Davy Knot

How to tie the Davy Knot. The Davy Knot is attributed to Davy Wotton, a British Fly Fishing pro. The positive aspects of this knot are in speed, size and strength - all great attributes for a fishing knot. Once learned, the Davy Knot can be tied very quickly which gets you back to fishing in a minimal amount of time. A keen eye might notice that the tying steps of the Davy are the same method used in the highly reliable  J Knot for tying two lines together, just not as many passes. Learning and using the J Knot for tying tippet to leader will make tying your fly on with the Davy Knot a cinch!

It is also a very compact knot making it a nice knot for small flies (we recommend the Davy Knot for flies size 18 -22) and various tests rate it between 85 to 100 percent of line strength, with 90% probably a safe assumption. The Davy Knot should be in every fly fisher's arsenal of knots! If tying on larger size flies an extra pass can be made resulting in the "Double Davy Knot" (click to see).

Click to get the Davy Knot on waterproof plastic Pro-Knot Fly Fishing Knot Cards.

Scroll to see Animated Davy Knot below the illustration and tying instructions.

 

Davy Knot Tying Instructions

• Thread 3 to 4 inches of leader (or tippet) through the hook eye.


• Loosely form a simple overhand knot ahead of the hook.


• Bring the tag end back through the loop making sure to pass between the overhand knot and the hook itself.


• Tighten the knot by pulling first on the tag end to draw up the knot, then on the main line to set the knot.