FlyFishing Colorado

How long should a tag end be on your fly

Flyfishing Colorado says that you may be cutting the tag end on your fly too close.  Too short a tag end can cause the knot holding your fly to slip and loose you a trophy fish.

When I first learned to nymph fish, I was told to trim those tag ends close to the knot so the trout could not feel them during the take.  Trout can inhale, feel a fly and spit in out in less than 1 second.  The theory of a closely trimmed knot was the fish could not feel the tag end and would hold on to your fly long enough for you to set the hook.

On a guided trip to the North Fork Ranch on 5/6/06, guide Tad Howard used 4X leader and left the tag ends on each fly of a 3 nymph rig about 1/8 inch long.  The fish did not care as I had 30 to 35 hookups with most fish in the 18 inch to 24 inch range.  I also did not lose fish to slipping knots, or loose flies on hang up with wrock, logs or trees. 

I tried leaving the tag ends longer on my 5/16/06 trip to Bear Creek and the fish did not seem to mind.  Total hookups 35 to 40 trout both rainbows and browns.

Next time you are go fly fishing, leave the tag ends on your knots a little longer and see how it works.  I use an improved clinch knot for tying on flies. Leaving the tag ends longer definitely kept me from loosing some good fish and from loosing as many flies.

Marshall, Editor
FlyFishing Colorado