Fly Fisherman - January 06, 2015

Speed Blood Knot Perfect for Cold Weather

Speed Blood Knot Perfect for Cold Weather — Illustrations by Joe Mahler <a href="http://www.joemahler.com">joemahler.com</a>

The speed blood knot is easier to tie than a regular blood knot—particularly with cold hands in freezing temperatures—because you don't have to separately deal with two independent tag ends. You start by tying the tag ends together, making them easier to control and handle. The final knot isn't a true blood knot because the tag ends end up facing the same direction instead of opposing directions as in the original blood knot.

Speed Blood Knot Step 1 of 4

Speed Blood Knot Step 1 of 4

Make a doubled overhand knot in the tag ends of the monofilaments you intend to join. Holding the two strands on opposing sides of the overhand knot, create a hanging loop with that knot dangling at the bottom.

Speed Blood Knot Step 2 of 4

Speed Blood Knot Step 2 of 4

Where by the two lines cross at the top of the loop, twist the standing lines around each other three to five times to simultaneously create the two opposing twists of a blood knot.

Speed Blood Knot Step 3 of 4

Speed Blood Knot Step 3 of 4

While you are twisting the two strands, maintain an open loop in the center, and after three to five twists, pass the overhand knot back through this loop.

Speed Blood Knot Step 4 of 4

Speed Blood Knot Step 4 of 4

Moisten the strands with lip balm or saliva, and tighten the knot evenly by pulling on both standing ends and the overhand knot simultaneously.

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