Water Knot Essentials:
The Water Knot is a very popular and traditional knot in fly fishing and a preffered knot by may traditional fly anglers for making droppers in leaders of casts.
It is can also used to add a paternoster links and in coarse fishing some anglers use it for hook links for fine presentation on pole rigs.
When to use the Water Knot when fishing
- Joining two pieces of line of similar diameter.
- Making tapering leaders or ‘casts’
- Adding droppers to leaders
- For adding a paternoster link
A Step by Step Guide to tie a Water Knot
Step 1:
Align the two pieces of line to be joined.

Step 2:
Tie an overhand knot to form a loop with the two lines. Don’t draw tight yet.

Step 3:
Repeat the over hand knot 3 more times.

Step 4:
With the two sets of tag ends in each hand slowly and carefully draw the knot down, moistening as you go until good and tight & slowly pull tight. Trim of the tag ends as required.
