How To: Tie the slim beauty knot for fly fishing

Tie a double overhand knot 4" from the end of the shock tippet or other material to which you want to connect your class tippet. Gently tighten the double overhand knot, but only until it turns over and forms a figure-eight. This leaves two gaps through which you can pass the tippet material. Create a doubled section of your tippet 18". Putting a sharp angle on the tip of the doubled loop will help it pass through the figure-8. Pass the doubled tippet line through the top of the figure-8 knot and back out the bottom of the figure-8 knot in the direction that will result in the double line passing straight through the tightened figure-8. Pull 10-12" of double line through the figure-8. Tighten the figure 8 knot with pliers after lubricating. The "loops" of the knot should begin to flatten together. With the thumb and forefinger of one hand, hold a gap open between the tag end of the double line and the shock tippet. Your other hand will wrap the doubled tag end around the shock tippet and then insert it through this gap. Wrap the doubled-line 4x down then shock, then wrap it back over itself, in the direction of gap, 3x. Then insert the end of the doubled line through the gap. Lubricate the wraps around the shock tippet. Then in one hand hold the standing part of the tippet and the actual tag end of the tippet — the double line that emerges from the top of the tightened figure-eight, not the section of double line that you inserted into the gap. It helps to wrap this double line around your hand once or twice. Grab the other end of the shock tippet with your other hand. With a smooth, fast motion, tighten knot and seat the wraps up against the figure-eight. You may find that without adequate lubrication or when using dissimilar materials that the wraps "hang" and hesitate as you bring them tight. This is not always a problem, but be sure that the finished "barrel" of wraps looks tight and shows little, if any, unevenness. Trim the knot.