Page 63 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

The SINGLE HARNESS Loop (also called MAN-HARNESS KNOT and

ARTILLERY Loop) is shown in the chapter on SINGLE Loops in the

bight (~1050). It is the Loop KNOT generally recommended for at-

taching a dropper fly. This is undoubtedly because until very recent
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years only two SINGLE Loops in the bight appear to have been

recorded, the other being the Loop KNOT (~1046). In recent years,

however, the agricultural college knot bulletins have published sev-

eral others. THE SINGLE HARNESS Loop (~1050) is not very secure

under ordinary circumstances and is quite unfit for use in wet gut,

where it is apt to slip. The Loop KNOT (~1046) is secure, but is par-

ticularly weak, and also has a bad lead. All three knots to be given

are slightly bulkier than the two mentioned, but they are stronger

and more secure and have a better lead.

329. The DOUBLE HARNESS Loop: For attaching a dropper fly.

3'30 Form an ordinary noose in the line (~IO 52), and draw a bight

through the noose as indicated by the arrow. When tying, one should

allow much more material than seems necessary, as there is consid-

erable slip while the knot is being drawn u ; for that reason the two

which follow will be found more practica , as they may be tied in a

hurry and without taking any panicular precautions.

330. This knot draws up easily into the desired shape and is simple

to tie. It is both strong and secure, but it offers a little more water

resistance than the other two.

331. The knot sometimes called the LINEMAN'S Loop is secure and

has an excellent lead. It is also compact and is the neatest of the lot.

Of the three I should recommend whichever one is found easiest to

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tie.

332. A BOWLINE (~261) may be put in a dropper fly snell and

attached to one of the three LEADER Loops that have just been shown.

333. SNELL Loop ~ 265 may be secured to a leader by sticking one

end of the snell through the LEADER Loop and then reeving the hook

through its own loop. This forms a RING HITCH (~I 859), which is

stronger than the previous hitch.

334. The BECKET HITCH (~1900) is easy to tie and untie. An

OVERHAND KNOT is sometimes added to the end of the snell for

332 .333 33i greater securIty.
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335. Tie a NOOSE in the leader bight, rather loosely. Insen the

dropper gut as shown, and pull on the leader as indicated. This swal-

lows a section of the dropper snell and gives KNOT ~ 200 5 with the

same formation as the SHEET BEND (~14 3 I ). But since the two ends

of the leader are both actively in use and the snell is pulled at right

angles, it can hardly be regarded as the same knot.
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