The Essential Guide to Fly Fishing Knots
Leader Knots – Mono to Fly Line
Needle Knot
An excellent knot for attaching the leader to the fly line. It yields a very neat, straight, and strong transition between the mono filament leader and coated fly line. It requires that you pass the mono through the core of the fly line by poking a hole with a needle.
Cut the leader at an angle with a pair of scissors to make this process easier. Pull 10 centimeters or 4 inches of leader butt through core and out through a hole in the side of the fly line coating and tie the knot.
Nailess Knot
A fine knot for field attachment of a leader to the fly line. It is almost as straight and strong as the above needle knot but can fail if the coating is pulled off the fly line core. The advantage is that it does not require tools other than a line clipper. Lay the butt of the leader along the fly line with about 10 centimeters or 4 inches overlapping.
Fold 3/4 of the tag end of the butt back towards the end of the fly line and fold it over and around the whole assembly in 4-6 tight loops close to the end of the fly line, working your way back towards the loop formed by the mono.
Hold the loops tightly between your fingers. Pass the mono tag through the loop and moisten the whole knot before tightening the mono. Work the knot slowly together arranging the loops nicely. Tighten by pulling both ends of the mono. Do not pull the fly line before the knot is very tight! Trim both lines as close to the knot as possible and test with a firm pull on the fly line and leader.
Best Wishes, Coyalita
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