The only 6 fly-fishing knots you ever need to know

ALBRIGHT KNOT

For connecting the fly line to the leader or backing

The Albright is easy to tie, and a very secure way to connect a mono leader or Dacron backing to your fly line. That’s because the thinner line is wrapped around a doubled-over section of the thicker fly line. The other option is a nail knot, but it’s tricky to tie well, and it requires a special tool. Worst of all, it can fail under pressure. The Albright is somewhat bulkier, but not big enough to affect your casting or fishing. Some anglers cover the tag ends with a drop of epoxy to smooth over the connection, but I’ve never found it necessary.