Fly fishing at its most basic level is just another technique ... Patrik / Adobe stock The double surgeon’s and blood knot are used for connecting two different pieces of leader or tippet material.

Fishing line has advanced ... Other, more high-tech knots fared not as well: A 3-turn Seaguar knot broke at 66%; a 3-turn surgeon’s knot at 65%; and 4-turn back-to-back Uni knots at 6%.

As a fly-fisherman ... but sloppy-looking surgeon’s knot. But I’ve watched even simple knots intimidate my kids and their friends when they were getting started fishing.