Best way to fix a broken loop

Streammagic237

Streammagic237

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So I broke off 2 ' off the tip and loop of a fly line ( not on a fish , being dum) I was wondering on what people thought
the simplest and best way to fix it was . It's an SA line and looks like has a fibrous core if that matters, and I defiantly want a loop ...

Thank you !

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You can purchase little loops that attach to the end of your fly line, if you wanted.

One example (I have not used these, and cannot vouch for them, just an example):

Cortland Slip On Loops

I just tie a small single (not double to keep the knot smaller) perfection loop at the end of the fly line. Tie it tight to keep the knot smaller to where it will still run through the guides. I buy all my fly lines with loop connections now, but I still have a couple around with my homemade loop in them. They work fine. Every once in a while the knot will get hung in one of the final tip end guides and you gotta shimmy it a little bit while pulling line out, but it’s not a big deal. That’s all I’d do in your scenario.
 
Did you break off 2-ft of fly line, or just the area adjacent to the loop? If you are greater than a few inches you are more than likely into the front taper of the fly line, it may not cast the same as it did before.

As far as fixes, I probably would look to nail knot a heavier mono with a perfection loop at the end if you want to use loop to loop connections still. You could even use a leader butt section, provided its not torn up.

You can also use a braided loop as well, but they can also become brittle at the end.

If you want to go old school, you could also use a fly line eyelet.
 
Ive been seeing ads for a product called RestoreLine. It uses a heat shrink material to secure the line and can be used to make a loop (i think). I have never used the product.

However, there are many ways to get a loop on that end.

My preferrred method is to use heavy gauge mono - about the same diameter of the fly line. Nail knot the mono to the end of the line, then do a perfection loop 2-3 inches away, and viola, you have your loop connection.

There are other more involved methods, but I have never gone down those rabbit holes - youtube has some videos
 
I bought some regular heatshrink tubing to make a closed loop with.. it was more finicky than I expected to use a lighter. Maybe if I had a heat gun it would've been better.

I've done whipped loops with tying thread and a bobbin before. Eventually it will crack where the thread wraps end but, TBH, I still prefer that to dealing with the lighter/shrink tubing I think.

Finally, you can just nail knot an old leader butt, some thick mono, or if you have it some Amnesia running line and then make a loop at the end of that. That's still the best answer.

Also, as noted, 2' in is definately into the front taper. How much depends on the line, you can look it up and find out. Every fly line has a few inches to a foot of thin level line at the end; that was there to be used to cut off old leaders and nail knot a new one on. After that, you're into the front taper. Losing 1' of that might be a lot or might not, is your front taper 5' or is it 8' or more? Coz I've seen 'em all (cue Bamboozle with his spreadsheet here).

How that affects you and you feel about it is up to you.
 
Thank you very much for all the good info . I also looked at the braided loops options . I can't imagine this happening on a drift boat trip , I was only a 1/2 mile from the truck on Ridley creek when I did this , (carrying one rod 🤣) and was more then unhappy with myself and my own foolishness that caused it .
 
Option 1 - Tie a perfection loop in the end of your fly line. I've done it many times, and it works well enough for me.

Option 2 - Nail-knot a heavy duty piece of mono to your line, such as 25 lb test Maxima Chameleon, and then tie a perfection loop in the end of that. Easy-peazy.
 
Swattie87 said:
You can purchase little loops that attach to the end of your fly line, if you wanted.

One example (I have not used these, and cannot vouch for them, just an example):

Cortland Slip On Loops

I just tie a small single (not double to keep the knot smaller) perfection loop at the end of the fly line. Tie it tight to keep the knot smaller to where it will still run through the guides. I buy all my fly lines with loop connections now, but I still have a couple around with my homemade loop in them. They work fine. Every once in a while the knot will get hung in one of the final tip end guides and you gotta shimmy it a little bit while pulling line out, but it’s not a big deal. That’s all I’d do in your scenario.
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Dear Streammagic,

I can vouch for the Cortland Slip on Loops and even the Amazon knock-offs. The missing two feet may change things a bit, but it will not render the line useless.

Others have suggested nail knotting a butt section of old leader or heavier butt material on to the end. They are also quite effective methods, but I'm old and lazy now so I use woven loops. They come with shrink tubing, and they attach like the old "Chinese Finger cuffs." You need to expand the loop material and slide it an inch or two up the line. Keep the shrink tubing down near the loop, and once you have the webbed material situated draw it tight, slide the shrink tubing up to where it joins the line, and hit it with a blow dryer on high.

One added advantage of the woven loops is that you can slather some fly flotant on the woven loop to keep the tip of your fly line from sinking when dry fly fishing.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
I used to use those Chinese finger trap loop add one about 35 years ago. Cortland I think. They work. I would add a drop of zap a gap (do they still sell that?) or super glue to the cut end to prevent it from getting water logged
 
tomgamber said:
I used to use those Chinese finger trap loop add one about 35 years ago. Cortland I think. They work. I would add a drop of zap a gap (do they still sell that?) or super glue to the cut end to prevent it from getting water logged
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To add to what Tom said, if you have UV Knot Sense and a UV light you can close the end of line easily. You can also use the natural source of UV and just hold it up to the sun!

I use UV Knot Sense on all a lot of knots. It creates a solid plastic cover to the knots and allows them to easily pass through guides and the tip-top.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
There are also some inexpensive fly lines that are surprisingly decent if you just want to move on.

Streammagic237 said:
I can't imagine this happening on a drift boat trip , I was only a 1/2 mile from the truck on Ridley creek when I did this , (carrying one rod 🤣) and was more then unhappy with myself and my own foolishness that caused it .
Click to expand...

It's worth knowing how to tie a nail knot.
 
All of the fixes mentioned are just to get you through the trip. If it’s more than the loop It’s time for a new line.
 
I have folded over the tip of the fly line, used a bobbin to wrap thread around the doubled over section, leaving a small loop at the tip. I’ll coat this with UV resin. That has held up pretty well for me.
 
Do not use the slip on loops. They will not hold up. Do the method where you nail knot on a piece of mono as suggested above. Also, be sure to add glue to the end of the fly line where it is cut or it will get water logged and sink on you.
 
Late to the party but +1 on the using Mono method - agreed that two feet of missing fly line at the business end will definitely make a difference in performance and likely cause more of a splashdown presentation - FWIW I like to use 20# Red Amnesia for the (semi) permanent leader butt. Whatever you choose - you’re a full fledged fly angler when you start the business of line repair!
 

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