Lots of Loops

If you fly fish, you need to know how to attach a leader to the front of a fly line and backing to the rear. I’ve tried most of the any number of different ways to do this including the hateful little barbed inserts for the tip, which invariably cause the line to crack and hinge, to the floating connectors that look a little like a large grain of fluorescent rice. In my opinion, none of these were satisfactory, so I began using the nail knot to connect my leaders directly to the fly line.

For years, this served me adequately, but it has two failings. One, a leader or backing attached this way is semi-permanent and can’t be easily changed in the field; second, some lines have a different makeup than conventional lines, and the nail knot can cut through and tear off the coating, resulting in a fish lost, or on a strong, long-running species, an entire line lost.

Which brings us to loops. Fly-line loops are not new. They’ve been around about as long as fly fishing, but in recent years, they’ve come to be accepted by many anglers as the best way to connect leader and backing. Their chief advantage lies in the ease with which a leader or a line can be switched. But loops differ in strength and bulk. The loop for the rear must have as little bulk as possible so that it won’t catch in the guides when a strong fish makes a long run. This is especially important to saltwater fly fishers. The loop on the front of the line should be as small and insignificant as possible, especially on delicate, light lines.

RUSS PEAK LOOP KNOT:

Developed years ago by notable West Coast rod builder Russ Peak, this method produces a loop of maximum strength and minimum bulk, but it takes some time to create. Start by soaking the last 2 inches of fly line in fingernail polish remover (acetone) to soften the coating and make the next step easier.

Many anglers consider fly-line loops to be the best way to attach the leader to the fly line and fly line to backing. Loop-to-loop connections allow you to quickly change your leader or fly line.