How do I tie the real thick line to a leader? I am really new to this stuff and need some help. I tied me a leader with 3ft 17lb/ 2.5ft 12lb/ 2.5ft 10lb. I think the name of the knot that I used is the blood knot. It keeps slipping when I tried to tie it to the fly line. I found a nail less nail knot online that looks to be a popular knot, but it looks really complicated. I am about to try this knot. Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Go to cabelas.com and find you a tye-fast tool makes that so much easier
i tried several knots… blood, nail and a few others… i like the loop to loop connection myself cause it holds very well and is also easy and fast to change when you need to change leaders… the way i do it is first i take the very end of the flyline tip and cut it at an angle… take a pencil and loop the end of the line around it 1 turn and bring the pencil out of the loop… next wrap some tying thread around the tip and line that way the loop stays and secure the thread with some varnish (tying cement) then put a short peice of heat shrink tubing over that thread and shrink it down but be carefull not to get the flyline too hot… most leaders allready have a loop in the thick end so all you do is slip the flyline loop you made into the leader loop then put the tip of the leader through the flyline loop and pull… now this thing aint comming apart unless you take it apart… thats easy too… just pinch the lines a inch or 2 on each side of the loops and push towards each other… i use this same connection for attatching the backing to the flylilne and attatching tippit to the leader…
http://northcountryangler.blogspot.com/2008/06/fly-line-loop-method.html
One more thing needed is a perfection loop in butt of your leader. Rather than describe it search youtube for “tying perfection loop”. Simple knot and slip proof. Fast to tie too. Good luck.
That fast tie tool is ok but whatcha gonna do when you don’t have one handy? I know it souns rough & old fashioned but learn to tie the knots you mentioned, go to a local fly fishing club & you’ll find they’re ready to help.
Fly anglers are generally a pretty good bunch of folks & will show you how to do things.
Good luck don’t get frustrated, & please don’t give up. Once you get it & start to catch fish, it’s like drugs. You’ll be HOOKED!
There are many knots/ways but,Stumpy…keep it simple… for now…the classic/usual/most used way …is to use a…Nail Knot…having said that it may [k]not…pun…be the way you may end up with…but is the most universal …
You can Google it …you can find it on this site in the knot section…
I use the Castwell knot
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/castwell.php
connected to a perfection loop http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/perfectionloop.php
They are found here. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/
Jim
When I’m rigging a line at home I use the nail knot and a “Tie-Fast” tool. If I have to re-rig the line when I’m fishing the nailless nail knot works well. Just be careful to get the loops to lay smooth when you tighten it up.
Here’s how: http://www.cabelas.com/hprod-1/0036231.shtml
Scientific anglers L2L leaders. Best stuff since the filet knife.
We don’t need no steenkin’ nail knot.
Been using these for 3 years with absolutely no problems. Even easier that it looks.
stumpy041486 …
If you don’t want to use a tool. Here is a nail knot that you can tie anywhere: [b]http://www.fishandfly.co.uk/knots/nless/index.html[/b]
It’s call the Nail-Less Nail Knot.
Hope this helps,
DickM.
put a knot tying tool on a zinger and pin it whatever clothing youre gonna be wearing. youll have it ready to go on the stream! theyre cheap enough! 
My old mentor taught me this many years ago. He would cut the tag end of the fly line at a bit of an angle…then get out a sewing needle and heat it up just a bit… then take the warm/hot needle and insert into the center of the fly line for about a quarter inch and then take the point to the outside. Let the fly line cool and thread the heavy mono leader through the hole created.
Tie a simple knot in the leader that went into the fly line and draw it tight to the fly line. Glue, epoxy or flexament the two together. It makes for a smooth transition that goes through the eyes of the pole fairly easily. It takes a while and depending on how often you fish may need to be done a couple of times a season.
Castwell Knot…Castwell Knot…Castwell Knot!!! Tie the Castwell Knot to a perfection loop and you’re fishing with the smallest most secure flyline to leader connections. There is a video clip here on FAOL I think in the beginner section under knots. All kidding aside it is strong, and way too simple to tie.
Good Luck
Greg
castwell knot? ive looked at the animation here http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/castwell.php and cannot see how this will hold after casting once or all day long.
Believe us , Norm, it does…I know what you mean…I felt the same way…I still worry about leaving the tag end too short.
Hi,
When I got looking over the old rods at my parents, I noticed one of them was using the Castwell knot! This would have been tied about 15 to 20 years ago, probably by my brother.
Anyway, it only works for fly-line to leader, and won’t work for mono to mono, etc (but then, a nail knot wouldn’t hold mono to mono either). However, work it does. I replaced all the leaders and used it for all of them. It holds no problem, and you can back it off to change leaders, which can be useful.
It looks like it shouldn’t work, but because of how the mono bites into the fly line, it works really well. You have to tie one and check it out, and then you can see the how and why.
Thanks for all of the replies. I ended up trying the nailess nail knot. It seems to hold really good. I may try the castwell knot next.
how does the loop not open up?? 
just puzzled thats all
It cinches down on itself quite well…
if you change leaders often, i have found the loop to loop connection the easiest. tie a perfection loop in a short section of amnesia or other stiffer material and nail knot it to the fly line. make sure the butt sections of your leaders all have perfection loops and then changing them is easy peasy with the “handshake connection”.