The Most Essential Fishing Knot

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When new anglers ask me which knot to learn first, I always say, "The Duncan's Loop." It can be used for virtually every fishing application whether you are fly-fishing, spin-fishing, bait-casting, etc. You can tie on flies or lures, connect lines (backing, fly-line, leaders, tippits, broken lines), or attach line to your reel. It is so easy to tie, you CAN tie it in the dark! 

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The Duncan's Loop was originally named after its inventor Norman Duncan. It was also published later under the name Uni Knot by the outdoor writer Vic Dunaway as being a versatile knot that can have many applications. It is also known as a Grinner Knot and has the same appearance as a Hangman's Noose although it is different internally. When used to join two lines it is known as a Double Grinner or a Double Uni Knot. 

The video below shows the basic mechanics of the knot. To attach two lines together, simply make the first loop as though you were attaching it to a make-believe lure, then tie another one on the other side. Both knots can then be slid together to connect lines. I use this method to rig my fly rod. I run the backing line around the reel, tying a Duncan's loop and sliding the knot tight to the reel. Then I attached my fly-line to the backing using two Duncan Loops slid together. I do the same to attach the fly-line to the leader and leader to the tippet. I finish it off by tying a fly to the end of the tippet with...you guessed it...a Duncan's Loop. 

Tight lines friends,

Tim

Essential Fishing Knowledge