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Just behind poor fishing technique and inept netting technique the most prolific reason for fish being lost is a problem with a knot. There are more knots than you can poke a stick at that can be used in fly fishing and over time you will settle on a few that you tie well and have confidence in. Over the years I have tried a lot of different knots and currently I have settled on the following 5 knots. I say currently because all aspects of my fly fishing are constantly evolving and if a find a better knot for any of the applications described below I will have no hesitation in swapping over to that knot.

This is an extension of the "open loop to fly line connection" and adds an extra element of safety. I use it in competitions just to be sure that there is no chance of the leader separating from the loop at the end of the fly line.  The one failure I had with an "open loop connection to fly line" as described above was in a competition and I am sure it cost me the session.

A	First you will need a nail loop knot on the end of your fly line as described above. Pass the tag end of your leader through the loop on your fly line from the top, take the line to the right then over the top of the loop, back under the loop and through the opening of the loop. What you finish up with should look like a loop to loop connection but with a tag end sticking out. In front of the loop tie a 7 wrap unlocked blood knot. Line and leader changes are still easy. Just carefully cut through the blood knot being careful not to nick the loop on the end of the fly line.

B	In front of the loop tie a 7 wrap unlocked blood knot. Line and leader changes are still easy. Just carefully cut through the blood knot being careful not to nick the loop on the end of the fly line.

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