Rigs Lab · Fishing knots
Also called Albright special, Albright special knot
Joins lines of very different diameter or material, like backing to fly line or a light tippet to a heavy shock leader.
Step 1: Fold the end of the heavier line back on itself to make a narrow loop a couple of inches long.
Step 2: Push the lighter line up through the loop, leaving about eight inches to work with.
Step 3: Pinch everything together and wrap the lighter line back over itself and both sides of the loop ten times, working toward the loop's closed end.
Step 4: Feed the lighter tag back out through the loop on the same side it went in.
Step 5: Wet it, pull the lighter standing line to slide the wraps snug against the loop's end, then pull all four ends tight. Trim both tags.
A 10-foot tarpon leader for an 8-10 wt rod, aimed at juvenile and mid-size fish. The butt steps down from 42" of 40 lb mono (.024") through 30" of 30 lb (.021") and 18" of 20 lb (.017") to an 18" class tippet of 15 lb mono (.015"). Last comes a 12" bite tippet of 30 lb fluorocarbon (.020") to stand up to a tarpon's rough mouth, with a 1/0 Tarpon Toad on a non-slip loop knot.
An 11.5-foot tarpon leader that tapers in even steps: 36 inches of 60 lb mono (.032"), then 24 inches each of 40 lb (.024"), 30 lb (.022") and 20 lb (.017"), an 18 inch class tippet of 16 lb (.016"), and a 12 inch shock of 40 lb fluorocarbon (.025"). The gradual taper turns over a tarpon fly smoothly, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the shock tippet takes the wear of a tarpon's rough mouth. It suits juvenile and mid-sized tarpon on a 9-11 wt.
A 10-foot tarpon leader built the classic way: a 48" butt of 60 lb mono (.032"), 30" of 40 lb mono (.024"), a 30" 16 lb class tippet (.016") and a 12" bite tippet of 60 lb fluorocarbon (.028"). Albright knots join the class tippet to the heavier line on both sides, and a non-slip loop knot ties on the fly so it swims freely.
A 12.5-foot tarpon leader for an 11-12 wt. It runs 72 inches of 60 lb mono, 48 inches of 40 lb mono and an 18 inch class tippet of 16 lb, ending in a 12 inch bite tippet of 50 lb fluorocarbon. The heavy butt turns over big tarpon flies, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the bite tippet takes the wear of a tarpon's rough jaw.
An 11.5-foot tarpon leader for a 12 wt, all fluorocarbon. A 60 inch butt of 60 lb steps to 12 inches of 40 lb and 24 inches of 30 lb, then an 18 inch class tippet of 20 lb and a 24 inch bite tippet of 50 lb. The stepped butt turns over big tarpon flies on a 12 wt line, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the bite tippet stands up to a big tarpon's rough mouth.
A 10-foot tarpon leader for an 8-10 wt rod. The butt steps down from 42" of 40 lb mono (.024") through 30" of 30 lb (.021") and 18" of 20 lb (.017") to an 18" class tippet of 15 lb mono (.015"). Last comes a 12" bite tippet of 40 lb fluorocarbon (.023"), which stands up to a tarpon's rough mouth. The fly is a 1/0 Tarpon Toad on a non-slip loop knot.
