Fly line to leader connection/knot

[bringthepain]

That was the only thing I could think of, but I totally second guessed myself because I don't like having such a large loop connection, it would work just as effectively. In my weird mind, I try to tie all my knots as tiny as possible and my loop knots for streamers are to be as small as possible.. weird I know. Anything bigger than a dime gets re-tied - IM the worst.

I had the same thought and i was like heck, let me try it at least, i can always cut the loop off of the backing and only lose a foot of backing which is not a big deal. Once i tried it i was a fan

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

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

Now I'm thinking it looks a lot like an Albright knot, except the leader has the bend and not the line. I may give it a try the next time I break the leader off the line on the creek.

 

[lars]

pretty sure the first cheapy flyrod outfit i had a million years ago had a metal barbed eyelet inserted into the end of the line. i actually think i caught fish with it and it held.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

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.

I never tried a tippet ring. A blood knot, surgeon's knot, or even an Orvis knot is not impossible - even for my old fingers and eyes. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think the knots are just more elegant.

 

[Bamboozle]

Now I'm thinking it looks a lot like an Albright knot, except the leader has the bend and not the line. I may give it a try the next time I break the leader off the line on the creek.

SIMILAR, but not quite the same.

 

[wildtrout2]

pretty sure the first cheapy flyrod outfit i had a million years ago had a metal barbed eyelet inserted into the end of the line. i actually think i caught fish with it and it held.

That's the first I've heard of such a thing. Interesting.

 

[Bamboozle]

pretty sure the first cheapy flyrod outfit i had a million years ago had a metal barbed eyelet inserted into the end of the line. i actually think i caught fish with it and it held.

They're still out there.

 

[wildtrout2]

They're still out there.

For some reason, I don't think I'd trust that. 🙂

 

[lars]

yup..


.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

That's the first I've heard of such a thing. Interesting.

It was on my first rig until I cut it off and tied a nail knot.

 

[TimMurphy]

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.

Dear TerrellBFly,

Just tie a triple surgeons knot in your backing and attach the loop to the fly line loop. It's the easiest and since Bob Clouser showed it to me many years ago it's all I've ever used to connect backing to a fly line that has a loop.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

I never tried a tippet ring. A blood knot, surgeon's knot, or even an Orvis knot is not impossible - even for my old fingers and eyes. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think the knots are just more elegant.

Tippet rings as a means for making quick changes to the business end of an existing leader is fine, but IF you prefer different types of leaders for different situations like I do, it is easier to swap the entire thing and that's where a loop-to-loop connection shines.

For example, for dry flies I'll prefer either a thread furled leader or a silk woven leader with added leader material resulting in something anywhere from 5 to 15 feet+ long, generally with a lighter tippet (5X - 8X) depending on stream size, casting distance, fly size, rod length, etc.

In my world, thread furled or silk woven leaders work better than anything for dry fly fishing. I like them so much that close to 20 years ago, long before leaders that short were readily available, I had 3 foot versions made by the folks where I purchased my leaders.

However when I fish nymphs or streamers, I much prefer a 100% fluorocarbon knotted leader or a braided butt (not the same as furled) leader no longer than 6 - 7 foot long no matter where I fish because in my experience they do the job better.

So if I feel justified making the commitment to switch from fishing a size 16 beetle to a size 14 beadhead Prince Nymph...

I'm swapping leaders. 😉

 

[Bamboozle]

For some reason, I don't think I'd trust that. 🙂

If you think they look untrustworthy in that photo, you should see one about a year later when it starts to rust and the rust stains the end of the fly line where it is inserted. 😉

 

[DGC]

I use a hand tied nail knot to a section of butt diameter mono, and switch out with blood knots as needed. This video gives the basic idea

For sure, this is not as easy to do with a flexible fly line and heavy mono. I strive for 4 or 5 turns on the completed knot.

 

[wildtrout2]

Tippet rings as a means for making quick changes to the business end of an existing leader is fine...

That's all I ever do. I enjoy the simplicity of it, which fits my small stream needs nicely. Other than the new line I'll be putting on my reel, I haven't had to replace a leader in the last three years, just add new tippet.

 

[Drifly]

Been using a snell knot, there’s and interesting video you can find on line from Flip Pallot where it’s explained along with why the first thing he does is cut the welded loop off.

 

[Mikey2006]

I just use a loop to loop connection when fishing with my 9ft rod for pretty much every type of fishing, but on smaller streams with my shorter rod I cut off the loop on the fly line and use a nail not, that way I can efficiently get the end of the fly line back and forth through the eyelets as needed for extremely short casts/landing fish.

I remember when I first started fly fishing a few years ago I had nobody to teach me how to set up my fly rod. I googled “fly fishing knots” and thought the blood knot was meant for connecting the fly line to the leader. That did not go well 😂

 

[wildtrout2]

...but on smaller streams with my shorter rod I cut off the loop on the fly line and use a nail not, that way I can efficiently get the end of the fly line back and forth through the eyelets as needed for extremely short casts/landing fish.

Even using the nail knot, I try to avoid this. I keep my leader length no longer than my rod length for that reason. As delicate as the tip top is on my 7' 3wt, I cringe when my knot goes through it.

 

[bringthepain]

I never tried a tippet ring. A blood knot, surgeon's knot, or even an Orvis knot is not impossible - even for my old fingers and eyes. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think the knots are just more elegant.

You should give it a try, take a new tapered leader and put a ring on the end, tie your tippet to that and when it gets too short cut it off and tie another tippet on the ring. Now you arent using up leader material when you tie on a new tippet slowly making your leader shorter and shorter. Its super convenient and makes better use of your leader and tippet materials. Especially if you are in a situation where you see yourself changing flies frequently, etc.

 

[wildtrout2]

You should give it a try, take a new tapered leader and put a ring on the end, tie your tippet to that and when it gets too short cut it off and tie another tippet on the ring. Now you arent using up leader material when you tie on a new tippet slowly making your leader shorter and shorter. Its super convenient and makes better use of your leader and tippet materials. Especially if you are in a situation where you see yourself changing flies frequently, etc.

This is exactly why I use a tippet ring. Best to tie the ring roughly half the length of the leader, then add tippet. I'll never not use one.