Step 1: To attach a hook, lure, or fly, make an Overhand Knot in the line before you insert it through the hook eye.

Step 2: Pass the tag end back through the Overhand Knot the same way it came out of the knot.

Step 3: Large loops can cause problems, so it is best to make smaller loops. You can adjust the size of the loop as follows. After making step 2, use your thumb and forefinger to pinch together the Overhand Loop and the line passing through it. By drawing on the main line, you can then reduce the Overhand Loop. Continue pinching the two lines and pull on the tag end. This action moves the now-smaller Overhand Knot down until it touches the hook eye, further reducing the loop's size.

Step 4: Start making turns with the tag end around the main line. It is the number of turns that determines the knot's strength. For lines testing 8X to 6-pound-test, make seven turns; for 8- to 12-pound-test, make five turns; for 15- to 40-pound-test, four turns; and for line heavier than that, make only two turns. For thin, flexible modern multi strand plastic-coated braided wire lines, make three turns. For the older plastic-coated braided wire, two turns are enough. The key to tying a strong Non-Slip Loop is to make the required turns with the tag end around the main line before you finish the knot.

Step 5: To ensure maximum strength, pull on the main line, the tag end, and the lure or hook to firmly close the knot.

Kreh Loop

The Kreh Loop (named by others, not me) is slightly stronger than the Non-Slip Loop. The only difference between the Non-Slip Loop and the Kreh Loop is the way the tag end finishes the knot. The tag end of the Non-Slip Loop is inserted in the center of the Overhand Knot, while the Kreh Loop's tag end is passed through one side of the Overhand Knot and not through the center.

When correctly tied, the Kreh Loop is about 100 percent, even in a fragile 7X tippet. But since there's a loop in this knot, if the knot is used with a size 18 nymph, the knot will be larger than the fly. For freshwater trout I use the Kreh Loop or Non-Slip Loop only with hooks larger than size 12.

Step 1: Make an Overhand Knot in the line with the tag end. Allow about 4 to 5 inches of the tag end to extend through the knot to give you enough line to complete the knot.

Step 2: Insert the tag end through the hook eye on the same side the tag end entered the Overhand Knot.

Step 3: Most of the time a small loop is desired. To adjust the loop size, pinch together the Overhand Knot and the point where the tag end returned through it. While pinching, gently pull on the main line. This will reduce the size of the Overhand Knot. Now gently pull on the tag end while continuing to pinch the lines. This will move the smaller Overhand Knot toward the hook eye, allowing you to control the loop size.

Step 4: Make the correct number of turns with the tag end around the main line. It is the number of turns that determines the knot's strength. For lines testing from 8X to 6-pound-test, make seven turns; for 8- to 12-poundtest, make five turns; for 15- to 40-pound-test, make four turns; for heavier line, make only two turns. For thinner, flexible modern multi-strand plastic-coated wire line, make three turns. For the older style thicker, plastic-coated braided wire, two turns are enough.

Step 5: After making the required turns with the tag end around the main line, pass the tag end through the side of the Overhand Knot (not through the center).

Step 6: To properly close the knot, pull on the tag end, the main line, and the hook. Hint: If it appears that the loop may be a little too large, pull harder on the tag end to decrease the loop size. If the loop seems too small, pull harder on the main line when closing. Trim the tag end.

This article was excerpted from Fishing Knots: Proven to Work for Light Tackle and Fly Fishing with DVD (Stackpole, 2007, 128 pages). Copyright © 2007 Lefty Kreh.