knots properly Standard(s): Physical Education, Language Arts

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Ophelia Robbins
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Lesson: Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Lesson Number 2 Lesson Title: Knots and Leaders Implementation Time: 45-55 minutes Resource(s): Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Teacher Training Manual Learn How To

1 Lesson: Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Lesson Number 2 Lesson Title: Knots and Leaders Implementation Time: minutes Resource(s): Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Teacher Training Manual Learn How To Fly Fish Chapters: Knots Leaders Online Version of the Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Lessons: Knots Leaders Materials Needed: Both the Waterscene and Bullseye CasTarget Translators, Knot tying rope, TITE LOOPS, Monofilament of 3 different diameters (24 of 20 lb. test, 12 of 15 lb. test and 24 of 8-10 lb. test) Lesson Focus Content Knowledge: leader to fly, leader to fly line, and leader to leader knots Content Skill(s): hand/eye coordination, how to tie knots properly Thinking Skill(s): Observing, sequencing, predicting, problem solving Habit(s) of Mind: Working and thinking interdependently, communicating clearly Standard(s): Physical Education, Language Arts Worksheets: Knots and Leaders Learner Outcome(s): What will student s learn as a result of this lesson? The student will know and be able to tie 4 knots used in fishing The student will understand the purpose of a leader The student will understand turnover and the Rule of 4 The student will build their own leader to use in class Knots and Building Leaders Key Concepts: Leaders purchased at a retailer come in standard lengths of 7 1/2, 9 and 12 The shorter the leader, the easier it is to turnover the leader and fly Generally, everything in fly fishing tapers, including the fly line and leader There are numerous knots used in fly fishing, students will learn 4: Double Surgeon Loop Knot Handshake Loop Connection Surgeon Knot Clinch Knot Procedure (45-55 min): To start, hand out the Fly Fishing Journal Knots and Leaders CAFCAS Lesson 2, page 1

Review of Fly Rod, Reel and Line Components (5 min): Reference the Waterscene CasTarget Translator and review the components of the fly rod, fly reel, fly line, backing and leader.

2 Review of Fly Rod, Reel and Line Components (5 min): Reference the Waterscene CasTarget Translator and review the components of the fly rod, fly reel, fly line, backing and leader. Reference: See the back of the Waterscene CasTarget Translator Online Version of the Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Lessons NFSP Teacher Training Manual Learn How To Fly Fish textbook Learn 4 Knots (30-40 min): Referencing the Waterscene CasTarget Translator and the Bullseye CasTarget Translator, have your students complete the Fly Fishing Journal Knots and Leaders, while you explain the 4 knots students will learn and the purpose of each. Students should first learn each knot by tying the knots with the rope provided and follow with building their own leaders using three different monofilament sizes. When building the leaders with monofilament, start with the thicker material (the butt end) and tie a Double Surgeon Loop in one end, follow with the Handshake Loop Connection, Surgeon Knot (tied twice) and the Clinch Knot (to a fly). Teacher will demonstrate how to tie each knot with the knot tying rope material Double Surgeon Loop: This knot is used to create a loop at the front end of the permanent leader butt on the front of the fly line (if provided/prepared), and a loop at the back end (butt end) of the leader that attaches to it. Handshake Loop Connection: This knot is used to connect the loop in the end of the permanent leader butt to the back end (butt end) of the leader. Surgeon Knot: This knot is used to tie leader sections of different diameters together. Clinch Knot: This knot is used to tie the leader to the fly. You may use a TITE LOOP to tie around. Students will practice the 4 knots with rope in small groups (10 minutes) After adequate practice with rope, each student will build their own 3-section leaders using 3 different diameters of monofilament. The leader should be kept in each student s journal, to be turned in and assessed: Section #1: 24 of 20 lb. test mono (butt section)...make a 1/2 loop in one end using the Double Surgeon Loop Knot Section #2: 12 of 15 lb. test mono (mid section)...using the Surgeon Knot, tie one end to the 20#, the other to the 10# Section #3: 24 of 8-10 lb. test mono (tippet section)...the tag end is tied to the fly using a Clinch Knot Explain the Rule of 4 : Use a leader tippet size that is 1/4th the size of the fly you are using Leader-Building Team Challenge (10 min): Divide the class evenly into 2 or 3 teams. Each team member should be given one piece of knot tying material (rope). The objective is to have each team work together to tie one large leader: starting with the Double Surgeon Loop Knot and connecting each piece with the Surgeon Knot ending with the Clinch Knot tied to the Double Surgeon Loop. The goal is to create a leader that ends up making a large circle. The team that finishes first wins! Closure/Assessment (10 min): Inquiry/Fly Fishing Journal Entry: Key Questions: 1. What was the most challenging knot and what was the easiest? 2. What is the point of having a tapered leader? Facilitates "turnover. 3. What happens to the strength of the leader once it has been knotted? Knots weaken leaders, but are inevitable. 4. What knot do you use to tie on the fly? Clinch Knot 5. What is the purpose of the Permanent Leader Butt? Interchange leaders easily CAFCAS Lesson 2, page 2

3 Conservation Note: 1. What is the 2 nd Leave No Trace ethic? Travel and camp on durable surfaces 2. Why are Leave No Trace ethics important? To ensure we have minimal impact on the environment when we spend time outdoors 3. When outdoors fishing and camping, why would you want travel and camp on durable surfaces? To minimize the impact of our presence in wild places. Additional Journal Entry: Research additional fly fishing knots that could be used as alternatives to the: Double Surgeon Loop, Surgeon Knot and Clinch Knot. Students should either draw the knots, or tie their own, and then place and label each knot and it s purpose in their journal. CAFCAS Lesson 2, page 3

4 Name Fly Fishing Journal Knots and Leaders There are many knots used in fly fishing - these are just a few essentials. Fill in the blanks or create your own diagram in your journal and label each blank with the knot used to complete the leader. 1. Why are leaders important? Leaders allow us to make the most invisible approach to the fish and provide a natural presentation of the fly. 2. What is the purpose of tying different size thicknesses of monofilament material together? So we can create a tapered leader and have more success with turning over the fly as a result of a cast. 3. What s the purpose of the Permanent Leader Butt? The permanent leader butt allows us to interchange leaders easily. 4. How do you know what size tippet to use? By the size of the fly you are using CAFCAS Lesson 2, page 4

5 Name Fly Fishing Journal Knots and Leaders There are many knots used in fly fishing - in NFSP, you learn the few essentials. Fill in the blanks or create your own diagram in your journal and label each blank with the knot used to complete the leader. 1. Why are leaders important? 2. What is the purpose of tying different size thicknesses of monofilament material together? 3. What s the purpose of the Permanent Leader Butt? 4. How do you know what size tippet to select/use for your leader?

6 How To Set Up Leaders Here's how to setup and use leaders in the Cast A Fly, Catch A Student curriculum: How to set up leaders for indoor use 1. Rods provided in your NFSP Curriculum Kit come ready to fish...meaning the backing, fly line and leader are all attached to your rod outfit. 2. The leaders are the appropriate fit for the size of the rod and reel provided. 3. Pre-attached leaders may come affixed to the front of your fly lines in one of two ways: With a short section, approximately 12 long, called a permanent leader butt With a full-length leader (7 1/2 to 9 long) 4. If you have the permanent leader butt form, you may follow the standard instructions in Lesson Plan 2 regarding tying knots and having each student make their own leaders to use in the course 5. If you have the full-length leader form, you should follow these steps to prepare them for use: Leaving the existing tapered leader attached to the fly line, but cut it back to a length about 12 Then, tie a loop in the end, approximately 1/2 in diameter, using the Double Surgeon Knot Then you may follow the standard instructions in Lesson Plan 2 on how to tie knots and build leaders Building Leaders 20 lb Test Monofilament (mono) 15 lb Test Monofilament (mono) 8 10 lb Test Monofilament (mono) Length of Mono to use ~ 24 ~ 12 ~ 24 What knots should be used in this section to build the leaders? 1. The Double Surgeon Loop: so the leader can be connected to the Permanent Leader Butt 2. The Surgeon Knot: to tie on the second section Two Surgeon Knots: 1. One attaches the second piece to the butt section 2. One connects the two sections to the tip section Question: How does the fly fisher know what size tippet to have at the end of their leader? Answer: By knowing approximately what size fly they re using. Use the Rule of 4 or the hook chart. 1. Surgeon Knot to connect the tip section to the middle 2. Clinch Knot to tie on the fly OUTDOOR LEADERS How to set up leaders for outdoor use 1. When transitioning to the outdoors, leaders must be changed to make them suitable for use with flies and for real life fishing. 2. Remove the leaders that have been used in the gym. Retain the permanent leader butt that exist on the fly lines. 3. Use a new leader: The outdoor leaders should be 7 1/2 long, and taper to a tippet of about 3X This might be one you have the student s build themselves (if you have the necessary monofilament) Or, use a tapered store-bought leader: 7 1/2, 3X 4X 3. As beginners, your students should use a leader no longer than 7 1/2. The decision for what size tippet to use is based on the size of the fly they ll be using. Reference the back of the Waterscene CasTarget Translator and discuss hook sizes and the Rule of 4. In order to have balance between fly and leader, the fly fisher must first decide what size fly they will be using before they make a choice about the leader tippet size. 4. Tippet designation is based on an X classification system and the bigger the number, the smaller the diameter of the monofilament. (e.g., 8X is smaller/thinner in diameter than 2X.) CAFCAS Lesson 2, page 5

cast Standard(s): Physical Education, Language Arts, Technology

cast Standard(s): Physical Education, Language Arts, Technology Lesson: Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Lesson Number 4 Lesson Title: Assessing the Basic Fly Cast Implementation Time: 45-55 minutes Resource(s): Cast A Fly, Catch A Student Teacher Training Manual Learn