Flyfishing 101: Lines and knots

[Blindcasting]

I finally have all of the pieces and am planning to attempt some casting over the holiday. Below is my setup and knots. Can anyone let me know if this setup looks ok?

-20 lb. dacron backing, attached to the reel with an arbor knot.

-SA Mastery Headstart 8wt. line, attached to the backing with a nail knot.

-12 lb. 9 foot Umpqua Redfish leader, attached to the flyline with a perfection loop.

-18 inch Flourocarbon Tippet, same diameter as the end of the leader, attached to the leader with a perfection loop. (I assume its ok to just get regular flouro from Academy as long as the diameter is the same as the leader?)

-Attach the fly to the tippet using a loop knot (same one I would use for topwaters on a conventional reel?).

Anything I'm missing or have wrong?

[FishDFly]

You can use yarn to practice with versus a fly. Much cheaper and easier to see. Go with bright colors.

This may stir up controversy, but I have heard some quite negative things on the use of flourocarbon. Some of those you I respect, have had a lot of breakage with it at the knots. Most of the guides I know do not use it.

Study the phamplet that comes with your SA line for knots.

[DIANAFLYFISH]

Attach a short piece of 20 lb. mono to the fly line with a nail knot. You can use the fat end of an old leader or some butt section material that comes on a spool. You can then make a perfection loop on the other end and use that to attach your leader but I prefer a blood knot since it is a much smoother connection, picks up less grass, and goes through your guides easier. You can also cut off about 2 feet of your leader before you attach your tippet. You don't need a long leader. Attach the tippet with a surgeon's knot. Also much smoother. Then attach your fly with an improved clinch knot. If you are using clousers, wooly buggers, poppers, etc. use the nonslip loop instead so they can turn.

[DIANAFLYFISH]

Flourocarbon is usually a waste of money but will work just fine as long as you pull your knots down tight or they will slip. It has a larger diameter than mono. I use it as my tippet only. I generally use 10 lb. test (just because that's what I happened to bring down here with me and it is expensive.)

[GoinCoastal]

I use the Albright knot for backing-to-flyline connection.

An Orvis braided loop connector on the end of the flyline for leader attachment. I believe Cabelas also has them. One of the San Antonio flyshops should have them.

Perfection loops at the end of the leader and the start of the tippet. I too cut off 18" of the leader to make room for the tippet.

I use the Palomar knot for fly/lure attachment when ever I can. Improved cinch knot when I can't.

Now sign up for the casting lessons in Austin in Dec!!!!!

later, trey!!!

[Barry]

Trey
The way you set up your gear will work just fine.
Like so many other things in this sport of ours, get six fishermen together and you'll get at least seven opinions as to what works best.
I set mine up like this;
backing to reel arbor-arbor knot
backing to fly line- surgeons knot (large loop) in the backing and a served or braided loop on the fly line.
fly line to leader- served or braided loop on fly line, loop in furled leader.
furled leader to tippet- loop to loop (I use a surgeons loop knot on the tippet).
tippet to fly- Rhodes or Perfection loop knot. I tie all my flys on with a loop knot as I feel it allows the fly more action (I do the same thing if/when I fish conventional tackle).
For the last 3 or 4 years I've been using fluorocarbon for my tippets. You just have to remember to lubricate the knot before you pull it up TIGHT. I feel that it has a lot more abrasion resistance that standard mono has. It also stretches less, so I feel I get a better hook-set.
Also, I use furled leaders exclusively. They seem to turn the flys over much better than tied or tapered leaders do.
The above set-up has worked well for me.
Listen to Joe and sign up for the Fly fishing/casting in Austin in a couple of weeks. You'll learn an awful lot in those two days. I hope to see you there.

[fishin']

I agree with the comment from Barry on opinions. For sure. Absolutely, lubricate (wet, not silicone) the knot and pull it down securely with the flouro lines. Smooth pull on all sections of the line connections, no jerks or sudden pulls.
GOOD LUCK!! Take some pictures of the fish!

fishin'

[jdavid1139]

Found this great post on knots. I was wondering if this wisdom has changed?

I was just wondering about the fly knot. I had been using an improved clinch, but I think I like the loop knot for certain flys to get a bit more action on the fly.

Dave

[karstopo]

Found this great post on knots. I was wondering if this wisdom has changed?

I was just wondering about the fly knot. I had been using an improved clinch, but I think I like the loop knot for certain flys to get a bit more action on the fly.

Dave

I am by no means an expert, but I like my rapala loop for fly to tippet connection. I haven't had it come undone on either Fluorocarbon or mono tippet. I fish primarily inshore salt, 10-20# tippets. I like fluorocarbon for the invisibility. Not sure it matters, but I have confidence in the material. I like the seaguar leader over the Vanish. Seaguar seems to be a little more supple.

[Neumie]

[Barry]

Blindcasting
Sounds like you have a handle on it. Now, go catch some fish!