Fished with my new Fly Logic 8’ 4 wt. Love it. But occasionally the loop to loop and my tapered leader got together and I spent mucho time trying to untangle. Happened two or three times, I know, I could become a better caster…but what about that connection. What would be so wrong about the little metal eyelet you can shove into the fly line and then connect leaders to? I used that as a kid and never ever lost one or had one come out and I could make it float with the line…sooooooo…what is a good connection style?
There is no “Best” in life, only things that are best for our individual selves and situations.
I really like the S.A. L2L connectors. Try different things and see what works best for you.
Quick and simple a Nail Knot. More complicated but smoother, a Needle Knot. Just had a friend lose a nice fish and leader when a new braided loop pulled off.
The loops that RIO welds onto their line are great. There is NO way they are coming off as they are part of the line. Also they float very high. Downside is obviously they only come on RIO lines.
try whitlock’s knotless connection. you can find directions for it online, and dave whitlock himself claims he has never lost a fish on it, including some really big game.
I’ve used loops with furled leaders for a couple of years but I think some of the turn over benefits of furled leaders is lost with a loop to loop connection.
I use braided loops from Cortland. I can say that I don’t have alot of experience in flyfishing. Although, I landed a 29.5 inch/9lb lake-run rainbow on a 5wt. rod/line this last spring(also on my own fly design). The loop held just fine and until I get deeper into this sport than I already am, I will continue to use them.
Good luck w/ whatever you choose.
People that sell new fly fishermen the loop system should be shot. They tangle those dang things up so much it is the biggest pain I have had to deal with while guiding for alomost 40 years.
The needle nail knot is the one I like. Or just a nail knot will work just fine without catching those double nymphs or a dry with a nymph off the back.
I find it funny when people talk about how great the loop to loop system is and how much faster it is. Sorry but it is no fater than the bloodknot or the surgeon knot. You have to tie all of them to put them into use. Including the loop. Ron
People who have trouble with tangles in the loop to loop connection should take a casting lesson. It?s cause is a tailing loop on the forward cast and it can be cured.
Actually Ron, I cheat. I buy my leaders w/ the loop already on. Yes, I can tie them myself, but at this point it is so much easier.
The only problem that I have ever had was, when trying to cast or shoot a bunch of line. After lurking on the casting posts, I’m sure that I have more line out than I/my rod can handle. As Dick said, (without proper casting instruction) I think I am throwing a tailing loop. Therefor, it is not the fault of the connection, it is mine.
Glad I could make someone laugh. Thats what it is all about.
Land Em’,
Carp
[This message has been edited by FlyingCarp (edited 25 June 2005).]
Dick is correct. But when guiding you can only give so many casting lessions in a days time. The clients what to catch fish. So it is up the guide to see they do so. Doing that I have found it much easier to cut off the loop to loop connection before we start the days fishing. Then we don’t have the problem to start with. They catch more fish and I don’t have to set and pick out tangles all day long while they wait for me to get done.
If a person is a good enough caster to use the loop system then more power to them. I can tie any knot that needs to be tied including the knot used to make a loop in about 10 secounds. Used to have to do it while the boat was drifting down the river before we had anchors on our drift boats. You get fast at knots that way.
It does no one any harm to learn to tie a few knots. Most are easy to tie after you have praticed them a few times.
I have used hand tied leaders for many years. It has only been in the last number of years that a person could buy a drawn leader that was worth a hoot. I still use hand tied leaders. I tie them myself. Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 25 June 2005).]
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 25 June 2005).]
I use a nail knot on my one weight set-up since it lands with no disturbance that I can detect. On everything else (freshwater only) I use loop-loop connections. They’re easy to use and cause me no problem.
RonMt or anyone…
I have a friend that feels the tapered leaders are not as “reliable” as tippet material so he will …e.g…buy a 5x tapered and cut off the end and tie on some 5x tippet…
ducksterman- Just my opinion but if you can’t trust the tippet end of a store bought leader why buy the leader? Maybe he had some that were bad I don’t know but I think it is a waste myself. Use the tippet end of the leader then add tippet material when the end is used up. I guess there is nothing wrong with what he is doing just different is all. Ron
Well for me I prefer to use just a good old fashioned nail knot, dependable, reliable easy to tie makes conception a miracle and child birth a pleasure.
Get a Nail Knot tool or any small tube and learn the Nail Knot after a while it will only take you a few seconds. It does not harm the line if tied correctly, put a little flex cement on the knot and it will fly through the guides.
