Turle Knot

skyriver

skyriver

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Turle Knot came up in a discussion about streamer hooks in the Fly Tying forum. Specifically about when the eye of the hook is up-turned or down-turned.
Anyway, I realized I tie my own version of the turle knot. And I do that because of my interpretation of the illustration in Trey Combs first edition Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies as a 14 year old. 😁 And I never looked back!

It's pretty easy so maybe this will help someone that finds the real turle or double turle too hard. So here's mine. It's never failed me!
 
I too am a believer in, and user of the Turle knot.
I tie Frodins’ “steering knot” version of the double Turle

Another advantage is you can “hitch” a muddler or similar fly tied on a down eye hook by tying the Turle reversed with the leader coming out the bottom of the eye (as you would tie it for an up eye hook).
 
skyriver said:
From all my research (after realizing I don't tie a true turle knot), Amy ties it the right way, but I'll stick with mine. :)
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Whatever works best for you is the right way. When I was in Nova Scotia the guides were adamant a waking fly would scare the fish, one going so far as to say it’s important that on a downstream dead drift the tail of the fly must present first, I.e. truly downstream. We all know that’s not true but it’s what one believes…..
 
I've used the turle knot for years on my up-eye steelhead flies. I like how the leader aligns with the shank of the hook when tied as opposed to, say, a clinch knot.

Another thing I really like is how I'm able to tie it and have a very short tag to trim.
 
Interesting. I learned what I thought was the turle, or double turle, knot years ago from rod maker Dawn Holbrook in Seattle. Turns out, it was likely another variation. I need to figure out a way to photograph it or make a video because I think it's a bit easier and faster technique, and consumes less leader material, that gets to the same end point of a double wrap around the standing line (leader) and is tied to the hook shank and runs straight through the eye of the hook.
 
I use the version that John Hazel demonstrates in his Steelhead fishing video. Not sure if that’s the real Turle but it’s pretty simple and once I saw it I started using it all the time. Until I learned the non-slip mono loop and now I use that.
 
Salmo_g said:
Interesting. I learned what I thought was the turle, or double turle, knot years ago from rod maker Dawn Holbrook in Seattle. Turns out, it was likely another variation. I need to figure out a way to photograph it or make a video because I think it's a bit easier and faster technique, and consumes less leader material, that gets to the same end point of a double wrap around the standing line (leader) and is tied to the hook shank and runs straight through the eye of the hook.
Click to expand...
Funny, I do wonder how many different knots are out there if you counted all the variations. It's funny to me watching YouTube videos and see guys do like 7 or 8 turns on each side of a blood knot. I do 4 with most. Small stuff I'll do 5. 7 or 8 is INSANE to me. :ROFLMAO:

I also tie my non-slip loop knot different than most. I make 2 overhands like many do and then tag thru the eye and then back thru the overhand. So far so good.
From there, I only do 3 or 4 turns and then I don't put the tag back down thru both holes/loops. I only go back down thru the overhand part, but not the part that is looped to the eye. To do this I sort of pull down on the fly to expose the overhand loop that really is a circle by this point.
I then bring the tag around and back up thru the loop I just made. I've seen some guys do it this way. I think my buddy taught me this way, not sure. It's easier for me to tighten with the right amount of loop than just going down thru both loops. I think my way can burn the line easier, but I don't have a problem with that since I wet every knot I tie.
 
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