How to Connect a Salmon Fly Line to a Leader

A fly fishing leader that is attached to a fly line must be tied on in such a manner that the two lines flow together as one line. The proper knot for attaching a monofilament leader to a thick fly line is a "nail knot," called such because a nail is traditionally used to help tie the lines together. An easier method is to use a section of empty ink cartridge from a ballpoint pen rather than a nail.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly line
  • Monofilament leader
  • Section of an empty ink pen filler, 1 inch long
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Instructions

    • 1

      Point the end of the fly line toward your strong hand (right- and left-handed people will tie this knot in opposite directions).

    • 2

      Lay 3 inches of the thick butt end of the leader on the fly line, so the leader butt is facing opposite the end of the fly line.

    • 3

      Lay the section of ink cartridge on both lines, a 1/2 inch back from the tip of the fly line. Pinch the two lines and ink cartridge altogether with the forefinger and thumb of your weak hand,

    • 4

      Bend the leader back over the fly line and pen cartridge making a U shape and begin wrapping the leader toward the end of the fly line. Wrap the leader snugly around itself, the fly line, and ink cartridge in a clockwise direction away from you.

    • 5

      Wrap six times around both lines and the cartridge and then push the tip of the leader into the end of the hollow pen cartridge going back to where the wraps began. Push the leader tip completely through the cartridge until all slack comes out of the leader wraps.

    • 6

      Pinch all the line parts together with the thumb and forefinger of your strong hand, while slipping the cartridge completely out of the wraps and off the end of the leader, leaving the end of the leader inside the wraps.

    • 7

      Grasp the tip of the leader with the forefinger and thumb of your weak hand and grasp the end of the fly line, leader, and the leader wraps with the fingers of your strong hand. Pull the end of the leader away from the end of the fly line while holding onto the lines with your strong hand. Keep pulling hard until the leader bites into the fly line and can't be tightened any further.

    • 8

      Clip the butt end of the leader off even with the wraps. There should be less than a 1/4 inch of the fly line tip sticking out of the knot. Clip the tip off the fly line, leaving a nub about 1/32 of an inch long sticking out past the leader knot.