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.