Page 48 - Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton "The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots"

Blood knot

This is an old fishing knot used for joining small monofilaments together. Fishermen join

lengths of progressively smaller line with it to create a fly-casting leader. It can be used on most
freshwater monofilaments and is strong, as long as care is taken to moisten and carefully tighten
the lines. Tightening them too quickly can, however, weaken the lines.

Start with the two ends of the lines overlapped by about 1 ft (30 cm) (1). With both lines, make at

least eight full wraps around the other (2). Pull apart the wraps at the middle, creating an “eye,”
then bring the working ends back through the eye in opposite directions (3). Moisten the knot and
pull the working ends apart while cinching up the knot (4). Trim the excess line off close to the
knot (5).