Knots to know when fly-fishing for pike

Fly fishing for the toothiest gamefish in Canadian waters requires a bite tippet—a stretch of tough material at the end of the leader to prevent bite-offs. My choice for a bite tippet is tieable wire, such as Surflon Micro Supreme, Rio’s Powerflex Wire Bite Tippet, Cortland Toothy Critter and TyGer Leader. This plastic coated wire is strong, thin and supple enough that you can tie standard fishing knots. Here are the knots you need.

CONNECT LEADER TO WIRE BITE TIPPET

Double surgeon’s knot

Paired (or double) uni-knots

Double uni-knot: Animated instrucitons

CONNECT WIRE TO FLY

Non-slip mono loop

Homer Rhodes knot

CONNECT WIRE TO SNAP

Uni-knot

Clinch knot  (not the “improved” version—the standard clinch holds better with wire)