Fly line to leader connection/knot

[PennKev]

Yes, this is how I do it. A couple of comments. Devin mentions using it for euronymph rigs, not fly line, but I use it on my fly lines without issue. Also, I frequently attach leaders with butt sections up to 20 lb.

Ditto.

 

[bringthepain]

I'm surprised nobody uses the Albright knot. Much easier to tie than the nail knot and goes though the guides just as easily.

I use an albright for connecting the backing to the fly line if there is no loop on the back end of the fly line

 

[lars]

I like to have the smoothest connections between my fly lines and leaders. So, no loop to loop connections for me. So, I mostly use some type of nail knot connections. And, if need be, I can and have tied a nail knot on the stream by wrapping the leader around my index finger.

At home, I sometimes use a nail knot Tie Fast or similar knot tying tool, or here are a couple other ways I’ve attached my lines and leaders:

Insert a bodkin about 1/4” or so into the end of the fly line, and push it out through the side. Insert the leader into the hole you’ve created, and tie a nail knot above where the leader protrudes through the side of the fly line.

View attachment 1641239582

it's a bit of a pita, but i find it the smoothest and strongest knot for going thru the guides and not getting hung up. that's either 25 or 30 lb maxima into a 444sl 4DT.

 

[shortrod]

Like Lars and mt_flyfisher, I use a needle knot. Which is a nail knot on the far side of feeding the mono through a "tunnel" created by sticking a needle into the end of the fly line and out again after a short span, I then heat the needle so that the fly line retains the "tunnel". Feed the butt section through the tunnel and tie a nail knot.
This makes for a smoother transition that feeds through the guides easier.

 

[dryflyguy]

This is for Mt Fishers post. I like the looks of your 2nd method, attaching with glue only.
But not sure I would trust it
Super glue can crack.
Have you ever had one pull loose?

 

[lars]

Like Lars and mt_flyfisher, I use a needle knot. Which is a nail knot on the far side of feeding the mono through a "tunnel" created by sticking a needle into the end of the fly line and out again after a short span, I then heat the needle so that the fly line retains the "tunnel". Feed the butt section through the tunnel and tie a nail k

i really like the heated needle idea. i usually just let a needle stay in for a while and quickly slide a shaved piece of mono thru the line. definitely will try the hot needle and probably use that method going forward. always learning...
thanks!

 

[mt_flyfisher]

This is for Mt Fishers post. I like the looks of your 2nd method, attaching with glue only.
But not sure I would trust it
Super glue can crack.
Have you ever had one pull loose?

Yes, but not often.

 

[dryflyguy]

I've been fine using the welded loops that come with fly lines.
But over time, they can go bad too.
Usually, the line coating cracks down to the line core, right at the split that forms the loop
Not failing yet, but definitely weaker.

I keep an eye open for this, usually when cleaning it.
Then cut it off when it happens, and nail knot a piece of mono on then.
But have even had that fail a few times.
The nail knot seemed to have dug into the line coating for some reason, and cracked it.
Maybe the line was just getting old and a little too brittle.

In that event, I have a plan C - the old braided loops, which I still have a few of them around.
I know they're not ideal, but they have saved a few older lines for me that were still usable

 

[Nocktavius]

It all comes down to whether you want to make leader swaps easily on the stream. Loop to loop works ok for me because I generally either am fishing a ~ 40’ mono rig or a 12-18’ Harvey dry fly leader. In the former case, the line to leader connection mostly stays on the reel. In the latter case, I usually clip the dry fly onto the hook keeper on my rod to keep the loop to loop outside the tip top guide between casts (another reason why modern rods without hook keepers are cheeks).

Nail knots are a PITA and you lose a decent bit of leader length every time you tie one- after w few swaps that 12’ tapered leader is gonna be 10’ and you’re missing your powerful butt section that gives your casts good turnover . You also can just clinch your leader onto the welded loop in a pinch, this will cut through the floating coating of the line but the core will still be fine.

 

[wildtrout2]

I'm learning a lot about different options for this connection. Glad I started this thread.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I use an albright for connecting the backing to the fly line if there is no loop on the back end of the fly line

I tied some of my leaders on with an Albright knot. I was never able to get rid of the bump left by the line loop when the knot was cinched tight, but it never affected the function. For function and a better look, for line-to-leader or line-to-backing, I use a nail knot tied with a Knot Kneedle.

 

[wildtrout2]

Nail knots are a PITA and you lose a decent bit of leader length every time you tie one...

Hence the beauty of a tippet ring, only having to add tippet instead of replacing an entire leader. I just use 4lb mono for tippet, since I go through a lot of it, and it's cheap.

 

[TerrellBFly]

A bit off topic, but I recently purchased a cortland sink tip 7wt. It came with loops on both ends. Normally, I tie an albright knot connecting backing to the fly line, but this has a loop on the reel end. Ive never even seen this set up before. I just cut it off and tied my albright knot, but what connection would I use with a loop on that end? I can't wrap my head around it.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Nail knots are a PITA and you lose a decent bit of leader length every time you tie one-

Splice your leader changes at the other end of your butt section then when it gets too short just add a new butt length in.

I have a few nail knots that have been on there for years.

 

[Bamboozle]

I been doing this since I was a Boy Scout and re-learned the trick as fly fisherman because the local fly shop owner (Tom at Eyler's) where I bought my first fly rod used it when a person bought a new line and wanted their leader attached:

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I been doing this since I was a Boy Scout and re-learned the trick as fly fisherman because the local fly shop owner (Tom at Eyler's) where I bought my first fly rod used it when a person bought a new line and wanted their leader attached:

That looks like a very nice line-to-backing connection. The butt section of a hand-tied leader is pretty stiff, though. I don't know how I would get 13 wraps at the line-to-leader. I can barely get 5 wraps on a nail knot using a tool.

 

[bringthepain]

A bit off topic, but I recently purchased a cortland sink tip 7wt. It came with loops on both ends. Normally, I tie an albright knot connecting backing to the fly line, but this has a loop on the reel end. Ive never even seen this set up before. I just cut it off and tied my albright knot, but what connection would I use with a loop on that end? I can't wrap my head around it.

Tie a perfection loop in the backing large enough to fit the reel thru and you can use a loop to loop connection on the back end and change out lines if you want to, etc (not an original idea from me i got it from someone on here, cant recall who)

 

[dudemanspecial]

That looks like a very nice line-to-backing connection. The butt section of a hand-tied leader is pretty stiff, though. I don't know how I would get 13 wraps at the line-to-leader. I can barely get 5 wraps on a nail knot using a tool.

I thought the same thing, that would be a big knot. Maybe it works with 4 or 5 turns too?

 

[Bamboozle]

That looks like a very nice line-to-backing connection. The butt section of a hand-tied leader is pretty stiff, though. I don't know how I would get 13 wraps at the line-to-leader. I can barely get 5 wraps on a nail knot using a tool.

That's a tutorial for whipping a rope, for a fly line to leader connection about 5 or six wraps will do the job.

 

[Bamboozle]

Tie a perfection loop in the backing large enough to fit the reel thru and you can use a loop to loop connection on the back end and change out lines if you want to, etc (not an original idea from me i got it from someone on here, cant recall who)

Coincidentally, the same fly shop that taught me the rope whipping trick for attaching a leader to a fly line taught me the big perfection loop trick when welded loops first hit the market.

Works like a charm...