The Albright is typically described in the following way: “Use to attach backing to fly line or to join sections of monofilament that vary greatly in diameter (e.g.: tying an 80-lb. shock tippet to a 15-lb. class tippet when saltwater fishing).”
It’s a quick, easy to tie knot, so I’m wondering why it can’t be used for flyline to leader connection.
Knot gurus (of which I am not), opinions please.
Try it once and let us all know how you like it. 
I think some research will come up with some simpler knots to get the job done, but good luck with it.
I have used the Albright knot for years to attach all of my leaders, especially for salmon fishing. Never had one break yet but it is a little bulkier than nail knots or JC’s Castwell knot. I do 14 turns on my Albright knot so I don’t think it is all that easy to tie the way I learned. I just recently used the Castwell knot on my 4 weight and that is EASY to tie and very small. I need to try it on steelhead to see how it holds on larger fish. I have also used the super glue splice on my five weight for a while until the line wore out and it went through the guides great, but when I replaced the line I went back to the Albright because for whatever reason, I couldn’t expose enough of the braid to get a good hold on the super glue splice. I have also tried various versions of the nail knot but they all stripped the flyline coating eventually. I tried the Castwell knot on my intermediate clear line but I couldn’t get it to bite into the leader loop and hold because of the hard coating on the flyline.
Glenn
Speed nail knot: http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/jb4knots/
This is my knot of choice for leader to fly line. I do use the Albright from backing to fly line, but it is too bulky for line to leader for my tastes. Maybe with an 8 wt rod, but I wouldn’t choose it for my 4 wts.
Here is a good reference section on fly line to leader knots: http://marinews.com/fly_fishing/fly_line_to_leader.html
Any links on the Castwell knot?
Rick
Clay,
You don’t need a link to the Castwell knot. It is on here. Go to the home page. Click on Features on the left. Scroll down to and click on knots.
Gemrod
I use furled leaders…and the Castwell knot to attach them to fly line.
What Gem said…
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/castwell.php
"but it is too bulky for line to leader for my tastes. Maybe with an 8 wt rod, but I wouldn’t choose it for my 4 wts. "…I agree… too bulky for me too …but wouldn’t the bulk be relatively the same no matter what weight line…each wt. line is bigger isn’t it???
The guides on my 8 wt are larger than the guides on my 4 wt. They allow a bigger knot to pass through them.
Showing my ignorance here…not being a rod maker…but don’t the guides change in size depending on what weight rod ???
I can’t imagine a 3 wt rod would have the same size guides as an 8 wt.
And a 3wt line is thinner than an 8 wt…that I know…
Glenn, I use the knot on all line weights, from 3wt’s to 8wt’s. So far never have had one open or break. Big salmon, Jack Cravell, bonefish and very large barracuda.
It is not a beautiful knot. It will not look as streamlined as the others…like the nail not or whatever. Rather an ugly knot. But…it works, and works, and works…Once I have tied the leader to the fly line I fish and totally forget about whatever knot was used. In other words it is un-noticeable. I do not have to pay attention to it or fuss with it. It holds. And just due to the fact I do not have any trouble with it while fishing…I can forget about it…is testimony to me that it is working. No fuss no muss. And so so simple to tie. Can do it in the dark. No tool needed. Oh…you do not have to have a loop tied onto your fly line either.
But…to each his own…
Gemrod
Thanks JC, I will give it a try this weekend for stripers in NJ. Do you think I should melt a small ball on the end of the intermediate clear line to give it a better hold? The coating is so hard it slipped when I tried it before.
The Albright knot has been used for line/leader connection for many years and has landed many tens of thousands of saltwater fish with fly rod.
Regards,
FK
I only use it when I’m dealing with a fly line that has a crappy coating that wants to pull off with a nail knot. I prefer a needle nail knot with 40LB maxima which I blood knot new leaders on to. Smooth and simple and I don’t have to tie any nail knots on stream. I reverse blind splice loops on the back end of my fly line and my backing because it’s a smooth connection and I can change lines without tying any knots.
a albright knot is used for backing to fly line. use a nail knot for flyline to leader connection or a loop to loop. never fails me and is simple with a tool… I bought a tool that makes the nail knot so simple its takes 20 seconds! I use a blood knot tool that takes about half a minute for attaching leader materiel to tippet or for making your own leaders.
Who makes the tool for the blood knot? Is it the Dennison tool or the Fishpond tool and what do you think of it? The blood knot did about the same as the Uni knot in the knot wars test here, but the Uni was reported to be easier to tie: http://www.fishingclub.com/ExtraContent/ExtraContentDetail.aspx?id=132344&bcpid=1344599930&bclid=1343634592&bctid=1463310861
tigfly, hey, I have no idea. That kind of line is weird sometimes. Try it, or, try anything. Good luck either way.
I sing the praise of the Albright Knot…I use it on ALL my leaders and have indeed used it to attach the leader to the flyline…best if using short leaders so the knot wont get stuck in the guides but even still its a small price to pay…I prefer the nail knot but wouldnt hesitate to go Albright if need be…it is the best for brutal strength IMHO…I have landed 200lb sharks on 20lb tippet with albright knots…I can tie it faster than switching leaders, takes about 12 seconds
L2L Reconnect leaders…will never go back to the nail knot or this knot or that knot.
HCR,
The reason we don’t use the Albright Knot for line to leader connection is it’s bulk. While it’s a strong knot and will do the job. The first time you have to use a leader longer than your rod your going to have trouble getting that knot to pass through the tiptop. Which you have to do to land a fish. If the fish makes a last second run you stand a good chance of breaking a rod when the knot hangs on your guides.
Tom