Harvey Dry Fly Knot

How to tie the Harvey Dry Fly Knot. The Harvey Dry Fly Knot, developed by legendary fly fishing instructor George Harvey, is probably one of the best choices for connecting flies with up or down-turned hook eyes to your tippet. Do not use it on a straight eye hook. It is a strong knot which does not allow the fly to tilt to one side or the other. It also lets you avoid passing an open loop over a bulky fly pattern during the knot-tying process (such as the Turle Knot).

Scroll to see Animated Harvey Dry Fly Knot below the illustration and tying instructions.

 

Harvey Dry Fly Knot Tying Instructions

• Insert the tag end through the hook eye and bring it back toward the standing line.


• While holding the standing and tag ends just in front of the fly, make a small loop around the standing line, then make another of the same size and hold the two loops together.


• Run the tag end through the loops twice (make two wraps around them).


• Hold the bend of the hook in one hand and pull on the standing line with the other to cinch the knot. According to Lefty Kreh, if you've done it right, the two loops will slide back and pop over the hook eye, leaving a straight connection between line and fly. Trim the tag end. The knot should rest on the thread wrappings of the head of the fly.