what knot should i use to tie my leader to my my floating line?? I have always just tied a loop and tied my leader off that, but when i get my leader through my eyes, it gets stuck on the knot on the way back out. so i was looking for a knot that would make that not happen
I use a needle knot to tie on a piece of amnesia with a loop in the end of the line, Then I use a loop to loop to attach the leader. I use a surgeons’s loop for the amnesia-but only cuz it is so easy to tie. I use Rio leaders that already have a loop in the butt.
All of this is bulky and can cause problems getting through the tip top guide. The solution is to not let it get back inside the tip top until you are done fishing. That means not using the fly keeper loop down near the reel. Instead, hook your fly around the highest snake guide you can easily reach when moving between spots.
i have learned to deal with this, but i just wanted to try something new.
I have learned a simple little trick that prevents the leader from going in the tiptop and u can still use the hook keeper. hook the fly on the hookkeeper, then take the leader and wrap it around the bottum of your reel, this gives u a lot more space, and it doesnt go into the tiptop.
Fishy,
If you’re new and don’t tie your own leaders (assumption here) and you’d like to be rid of those bulky knots, to include the loop to loop connections, you can do as I’ve been shown…buy some of those Leader Link connectors from Cabella’s.
Be sure to get the real Leader Links as there are some cheap imitations. Cabella’s sells the good ones.
Bear in mind this is the simple fix when you don’t tie your own leaders and will serve you well for most situations.
I’m 50/50, kind of a slug, lazy. I do use them but also firmly believe that when you decide to “get into” this fly fishing game then JC is correct.
You’ll likley use Chameleon or the likes as a leader butt mat’l. and then you can use a nail knot to attach that leader to the fly line. Small knot!! And it’ll solve your problem in probably the best manner.
Castwell is also correct. Read much! It’s just the beginning grasshopper.
Now, how much do you really wanna toy with this game?
Have fun with it and keep it fun. And read!
Jeremy.
Hi fishy guts,
I use a nail knot for my leader to fly line. I normally fish salmon and have hooked some decent size fish and have never had one fail yet. It is pretty easy to tie and makes a reasonably clean knot for going through the guides.
Have a great day,
Alan (salmonguy)
fishy guts,
I too use the nail knot. But I don’t use a nail or one of the many tools available to tie it. I just use one of those straws that comes with a can of WD-40. When you have the knot wrapped, just feed the tag end of your leader through the straw. Makes a nice neat knot. Five wraps is really all you need, but I usually go 6.
A free gift waits for those who ask.
Lotech Joe
I use the Castwell knot!
I used it while landing 30"+ northern this
past June and it never failed me. I’ve also landed several 20"+ WV browntrout using this knot and will never use anything else. Its easy to learn, impossible to forget, very strong, and goes through you guides like there wasn’t even a knot there!
check it out, its under the flyfishing basics section, under “knots”.
browntrout
[This message has been edited by WV browntrout (edited 26 August 2005).]
Hey FG,
I’ve used the “nailess” knot for about
5 years now. It’s quick and easy to tie and
requires no tying aids. I’ve landed bass to
7 pounds and two carp that exceeded 40 pounds and it’s never failed me. It’s
a very small tight knot and never catches
in my guides. Warm regards, Jim
What i would do if it were me is head down to your closest shop and ask some one there to help you. As all of the knots that the people on the board told you about are good, most are not easy to learn. Some of the old timers that came in our store would have me put a new leader butt on every year and I was proud to do it. Buy a new leader from the shop and they should be delighted to do that for you as well.
Rich
FOr a smoother connection of a Knotless Leader to Floating Line, I takre a sewing needle to widen the hole of the end of the floating line, leader end into hole, & super glue !!! It’s a strong hold, better dry fly turnover. Have used it for years !!!
Fishy,
When you make the small loop in the end of the flyline do you close it with wraps of tying thread and a whip finish? A football shaped drop of UV Knot Sense or super glue over the threads wraps will make it slide easily through the guides. A perfection loop on the end of your leader creates a loop to loop connection of fly line to leader. I learned that years ago at a Lefty Kreh demo.
Joe
I believe when JC said “Read a lot”, … he meant that on ecould start here: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/index.html:04daf]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/index.html[/url:04daf]
As for me, … I use an Albright as I’ve got 10 thumbs and putting on a new leader at dusk while the black flies are just about to off shift with the mosquitoes isn’t my idea of fun.
Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:04daf]Fishing the Ste-Marguerite[/url:04daf]
(spelling checker)
[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 26 August 2005).]
I really like the simplicity of the Castwell knot for line to leader, but don’t like the loop in the leader. That’s why my vote goes to the nail knot (tied with a Tie Fast tool) or super glue connection.
Bob “oldman” Dial just gave me a needle like tool for a “knotless” connection. Go into the flyline about 1", out the side, pass the “tippet” end of leader thru hole near point of needle & pull back thru line. Use Zap-A-Gap to secure & Bob has never had this fail. I’m sure gonna try it.
Mike
Some don’t use it… I do. I get the leader loop connectors with the heat shrink. I know there’s the possibility of burning your fly line, but I’m careful.
After the loop is on, a looped leader is looped on. Then I go fishin’.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
I’m with Castwell, check knots then try the Castwell knot…
or a nailknot…either will do you fine…and won’t fail ya…Be patient guys…as tomorrow…lol…we’ll all be back answering this again…lol
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
I keep waiting for JC to change his original post on this thread???
[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 28 August 2005).]
Depends!
If you want to change whole leaders, nothing I know of beats Castwell’s knot (similar to a sheet bend acording to “Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling.”
Otherwise a needle, or nail knot. (too much trouble to tie just for a whole leader change).
A good compromise is a knot taught to me by my father. It was used by Greek fishermen to tie hooks on set lines, some with up to a thousand hooks. Their hooks had no eyes but a flattened portion at the end.
Its very simple but I have never seen it described. I’d like to know if anyone else uses it or has seen it in a book etc. The same knot can be used in place of a Blood knot by tying the pieces of leader to each other. Its smaller than a blood knot and winds up with the ends parallel to the leader.
I taught knots to beginning fishers for a few sessions each year and found that this was easier for beginners than the nail knot.
Here it is:
-
Begin with flyline coming from right to left across your lap.
-
Have leader coming from left to right so that it lies along side the line.
-
Make a loop in the leader so that it faces toward you.
-
Pass the end of the leader around the line and through the loop two or three times.
-
Keeping tension on the flyline, draw the knot up but not too tight to slide.
-
Slide the knot to the desired position then, (still maintaining tension on the fly line tighten the knot.
If done properly, it will be smaller than a nail or needle knot and is easily tied streamside. So I call it The Streamside Knot.
Note:
When used to build a leader,
The droppers come off parallel to the leader so if you are going to use them, the one that points toward the rod is the one to use. Then, arguably, and IMHO its better than the Blood knot because its less likely to tangle.
O N F A L L F L Y F I S H I N G
When the midge is all you’ve seen,
Snipe and Purple, size eighteen!
ol’ Bill
1932
Fishy, I quite often use a very small whipped loop on the line and a perfection loop on the leader. Like Joe described.
It causes me no headaches. If you are tying a perfection loop or surgeons loop in the line the knot will be very bulky and I can understand your frustration.
Jim
Use a 6 inch section of stiff nylon about 2/3 (or a little less) the diameter of the flylines tip. Tie it on with a nail(tube) knot. Put on a drop or two of pliobond glue to smooth it out and tie a small perfection loop on the other end to attach to the leader loop.