Fly line to leader connection/knot

[wildtrout2]

I'm sure it's been discussed, and I tried the Search for this, but nothing specific came up. Anyway, I'm curious what type of knot folks use for connecting your line to your leader? I like the nail knot for this, because it goes through the tip top pretty cleanly, though I try to avoid that situation when I can. I do find it tough to tie though.

I need to elaborate on my post. I use the nail knot because I use a tippet ring, rarely having to replace the line/leader connection, because it's just tippet, not the whole leader, that needs replacing. When I do need to replace an entire leader, which is very rare, I get the shop to tie the nail knot after I buy a new leader. 😉

 

[Swattie87]

Loop to loop with perfection loops, or just using the welded loop on the fly line. Lazy, and easier to deal with on the stream than a nail knot IMO.

I use braided furled leaders which lend themselves to this connection. If I was fishing tapered mono leaders I’d go with a nail knot.

 

[nd1001]

I also use the welded loop on a fly line, with a loop-to-loop connection. If the fly line loop wears out on the stream, I’ll resort to a nail knot. But when I see the welded loop getting close to breaking, I’ll snip it off at home and create a new fly line loop with thread and UV resin.

 

[Forestfishin]

Used the nail knot when I first got into fly fishing way back when but just use the loop to loop that comes on the line now. I do keep a nail knot tool and small printed instructions in the ziplock I keep in my pack in case the line loop ever breaks on the stream.

 

[StreamBottom]

I'm sure it's been discussed, and I tried the Search for this, but nothing specific came up. Anyway, I'm curious what type of knot folks use for connecting your line to your leader? I like the nail knot for this, because it goes through the tip top pretty cleanly, though I try to avoid that situation when I can. I do find it tough to tie though.

I’m in the Nail knot camp.
I don’t really swap out leaders to make a switch to the loop to loop connection.

And like Forestfishin I keep the nail tool in my vest/ pack. Without it I’d be hard pressed to tie a nail knot with a nail.

 

[wildtrout2]

I’m in the Nail knot camp.
I don’t really swap out leaders to make a switch to the loop to loop connection.

And like Forestfishin I keep the nail tool in my vest/ pack. Without it I’d be hard pressed to tie a nail knot with a nail.

I've tried to tie it with a nail, but had very poor results. And, that was at home, couldn't imagine attempting it streamside. 🙂

 

[NetWork]

I cut the welded loop off my fly line then make a microloop that moves through the guides more easily than the original welded loop. To attach the leader to the microloop, a Davy knot.

 

[brookiefan]

How do you make the microloop? And to wildtrout2, I use a Knot needle tool. I can tie a needle knot with it in less than a minute. Check their video.

 

[RLeep2]

If I don't have a welded loop on a new line, I use a 12-14" piece of leader butt attached to the fly line with a speed nail knot (basically a Uni scrinched down until it bites into the pvc enough to hold). Hit that connection with a dot of UV resin or even super glue. Then I put a perfection loop or even just a double overhand loop into the other end of the 12" butt section and go loop to loop to the leader from there. There may be better ways of doing it, but this is how I've done it for 50 years and it still makes me happy and I've never had one give out yet.

I don't need no steekin" nail..

nailless nail knot - Google Search

 

[Bamboozle]

I swap leaders often (furled to woven to braided to knotted) going back to the Civil War and IMHO a loop to loop connection, while not necessarily the smoothest connection is the only way to fly.

In the "olden" days I would nail, needle or Dave Whitlock Zap-a-Gap splice a 4" - 6" section of stout leader material to the end of my fly line and tie a perfection loop into that. All the leaders I bought or made would also have a loop so it was easy-peasy to swap.

Once fly line manufacturers created the welded loop I never looked back.

FWIW - Many moons ago through an association with noted Dutch fly tier Hans Weilenmann, I connected with another Dutch chap named Sepp Fuchs. Sepp came up with a way to make welded loops on fly lines that didn't have them, or repair broken welded loops on fly lines that did using heat shrink tubing.

He sold a kit in those days (which Hans helped me to score), but in reality all you need is the right size heat shrink tubing and some finesse to make or repair your own loops.

In regards to:

I've tried to tie it with a nail, but had very poor results. And, that was at home, couldn't imagine attempting it streamside. 🙂

ANY knot you rely on in fishing, camping, mountain climbing, survival, etc. that you MIGHT need to tie but don't tie unless you need to, should be practiced repeatedly so you can tie it in your sleep, in darkness or when drunk...

...which is VERY important to me. 😉

 

[PennKev]

How do you make the microloop?

Watch this video.

Micro Loop