A closeup view of the Clinch Knot, fly rod and reel and “Lefty’s Deceiver.” Envato image.
The clinch knot was popular in my youth and taught beyond my small world of trouts, bluefish, and stripers on Long Island, New York
By Skip Clement
It was the go-to in the rest of Northeast of the USA as I knew it. Later, in my fishing life, friends from all points and Canada knew early on in their angling life had been weaned on the same knot I had when it came to tying off a fly.
Fast forward to the Clinch Knot flaw
Angie and I were fishing her family property in North Georgia right after the recent rains stopped, and fall slipped in almost unannounced, dipping the constant high 80s and high humidity to nighttime 50s and days into the 70s without a lot of moisture – all happening in one day.
The water at the Eberle Farmstead was almost seasonally in range temp-wise but unseasonably high water. Nonetheless, the trout were hungry and aggressive, but Angie was not having a good day compared to me, which was not usually the case.
Nothing like a coffee break
When we stopped for a coffee break and she, a butt, I looked at her set up and noticed both flies were askew – at an angle instead of coming straight off the eye.
We both knew immediately that was her problem – one that happens to all who live with the Clinch or its worthless cousin, the Improved Clinch [sorry, personal opinion]. So, I finally convinced her to stop using the Clinch, but I dared not suggest getting rid of the stinky butts.
I re-did her leader/rig with permission, sticking with the Clinch coming off the one fly hook, but at the attachment to the fly, I used the Turle Knot in its improved tie called the Steering Knot by some.
