by Keith Hamburger

Created on: March 08, 2010   Last Updated: June 18, 2010

Fly fishing is a fun and exciting sport.  But, like anything else involving lines, learning the appropriate knots to put your equipment together is an important first steps.

A fly fishing outfit consists of a fly rod, a fly reel, backing line attached to the reel, fly line attached to the backing, a leader attached to the line, a tippet attached to the leader and a fly attached to the tippet.  Every connection there, except for the attachment of the reel to the rod, requires a knot.

While detailed instructions on tying each of these knots is beyond the scope of this article, included is an introduction to each one along with a brief description.

The recommended knot for attaching the backing to the reel is the arbor knot.  The arbor knot is a simple knot consisting of an overhand knot around the standing end of the line and another overhand knot on the loose end to keep it from pulling through.  After tying this knot you will tighten up the line around the reel and wind the backing tightly and evenly onto the reel by turning the reel clockwise, for a right hand reel, so that the line feeds to the bottom of the reel.

The Albright knot is an excellent knot for attaching your fly line to the backing.  It is a relatively smooth knot that reduces the chances of hanging up on the guides as a fish takes the line.  To tie an Albright knot you will take a couple of inches of your fly line and double it back alongside itself to make a loop.  Feed about ten inches of backing through that loop and around the doubled line.  Tightly wrap the backing several times around the fly line towards the loop followed by passing the loose end through the loop.  Wet the line and slide the wraps towards the loop, but not beyond, tightening the knot.  Snip off the tag ends and you’re done.

When you have the proper amount of backing on the spool, along with the fly line, the spool should be filled to about 3/16” from the rim.  You can use a nail not to attach the leader to the fly line.

To tie the nail knot you will need a small diameter tube, short pieces of plastic coffee stir sticks are ideal.   Hold the tube and the fly line together in one hand about an inch from the end.  Take the thicker end of the leader and make a loop about two inches long.  Hold this loop together with the fly line and the tube.  Wrap the short end of the leader four or five times tightly around the tube, leader

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