Fishing Knots by Lefty Kreh

publication date: Dec 28, 2007

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author/source: Terry Lawton

Review by Terry Lawton 

Knots seem to feature very highly in the life of many fly fishermen. I understand that the Fish & Fly Knot pages are some of the most often and regularly visited on the website. Part of the reason is, as Lefty Kreh writes in the start of his introduction to Fishing Knots, Proven to Work for Light Tackle and Fly Fishing: “The knot is a very important part of the fisherman’s rig. No matter how superb the rod, reel, and tackle, if the knot fails the game is over.” In his new knot book Lefty has selected “the knots that will work best in any light tackle or fly-fishing situation.” As he also writes, it is not necessary to know how to tie a lot of knots but it is important to know how to tie a few essential ones, and knots that suit the material being used.

Chapters include basic knots, connecting lines including a knot that I have never heard of before, the slim beauty, knots including the Bimini twist and George Harvey dry fly knot, lines and leaders, wire knots (very useful for saltwater and pike anglers), whip finishes, loops and attaching hooks, swivels and flies. This last chapter includes the recently-publicised hemostat quick clinch. Key to tie knots that won’t fail you is tightening the knot as firmly as possible. No knot will break until it slips. And closing a knot as firmly as possible will stop it from slipping. Failing to tighten a knot correctly and fully can reduce its strength by as much as 40 per cent. There is a lot of good advice on tying knots with some of the latest materials such as gel-spun braided lines. Krek recommends that when tying a Bimini twist with braided gel-spun line that you use between 50 and 60 twists and then secure the knot with Loctite 406.
The DVD which comes with the book is a very useful addition although it shows Lefty Kreh tying only the most essential knots. It was very helpful to see exactly how to tie the Hemostat Quick Clinch knot as the illustrations in the book could have been a bit clearer. His quick way of tying a Surgeon’s knot certainly is quick.

The book is clearly illustrated and the lay-flat ring binding is helpful when learning to tie a new knot. There are some knots that I will take the time to learn at home – following Lefty’s advice – before trying them for real on the river bank. For anyone who has difficulty tying knots or wants to learn to tie better or stronger knots quicker, this very practical book has much to recommend it.

Fishing Knots, Proven to Work for Light Tackle and Fly Fishing, by Lefty Kreh. Published by Swan Hill Press at £18.95. Ring bound, 122 pages. Includes instructional DVD.

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