I can't seem to come up with a good loop knot to tie a fly to leader. Results are too hard to tie, or too big of a loop. Maybe practice is the best bet. Can't see as good as I once could. What's a good knot for you?

Don't give up on it! The non slip loop knot is great. It's my go to knot for clousers, streamers, etc. Actually, most warmwater flies.

lubricate and pull tight.

Thanks. I'll give leftys way a chance. I have been trying to tie that knot with 5 wraps and could never get it to cinch up without enlarging my loop.

What type of loops have you tried? The Bowline is old reliable and easy to tie. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bowl...&FORM=VIRE1

With 2 wraps it worked good. I watched Brian Chan of Sportfishing on the fly tie it with 5 wraps. He made it look so easy. Now I need to get that loop a little smaller.

You could use a Duncan loop knot.

Bill

Thanks Bill. I like the way the Duncan loop can be pulled back into a loop if it gets cinched up tight. I have a tie fast tool that ties about the same knot. I guess I'm after the knot I can tie with least amount of tag end to snip off so I don't have to add tippet so often. Probably shouldn't change so quick, or fish them better. Still got a lot to learn.

what is the advantage of a loop knot over something like an improved clinch knot?

Some anglers believe a loop knot lets the lure react in a more realistic way. Especially on light flies. We all have opinions and mine is that nothing beats an improved cinch knot especially on bigger fish when using lures like Clousers and poppers.

For my crappie jigs, I use a Perfection Loop where I pass the jig through the first loop while hanging from the middle loop. I use pretty strong test line for crappie fishing, but I do believe a hard loop is better for jigging, and this knot is easy. I use the Kreh Loop when trout fishing, but not very often...just for things like tying in scuds where I almost jig them slightly since they are poor swimmers.

I left using the improved clinch knot years ago after losing fish too often.
I use the mono loop similar to the Lefty's knot but with about three turns on the standing line. No failures. I also use the Orvis knot with no failures. With one less turn on the seconed loop you have the Cross Creek knot equally as good and quicker to tie. Or you can also try the Davey knot if you like pure simplicity. Look on you tube for tying these knots.

The problem with the Lefty's Loop Knot is that the loop usually turns out way too big. It still works, but it look like heck.

The McNally Knot is quicker and easier to tie, as strong or stronger,and the loop can be made to be as small as the eye of the hook. On a size 14 or 16 fly, that can be important. The Lefty Knot usually turns out to be the size of a dime, regardless of the size of fly that is being tied on.

Try Googling the McNally Loop Knot. I have never had one fail.

Bill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxH1ZCvctgE&feature=player_embedded

This works pretty good

Excellent.

Bill