Davy Knot
A small fly-to-tippet connection with few movements and little line consumption. It is useful to practice when frequent fly changes eat into your tippet.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Practice sequence
- Thread the eye and form a half hitch around the standing line.
- Bring the tag around and through the loop again as shown in the tutorial.
- Seat it with the tag trapped against the eye, then inspect and pull-test.
Use the linked animation to check the crossings. These notes are for learning; climbing, rescue, and lifting require qualified instruction and equipment-specific procedures.
Which knot should you choose?
Compare with the Double Davy when the original does not grip reliably; neither should be trusted without a pull test.
Why it earns its place
Its compact footprint suits small flies, provided the knot seats correctly against the eye.
Where it fails
The tag must be trapped at the eye. Thin tippet against thick hook wire can slip, and braid needs particular caution.
Quick facts
| Function | Fishing connection |
| Practice level | 2 / 5 (editorial rating) |
| Tutorial | Animated Knots by Grog |
Source and editorial notes
Reference: Animated Knots by Grog: Davy Knot. Source checked 2026-09-11. Selection advice and difficulty ratings are editorial judgments, not strength tests. How this guide is prepared.