Tying the Composite Knot

The composite knot is a form of jam knot that's designed to join two monofilament lines of greatly varying diameter—such as ten-pound test to 100-pound test. Most widely used to connect shock tippets in fly- and light-tackle fishing, the composite knot is tough enough to boat everything from billfish to giant tarpon. The knot can be tied quickly when larger fish move into an area unexpectedly or bottomfish break light lines in jagged rocks or wrecks.