THE NAIL KNOT

This is an excellent, secure knot for attaching fly line backing to the fly line.

With practice it is an easy knot to tie and whilst traditionally tied using a nail we find it much easier to substitute a needle with an eye large enough to accept the backing line.

Tying:

1. Take the end of the fly line and lay about 8" of backing alongside it.

2. Place the needle tight up against the fly line with the eye away from the end of the line. Then, take the backing line and wind over the fly line and needle in the direction of the eye for 5 or 6 turns.

3. Next, take the end of the backing line and insert it through the eye of the needle. Then, pull the needle through the coils formed in the direction of the reel.

4. Once the needle is completely through pull the knot gently tight ensuring the coils don't unwrap. After checking that the knot is secure trim off the tag ends of the backing and fly lines.

If you wish you can add a fishing glue over the knot for extra security, but if the knot has been tied correctly it will hold fine without.

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