Fly fishing knots 2

Last time on the subject of fly fishing knots we looked at some of the major types that are most useful in the angler’s armoury. Now, a quick look at loops.

Often, you will add a loop to the business end of the fly line to enable the connection to the leader. To do this, you create a loop in the end of the fly line itself or add a braided loop or a loop of monofilament nylon (as in Gray's Loop). Alternatively, you can tie a single length of monofilament nylon, or fluorocarbon, to the end of the fly line using a nail or tube knot or a needle knot.

Next you can tie a loop at the end of this monofilament butt length or butt section using a double surgeon's knot or a perfection loop, to which the tapered or untapered leader – also looped using a double surgeon's knot or a perfection loop – may in turn be connected by a loop to the loop connection. A quick and convenient way to change or replace a tapered leader is to make loop to loop connections between the fly line and the leader. A lot of commercially-made tapered leaders for fly fishing come with a pre-tied loop connection.