Slip-on Leaders

Slip-on leaders, including "braided leader butts", are not knots per se, but are an alternate method for affixing the leader to the fly line.

There are several types of manufactured leader butt accessories available on the market.  Some are 6-8" long . . . others are as long as 5' in length.  Made primarily of braided material, they slide over the tip of the fly line and are secured with a sleeve or adhesive.  The benefits of this system are that they are easy to attach, and more importantly, provide a smooth, knotless connection between fly line and leader.

Most of these products have a permanent loop in the tag end.  This enables us to affix a variety of leader or tippet sections to this butt section using an interlocking loop ("handshake loop") connection.   And, several fly line manufacturers affix some of their lines with permanent loops in the tip of the fly line itself.

Many fly fishers find these loop connections to be faster and more flexible than tying a "Nail", "Nail-less" or "Needle" Knot to affix a conventional leader to the fly line.  And, some prefer the longer braided segments in their leaders, claiming better performance characteristics.  If this system is selected, the use of the "Perfection Loop Knot" to form a loop in the butt end of your leaders and/or tippets becomes most useful.

This subject is covered in more detail in our two Courses on Leaders and Fly Lines.  

Return to Knots Course:  Arbor Knot ~ Nail-less Knot ~ Nail Knot ~ Needle Knot ~ Blood Knot ~ Surgeon Knot ~ Clinch Knot ~ Improved Clinch Knot ~ Duncan Loop ~ Perfection Loop ~ Dropper Loop ~  Albright Knot ~  Glossary