Davy Knot

[Louis Martin]

When I tie the Davy knot I notice that if I keep the tag taut as it seats the tag is more perpendicular to the line and hook shank, but if I don't it sometimes angles a bit down toward the fly.  Does this matter?  It would seem to, but I'm curious to hear what more experienced Davy users know, and what is best.

[Loren Williams]

Dunno, I always hold the tag when I tie it--one of things I like so much about it

[Dejon Hamann]

Can't say either.  Just my 2 cents, but I find the Davy Knot can fail depending on the tippet you are using and fly eye size (larger).  I add a full turn of the fly before sending back through for a very reliable set.  

[Nick Naclerio]

Its funny how personal things like knots are. I've used the Davy knot with many different tippets and have had nothing but bad luck with it. I know others who I respect the opinion of that swear by that knot. Me personally I use the good old clinch knot or improved clinch knot.

[Loren Williams]

Nick, the knot will slip if you use fine tippet in a thick hook eye (relatively speaking)-if it slips I add an extra twist.  But, I use this knot for steelhead and 30#-40# king salmon with clients with complete confidence, not to mention all competition fishing.  It really extends the use of my 4" tags as opposed to clinches which chew up a ton of tippet.  It is also faster to tie so on "those kinds" of days when fly changes are common it relates to more fishing time.

[Louis Martin]

Might the slippage at times also relate to how the knot is closed?  Given what Loren says, I''d think it's best to hold the tag end and get the knot to seat with the tag perpendicular to the line of tippet and hook shaft.  At an angle, it crosses down toward the hook and is not incorporated into the knot as completely.  It's a small difference, but small differences can have big results in knots.

The Swisher swirl knot is another small, easy to tie knot that I use sometimes.  Doug Swisher describes it on one of his tapes.  Some say it's an 87% or greater knot.  I'd be very curious if anyone out there besides John Dunn, who taught me the knot, uses it.

[John Dunn]

         My experiences with the Davy knot are similar to Loren's I add an extra twist and that solves the problem. I like the knot when used on a dropper (18") with a size 20 or 22 nymph. when I want to change anchor ,you can slide the dropper up the line and change anchor then slide dropper down tight against the anchor knot. This system is a good time saver for me.  Good thread.

                                                                John Dunn

[Kalvin Kaloz]

It really extends the use of my 4" tags as opposed to clinches which chew up a ton of tippet.

Not only is that very true...makes using a 1" tag with dry/dropper a possibility. I have noticed a drastic increase in strike detection using an extremely short tag with this technique.

[Louis Martin]

Loren,

I've been using the Davy a good bit and am seating it firmly now.  No failures with fish on.  I did have one slip with a smaller tippet in a larger eye as I was tightening the knot, and I just used a Trilene instead. 

So where  and how do you add the extra twist when you have a big eye to negotiate?  Is it the final loop back through the "hole" in the knot?  I.E. you finish the knot with a loop around the  line forming the knot.  I'm assuming you mean you put two loops here instead of the typical one, right?

Dejon, is this what you mean?  Or do you actually rotate the whole fly somehow?  Then where does the final loop go?  Is it possible to explain this?  (I know it's not easy to do it with just words.)

[Loren Williams]

Louis,

Yes, instead of going around the bottom leg of the loop once, simply do it twice and your slippage should stop.

[Louis Martin]

OK, that makes sense.  Another small step for better fishing.  Another thank you.

[Dejon Hamann]

Now I think it's called a Cleave Knot.

I just spin the fly once before sending the tag through the last loop.

[Mike Norton]

D
maybe you could put up a video library section on the forum for stuff like this? quick ref guide or something .

[Shaun Cmar]

video section for this site would make it totally complete!

[Fred Dewees]

Is this the knot you guys are talking about I have heard about it before but never looked into it till now. http://www.pechetruite.com/Noeuds/Davy-knot.htm
I will try it out next time I'm on the water hopefully this Friday I got good info that the Hendricksons are hatching already on one of my local waters 

[Dejon Hamann]

That's the one Fred, and we were saying for extra strength before sending "BL" back through "A" for the last time give the fly one entire spin. 

[Ryan Hales]

I have to say I have been using the Davy knot for about a year now and love it.  It is super quick to tie, even with frozen fingers, and it holds very well.  I have not had any problems once the fish is hooked, it is just getting the fish to the hook that is the problem.

[Rob Twombly]

its a really nice knot and I don't recall a failure yet..I have another knot I have been using too not sure what its called but you thread the fly on up a few inches and then tie a double overhand knot (dont cinch it)  pull the fly and leader back through the 2x overhand and tighten...the tag of the leader snaps to a right angle to the working end of the leader when tied correctly.  the bad part of the knot is it is necessary to have relatively correctly sized tippets for the fly used...so if you are fishing 6x and a size 10 it might not work...but if you are on 4x you are good.  it has really good strength and I find it easier to tie than the davy onstream but overall the davy is more versatile and more dependable when using tiny tippets.

[Pat Brechbill]

I started using the Davy knot about 5 months ago and I love it. I even use the blood knot replacement variation for connecting different sizes of leader material. It seems to hold well and the perpendicular thing is an important indication of a successful knot tie.

[Daniel Podobed]

i agree. I use it to connect my flies, as well as a leader connection knot when faced with 2 odd size diameters.