Fly fishing knots can feel overwhelming. Every book, blog, or YouTube video seems to recommend something different, and many beginners assume they need to memorize a dozen knots just to get started.  Fly fishermen LOVE to overthink fly fishing.  In reality, fly fishing is pretty simple and pretty easy.

Beginners only need TWO knots to start fly fishing confidently:

• Improved Clinch Knot
• Blood Knot

Everything else can wait until you move beyond the basics.

Below are the two essential beginner knots, followed by a few intermediate knots you’ll eventually want to learn — including the Perfection Loop, Non-Slip Loop Knot, and Surgeon’s Knot. We’ll finish with knots you can safely ignore for now.

Clinch Knot

1. Improved Clinch Knot – Essential

Your all-purpose fly attachment knot.

What it’s for:

• Tying your fly to the tippet
• Works with dries, nymphs, streamers

Why it’s essential:

• Quick to learn
• Strong enough for any trout fishing
• Used constantly

If you learn only one knot, make it this one.

2. Blood Knot – Essential

The cleanest, most natural connection for leader-to-tippet joins.

What it’s for:

• Adding fresh tippet
• Joining similar-diameter lines

Why it matters:

• Slim profile
• Smooth turnover
• Strong, reliable connection

Master this early and your rigs will fish better instantly.

Blood Knot

INTERMEDIATE KNOTS (Useful Later, Not Required on Day One)

These knots aren’t essential for your first season, but every angler eventually learns them. Think of them as “Phase 2” knots — helpful tools you’ll pick up once you’re comfortable with the basics.

3. Perfection Loop – Intermediate

Great for quickly swapping leaders or creating clean, straight loops.

When you’ll use it:

• Building your own leaders
• Making new loops on loopless leaders
• Cleaner loop-to-loop connections

Not required at the beginner stage, since most leaders already come with perfection loops built in.  Note that this not is quite fragile until you reach about 25# test.  It should only be used on the butt section of a leader.

4. Non-Slip Loop Knot – Intermediate

The best knot for streamers, bass bugs, and saltwater flies.

When you’ll use it:

• Streamer fishing for trout
• Warmwater species
  
• Salmon and steelhead
• Saltwater species like redfish

It gives your fly natural, unrestricted movement. You won’t need it at first, but it’s essential once you branch out beyond dries and nymphs.  It gets used a lot once you start recognizing when and where it is beneficial.

5. Surgeon’s Knot / Surgeon’s Loop – Intermediate

A simple, fast knot for connecting lines or creating loops — especially when conditions are tough.

When it’s useful:

• Adding tippet in low light
• Joining lines of slightly different diameters
• Making quick loops at home or on-stream

Why it’s intermediate and not essential:

The surgeon’s knot works fine, but creates a bulkier connection than a blood knot. It’s easier to tie, which is why many anglers rely on it, but beginners benefit more from learning the cleaner blood knot first.  It is not as strong as a blood knot and the two opposing sections of material do not always connect at straight angles.  

The surgeon's knot or surgeon's loop is often called a lazy man's blood knot.

A surgeon's loop can also be used instead of a perfection loop.  It's not as strong, but it's easy. 

Once you’re confident, the surgeon’s knot becomes a handy “speed knot” for cold fingers or evening hatches.  In the end, it is more beneficial to use stronger, more flush knots when you can tie them...

Knots You Don’t Need to Learn Yet

Skip these for now — they’re useful in niche scenarios or outdated due to modern gear:

• Nail Knot – most fly lines come with welded loops now
• Uni / Uni-to-Uni Knot – redundant for fly fishing
• Turle Knot – outdated dry-fly knot
• Davy Knot – niche competition knot, but complicated and unnecessary 
• Albright, Bimini Twist, Spider Hitch – saltwater big-game knots
• Duncan Loop, Dropper Loop variations – advanced tactics only

You can add these someday, but there’s zero need or advantage for a beginner.

Beginner Summary: Only Two Knots Required

Intermediate (learn later):

• Perfection Loop
• Non-Slip Loop Knot
• Surgeon’s Knot / Surgeon’s Loop

That’s your full toolkit — simple and complete.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let knots intimidate you. Master the improved clinch and blood knot first, and you can fish anywhere with confidence. As you gain experience, adding the perfection loop, non-slip loop, and surgeon’s knot will expand your options without overwhelming you.