It’s in the detail…
I’ve spent many hours over the last few days refining my light line setups, by setups I mean the business end – Leaders; fiddling with different materials, tapers and connections etc. Whilst reviewing my line to leader connections this core nail knot has been one of the most rewarding thus far in terms of the ‘likey factor’.
Threading the butt section into the fly line when needle knotting amongst other things expanded the diameter ever so slightly which really did bug me (I know it’s being pretty anal but it’s the detail I look for very much in the same way fly tiers do with their flies… who’d criticise that?) So stripping the line to the core, sealing it and then nail knotting on all but the last few millimetres has given me exactly what I’d hoped for:
As minimal a diameter as I could possible attain given the butt section thickness…
… and with only but the knot as a micro flat spot, it has a transition to die for
The butt then extends for a total of 2ft (level) and concludes with a perfection Loop
Butt and mid section level & tapered extenders… just add a tapering tippet and we’re away
Now all I need to do is go out and give em’ a go, as soon as this weather breaks that is. I’ll be sharing some leader design stuff and tips some time soon for those that either don’t have a social life or like me have a genuine interest in the detail… ‘Tis’ all exciting stuff at chez Williams.
Hi Jim,
What made you move from the use of Riverage rings? I have followed your ideas and like them a lot. I attack my leader straight to them with a ‘Davy Knot’. I get a small knot and easy leader changes.
Hi Phil,
Good to hear from you, hope you’re well.
I do have the tip rings on my nymphing lines, I like these for connecting thin leaders and in some cases level ones where tapering isn’t required or beneficial… Czech ‘et al’.
They don’t quite cut it for me though when it comes to thicker butt diameters for dry fly and potentially long leaders. I profile butt sections at circa 62-75% of fly line diameter, needle knotting is the cleanest for me, this just took it a wee bit further. I still have the versatility with a loop to loop within the butt section at 2ft… for me this is the energy portion so even at that point the transferral is excellent. I’ve used this before then changed to full tapers from the line, I did miss the versatility of it so have reverted back.
As you know it’s all about what’s in your head, a confidence thing. Probably like yourself tying flies, it’s just great to mess about with all this stuff, it surprises me how some anglers jump from the fly line straight to the fly and totally forget about understanding what joins the two.
Nice matey. Seen it somewhere before though. Just cant get it to come to hand right at this moment… Like the knot size. So what did you seal it with (the core) and what diameter butt on the nylon is it? Would a pre-tapered leader be no better? I know that the Orvis ones from 0X down to about 5X have a .020″ butt section (.53mm) would that be too much for your 70% line to leader calc?
Hi fella,
Interested to see and learn if you can find link.
The butt diameter is 65% (0.52mm) level to 2ft, I purposely didn’t want this section tapered… it’ll form the foundation of tapers I attach too it, I’ve already chopped some tapered leaders about with which to loop to loop to this and then add my final tippet. Going full circle again with slightly stiff for the Butt (Energy)… then medium stiff (Transition)… finally onto soft at the tippet (Dissipation)
That’s the theory.. all is good so far
Are you not going to get a hinge point on the loop to loop section? And what material are you using for the rest of the leaders? Co-Pol, Nylon or fleurocarbon?
Like you say need to give it a spin when you can avoid the typhoon outside.
There’s not a jot of hinge. The key to the loop to loop is to match each others diameter initially, and for me preferably from stiff to same or softer, and not stiff to stiffer material.
Butt and mid are at present nylon, likely to go onto Varivas for mid then complete with Stroft at point.
Casting variations of it indoors on a sixpence at the moment, need to get out and chuck the baby!
Hi Jim,
Awesome looking.
This is a cracking blog to read, have sent you a pm
Thanks
M
Hi Martin,
Many thanks, pleased you enjoy it.
Got your pm for demo… Hope dates work
Jim