"I'm unsure which is better - the Epic fly rods or the Epic Service. Both are unmatched!
Steven T.Got a studio built and loved it. Hit it in the back of the ferrule with a closer cracking it. The new tip section I ordered is spot on and was the easiest and best rod repair that I have ever had done. Read More
Steven T.This one seems to be becoming a lost art as most fly line manufacturers put loops on their fly lines. For light presentations to trout, welded loop to loop connections are far from ideal if you are looking for the very best turnover characteristics.
For delicate presentations when fishing small dry flies and emergers a nail knot or needle knot are the only way to go - let’s face it, loop to loops are great for saltwater fishing but when it comes to Trout they’re pretty amateur.
The combination of a tapered fly line and tapered leader are designed to dissipate the energy of the cast and turn over with delicacy and accuracy. Getting that size 16 Adams to alight on the water's surface like thistle down is the name of the game and a welded loop is a heavy imprecise connection that tends to flail around and land heavily, thus negating all the time (and expense) you’ve gone to purchasing that “presentation” fly line and a fly rod that is not a broomstick.
None of our Epic fly lines have welded loops for this very reason, after-all, why would anyone offer a fly line designed for presentations and then stick a loop on the end?
Tying a tapered leader onto a fly line is a pretty simple exercise and there are many ways to do it - here are a couple.
(Cutting the ends off a Q-tip or cotton bud make a great nail knot tool)
I am carrying the “Tie-Fast” knot tool! It may not look like much, but its been the best spent 10 bucks in my life!! Loop-to-Loop junctions are a thing of the past since then, and I must look kinda smug when I see fellow fly-fishermen struggeling with getting their loops through the guides :-)
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A while back the nice folks at 1964 mag' did an article on us in their fine mag.
That article is now online, and if you're so inclined to read a bit about us, and our journey to making the worlds best fly rods - here it is
And if you're into all things Aotearoa (New Zealand), mountains and Kiwi culture you should definitely check them out:
What are the triggers that make trout & Salmon run at a specific time?
Every year trout and salmon leave their feeding grounds and begin to migrate back to the small streams and headwater spawning and rearing areas.
Mark Forster
November 23, 2021
I don’t use a nail, braided like doesn’t really pass through the gap created by using a nail anyway. Instead I use a loop of tippet or backing to pull the tag end of the backing under the wraps. Unless you’re using some pretty light fly line it’s not that difficult to do without a nail.