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Basic Knots of Fly Fishing: The Nail Knot

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The nail knot has never been accused of being an easy knot to tie. The instructions are simple, but the execution of the movement it takes to tie the knot is difficult. The name originated from the use of a nail that was inserted as a guide when threading the line to form the knot. When I first learned to tie the nail knot it was common to use a straw or the body of a bic pen, to replace a nail, to make the tying process easier.

Though you won't have to tie it often, the nail knot is still worth learning for those times when you need to attach your leader or backing to your fly line, and don't have a welded loop to work with. Not all fly lines come with welded loops on both ends, plus loops can become compromised from wear and tear, forcing you to tie directly to the line.