How to tie a NEEDLE Nail Knot w/ C&F 3-in-1 Tool

[@tonysobina8390]

The first time I saw this knot done, George Anderson tied the needle nail knot for me onto my fly line using a toothpick. He did it so well the knot stood up for several seasons . Also the transition of this knot through the guides is excellant! Way better than just a Nail Knot tied to a fly line! The C&F tool would make it alot easier for guys like me! Thank's for a great video and obviously the knot doesnt take that long to tie! You did a great job breaking it down and showing the important steps so people like me can get it right the first time! Well Done!

[@komando8365]

Quite a time consuming knot done correctly and very clean. Great video.

[@koestergaard]

By far the best fly line to leader connection 👌 👍

[@ryanamesbury211]

I’ll write three lines about how I do something different or simpler or more effective, implying I don’t need no dumb tool and am smarter than anyone who does. I’m sure people who specifically searched for a video on how to use the C&F tool will find that really helpful and think I’m a total boss.

[@thomasw_]

Hahaha :)

[@Perspari]

Sensational post :)

[@thomasw_]

Haha, well put!

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

I have been doing a CEMENT the Tapered leader directing inside the hole then epoxy a little on the outside after a dab of zap a gap. Never have had a failure.

[@thomasw_]

Glued splice is smmooooth for sure, but I don't use it after a couple of failures with trout on the hook; I use the needle nail knot instead all the time. Stronger than a glued splice and a very smooth connection. This is a great demonstration of the procedure --- I use the small CF needle and then use a bodkin and then use this CF pipe to tie the nail knot. I find the thin little CF needle is great if you only to tie in a extruded leader.

[@keithhunter3910]

I learned that from Dave Whitlock 30 years ago. It works great.

[@williamnye478]

I can see where that knot would have a slight advantage, but I'll just stick to that old nail that I've been carrying in my vest for 43 years. It's never failed me, and I've never seen a properly tied nail knot fail or slip. The old ways still work just fine. And, by the way, I have never put any kind of glue on my knots. Never needed it!

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

William Nye, what if this is the old way? I know several anglers who have been doing a needle nail knot for more than 50 years. Food for thought.

[@williamnye478]

@@Lanceeganflyfishing Maybe so, but my nail was free!

[@golo5000]

Thank-you and I am thinking the same as you.

[@mikehemming9811]

One trick I do is to hold a lighter on the needle for a few seconds while it's in the fly line. The heat transfers up to the hole and helps keep it from closing up. i just put some spit on the fly line to cool it off. Then the hole retains its shape and there is no hurry to thread the leader.

[@bruceberry7230]

Good Work, folks lean on factory loops too much. This is a necessity to know for quick fix bank side when failures happen!

[@thomasw_]

This is such a fantastic demonstration; but enquiring minds would like to know, can Uncle Cheech tie his own needle nail knots as well as Lance and Curtis? Does he just get Brigham to tie his needle nail knots in exchange for flies?

[@zksnyder]

Does the rio big nasty sink tip fly line have a core that will accommodate the needle nail knot?

[@FlyFishFood]

It’s usually good as long as it doesn’t have a mono core.

[@michaellewis7758]

For sink tips, I usually nail knot, not quite as clean, but the nail knot (same thing without inserting into the fly line) is still a very clean knot, will go through tippet ring if you have to (when landing a fish say with a long leader) in a way a welded loop won't. Of course, main thing is in all cases the welded loop doesn't aid presentation or movement of the fly.

[@jimcastillo8950]

Hello, will this technique work with AIRFLO EURO NYMPH LINE .60MM (BRAID CORE) ? Thanks.........................

[@ryantherock7664]

Is it true that if you make a needle knot it will absorb water and cause the tip to sink (on a floater)?

[@FlyFishFood]

100% false. There are micro air bubbles in the coating of every fly line. Those bubbles are buoyant enough to float the fly line if it is presented properly. The majority of fly lines that don’t float are due to presentation of the angler. I had a lengthy convo about this with the guys at Rio.

[@ryantherock7664]

@@FlyFishFood thanks for clearing that up

[@davidellis816]

You mentioned not using a tapered leader in your shop. What do you use in it’s place?

[@michaellewis7758]

Usually you tie a butt section onto the fly line and then a tapered leader (factory made or hand made with blood knots), the idea being if a section is tangled, you can nip off a section and blood knot a new section, this means you can (if you have say 2-3 ft of butt section) last a few seasons without having to cut back and redo the connection to the fly line. Again, each time, you are only going bak 1/4 inch say, so this method usually lasts the lifetime of the fly-line. I've had a tapered leader (for dries no droppers) on a silk line for seasons... If nymphing under and indicator - I'd use a dedicated fly line and put a tippet ring on the end of the butt section, as you usually don't want a tapered leader in this cases to get the heavy point fly down quickly and moving correctly. Any snag, just cut at the tippet ring and redo. You can of course taper the leader for nymphing if you really want to - you won't get much hinging on the tippet ring; though I'd not use it for delicate dry fly presentations.

[@ibookje]

A drop of knot sense to prevent water seeking into the open core of the fly line which will make the tip sink

[@danieltobin8412]

Curtis - Do you have a recommended diameter of leader material in the knot for say a 6wt vs a 4wt? Looks like you might be using Maxima in the video?

[@FlyFishFood]

If you're talking the butt section, then probably 20lb for the 6 wt and maybe 15lb for the 4. It also depends on what you're using it for....

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

If adding a butt section for tapered leaders you need to make sure the butt diameter matches or exceeds the diameter of the tapered leader butt. Otherwise the leader will hinge at the thin junction. It’s safest to use .022-.024” for leader butt sections if adding a traditional tapered leader to the butt section.

[@lunkerjunkie]

Beautiful

[@georgefranklin1]

What weight line can you go down to? 5wt? 4wt? 3wt?

[@FlyFishFood]

We do these a lot with level euro lines which are much thinner than a 1wt.

[@kodaifishing]

Thank you so much so so grate

[@stephenbennett9481]

that blue shirt gets a workout

[@biggreenfish3267]

I think that is Cheech's back. hehe

[@duderoony]

Might indeed be a clean knot but oh dear..... what a performance! Personally I’d rather just go with a standard nail knot. To be totally fair you don’t actually cast the joined lines through the guides. It is just a join and you feed enough line out (past the join) to be able to start casting? Don’t you?

[@FlyFishFood]

But... if you can do it, why not. With practice it’s just as fast as a regular nail knot.

[@toddh6102]

Just flip rod with guides up and knots slide through much easier. It’s absolutely a smoother connection, but if you build your own leaders then one additional knot doesn’t make a difference.

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

El Duderoony, my line to leader connections go in and out of the guides all the time. Maybe you’re doing it wrong. 😬

[@themotofirm]

With my euro setup this knot is casting through the guides. This knot eliminates that pesky fly line tag that likes to catch.

[@leemowers9395]

interesting

[@allieone8518]

More often than not, the Japanese overthink and make an easy thing difficult and complicated. Thanks for your video, though.

[@FlyFishFood]

It’s the little things about fly fishing that make some happy...

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

Allie One, the Japanese didn’t invent this knot. It’s simply a smooth connection from leader to fly line. Loop to loop connections will cost you fish.

[@dashippo]

Not really a streamside process though. I can see me impaling my thumb.

[@koestergaard]

Easy to do when you have 10 thumbs ;)

[@MrPumba65]

!!!

[@rchydrozz751]

I've never liked piercing or poking a hole in the fly line. It compromises it. A few light lugs and this knot is ok. You pull on it hard it will break.

[@FlyFishFood]

Never had one break.

[@thomasw_]

I've been using the needle nail knot since I was a kid -- I've caught trout, salmon and steelhead on it and I have not had a failure. I've lost fish because the glued splice and loop-loop connections, but never the needle nail knot.