The coating on the loop of my fly line has "gone away" leaving what appears to be a strong inner fiber. But I'm not sure. Is there a good way to repair the loop on a fly line?

At some point I'd most likely trim the factory loop off, install a heavy mono loop via a nail knot and perfection loop, and keep on fishing.

................

It happens, they break down, the outer coating near the factory loop. I’d do what Tom K says. Nail knot and perfection loop. Personally, I like the factory loops, but a well tied nail knot is just as seamless.

You can:

1) cut off the old loop and watch a YouTube video on how to make a new loop with an iron; [www.youtube.com]
2) cut off the old loop and tie on a mono loop as indicated above; [www.youtube.com]
3) cut off the old loop and replace it with a Rio or other company's braided loop. [www.youtube.com]
4) cut off the old loop and whip a new loop. [www.youtube.com] [www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2021 09:00PM by david taylor.

mustad makes a spike that is inserted into the core of the flyline..it has a eye on the end to which you ty the leader..i have used these for years on my bass bugging rods with no problems at all..

Thanks everyone! Great options. Ben, I used that spike many years ago, too, didn't know they were still made.

i haven,t purchased the in a while..i last got them from janns..they still have them in stock..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2021 08:10AM by ben belote.

I just made a mono loop using the diameter recommended in the Mad Rivers Outfitters tutorial and it came out very nicely. Finally figured out how to make a small perfection loop, too. Thanks again.

A "tucked inside itself" loop made in #50 hollow braided mono line* with a 3"-4" doubled tail on the loop can be slid, inch-worm style, over the end of a fly line, and the braid ends trimmed, trapped, and secured under a short monofilament whip-finish. The leader butt can be tied to this braid loop, or the leader loop can be slipped over and through braided line loop for a strong, durable, compact, and quick change loop-to-loop connection. * #35 mono braid for lightweight fly lines



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2021 12:40PM by Phil Ewanicki.

Thanks, Phil. I noticed that the "nail-less" nail knot shown in the Mad Rivers tutorial is not really a nail knot, and is not as compact as the real nail knot. I re-did a loop with the real deal, and while it's a little more difficult to accomplish, I'm going with the real nail knot. It is one diameter of the leader smaller than the "nail-less" nail knot.

I usually cut the loop off anyway and use a nail knot on stiff mono about 4' to 5' in length (the diameter will depend on the size / weight of the fly line) then bloodknot a 2.5' smaller stiff mono with loop on the end of that piece and loop to loop tippet section about 2'. Lays down the fly nice. I just change out tippet sections when they get too short without having to tie knots using the loop to loop. If it is a really light tippet you have to go with all blood knots or else it will break too easy. The loop to loop works good on any 8# and up tippet section. There are a million ways you can tie leaders but this is what I have done over the years.

A nail knot tool makes tying a nail knot loop exceptionally easy.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

I've seen the tool, but I don't have one-use a plastic cylinder about 3/16 in diameter which works pretty well. I should get the tool.

For a few bucks a nail knot too is well worth it, IMHO.

Question on nail knot tools, will they control the wraps of .024 stiff leader wrapped around a fly line? Small enough? Doing a nail knot with stiff mono around a small diameter object like a fly line is quite different from wrapping thread around a rod blank. It's easy for the wraps to get out of control. I think a very small diameter tool with a slot for the leader to be pushed back through may be better than the usual tools I've seen. I ground a flat on my 3/16 cyclinder, and it works very well.