The non slip mono loop is a loop knot that leaves an open loop at the fly, letting the fly move naturally, and it is a favorite for bonefish flies, trout flies, and anything where you want free movement. It is known as a very strong knot, and on this audio How 2 Tuesday I find out exactly how strong. I walk through tying it step by step, then test it on 12 pound monofilament. Press play above and follow along as I break it down.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
The non slip mono loop is a loop knot used to attach a fly while leaving an open loop at the hook eye, which lets the fly move naturally in the water instead of being cinched tight. That makes it great for bonefish flies, trout flies, and anything where natural movement matters. It is also known as a very strong knot, which is part of why so many anglers trust it for their flies. In this episode I tie it and test it on 12 pound monofilament to see just how strong it really is.
Tie an overhand knot in the standing leader, then pass the tag end through the fly. Bring the tag end back through the overhand loop, go three times around the standing line, and pass the tag end back through the overhand loop again. Then pull it tight and you are ready to fish. The size of the loop you leave at the fly is up to you. It is an easy knot to tie once you have the sequence down, and it gives you that open loop for natural fly movement every time.
Very strong. In my test on 12 pound monofilament, the non slip mono loop averaged 10.13 pounds, which is 84.4 percent breaking strength. I broke it three times to get there: the first at 10.04, the second at 10.52, and the third at 9.85. Retaining better than 84 percent of the line's strength while still leaving an open loop for fly movement is excellent, and it backs up the knot's reputation as one of the stronger loop knots you can tie for flies.
I broke the knot three different times with 12 pound monofilament. The first broke at 10.04 pounds, the second at 10.52, and the third at 9.85, for an average strength of 10.13 pounds. That works out to 84.4 percent breaking strength for the non slip mono loop. Breaking it three times and averaging gives a more reliable number than a single pull, since any one knot can seat slightly differently, and the three results here were tight and consistent.
In this version I went three times around the standing line before passing the tag end back through the overhand loop. Three wraps gave me that 84.4 percent strength on 12 pound mono. The other key steps are tying the initial overhand in the standing leader, passing the tag through the fly, and coming back through the same overhand loop both before and after the wraps. Pull it down evenly and you get a clean, strong loop that lets the fly swing freely.
The non slip mono loop leaves an open loop at the fly, and that loop is the whole point. It lets the fly move naturally instead of being locked down tight against the hook eye, which makes it a favorite for bonefish flies, trout flies, and anything where movement gets the eat. It also has a reputation as a very strong knot, and I wanted to find out exactly how strong. I explain the appeal in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Here are the steps I walk through in this How 2 Tuesday. I cover the detail behind each one in the episode.
I unpack each of these in the episode. Press play in the player above and follow along.
It is easy once you know the sequence. Overhand knot in the standing leader, tag end through the fly, back through the overhand loop, three times around the standing line, then back through the overhand again. Pull it tight and fish it. The loop size is your call. I walk through each step in the episode, so press play in the player above and tie along.
I broke it three times on 12 pound mono: 10.04, 10.52, and 9.85, for an average of 10.13 pounds, which is 84.4 percent breaking strength. That is strong, especially for a knot that still leaves an open loop for movement. Three consistent breaks give me confidence in the number. I read the results in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The non slip mono loop earns its reputation: 10.13 pounds average on 12 pound mono, 84.4 percent breaking strength, while still leaving an open loop so your fly swims naturally.
For bonefish flies, trout flies, and any presentation where movement matters, it is hard to beat. Press play above to tie and test it with me.
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
non slip mono loop · loop knot · bonefish flies · trout flies · monofilament · fly fishing · Knot Wars · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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