Page 107 - Joseph B. Healy "The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots"

Fishing the Slim Beauty

with Terry Gibson

Terry Gibson has worked at magazines including Saltwater Fly Fishing,
Florida Sportsman, and Outdoor Life, and also has worked tirelessly on
conservation issues. He lives in Florida and often spends part of the year
in Wyoming, so he fishes in both salt and fresh water.

“When I was working at Florida Sportsman magazine, Jeff Weakley,
editor, showed me how to tie this knot. He showed it to me in the context
of tying it so you could wind it through the guides of a conventional
offshore rod. It’s a really great knot to tie, when you’re joining materials
for a leader, or in fly fishing, tying the leader to the tippet. It’s really

strong; I’ve never had one break that I’ve tied right. I’ve used it for tarpon
leaders, but primarily I’ve used it for offshore fishing—trolling and kite
fishing, that sort of thing. It’s nice for kite fishing in a tournament because
once you reel the leader into the rod tip, it’s an official release. With any
kind of guide on a rod—roller guides or regular loops—it rolls right in and
goes right back out. The biggest thing is if you accidently reel the knot
past the rod tip, like when the guide is trying to grab a tarpon, for

instance, it’s not going to make any difference—it won’t hurt you or your
rod. Plus, I’m lazy and I don’t really fish for records, so it works for me,”
Terry says with a laugh.