Knot Tying Refresher: Part 2 Nail Knot

The second knot in this series is the Nail Knot. It can be tied by hand with a few utensils, either a nail (hence the name) or a narrow straw. It has been my experience; the easiest way to tie a Nail Knot is with a product called the Tie-Fast Knot Tool. It can be found in fly shops or where fly fishing equipment is sold. This is one of the tools I could not live without. Just like the name describes, it makes tying a Nail Knot a cinch!

Application: The nail knot is used to attach the fly line to the backing, the tapered leader to the fly line, or the 20 pound monofilament section that has a perfection loop for the loop to loop connection. Just in case you don’t have the tool, here is how to tie the Nail Knot.

*Cut off approximately two to three inch section of coffee stir straw or use a nail.*

Step 1: Hold the straw near the end of your fly line and overlap the monofilament and fly line approximately 4" to 6".

Step 2: Take the end of the leader and wrap it around the straw or a nail, the fly line and itself toward the end of the fly line.
Step 3: Make about 5 wraps toward the end of the fly line.
Step 4: Tighten the monofilament by pulling on the tag end with one hand and the leader with the other. Trim the tag ends of the leader and the tag end of the fly line.
Step 5: Tighten the monofilament by pulling on the tag end with one hand and the leader with the other. Trim the tag ends of the leader and the tag end of the fly line.