As far as the braided loops, I don't use them. In fact Orvis quit using them on their lines. I feel like they can absorb water. For me I have a couple of different things. 1. I attach a piece of amnesia to the line with a nail knot and perfection on the other end for loop to loop. 2. I attach a knotless leader straight to the line with a needle knot (no Knots to get hung up in guides this way, but some line have a core and you can't do the needle through the middle) 3. I cut the end of the fly line at an angle, fold it over to form a loop, then wrap it with kevlar thread as you wrap guides on a rod. Tie that off and coat with thin layer of Knot Sense.