How To Tie A Nail Knot With A Tool

Tying Nail Knots — No tool necessary. All photos by Kyle Shea.

These days, with fly line factory welded loops, pre-looped tapered leaders, and slip-on braided loops, the nail knot seems nearly irrelevant to many of us. The loop to loop connection has grown to be the most popular connection of fly line to leader for most anglers.

Although it may non be your showtime option, knowing how to tie a smash knot could save your fishing day should you blow your mill loop on your wing line, or need to way a loop onto your sink tip. For many of us, there is all the same a tube or knot tool rummaging around the bottom of our vest or pack should the demand to tie a nail knot ascend, but odds are nosotros've forgotten how to apply it.

The truth is, you don't need a tool at all! Lighten your load, ditch the tool, and bank check out this super uncomplicated way to tie a smash knot without a tool:

Double over the first few inches of fly line.

Tying Nail Knots-1 — Doubled over fly line.

With your leader, create a large loop as shown (loop the entire leader) so that both ends are facing in reverse directions. Brand sure the butt section of the leader faces towards the reel end of the wing line and the tippet department of the leader extends by the end of the fly line.

While holding the leg (not the tag) of the leader loop, wrap the leader dorsum over itself and both legs of fly line. Wrap back up the direction of the fly line in touching turns, approximately six wraps. Take care to pinch each wrap onto the fly line to avoid the leader from unraveling.

While belongings the wraps tight onto the fly line with your left pollex and forefinger, pull the tippet end of the leader with your right manus until the loop is pulled all the fashion through. Take care not to pull also tight every bit the doubled over section of the fly line still needs to exist removed.

Tying Nail Knots-4 — Loop pulled through.

While standing to hold wraps onto the fly line, pull the doubled over department of the fly line out straight.

Tying Nail Knots-5 — Fly line pulled straight.

Position the knot towards the terminate of your fly line. Pull each end of leader on each side of the nail knot to tighten. Prune tag terminate of leader and wing line.

Tip: While tightening downwardly the nail knot completely, try using your teeth to seize with teeth the very cease of the fly line. This ensures the knot volition not slip of the end of the fly line as you lot bind it downwardly.