Knots In My Leader

[Flyflinger]

I somtimes get little knots in my leader after a few cast, I have no idea how the form. Could this be because i have poor casting mechanics or is this somthing that just happens every so often. It drives me nuts.

[eric1978]

If your leader is flailing around when you cast, you'll get those knots. Make sure you're letting your line roll out on your backcast...it should be needle straight. I had that problem in the beginning, too. Uh, still do sometimes. A better flycaster could give you better advice.

[AZ_Trout]

I somtimes get little knots in my leader after a few cast, I have no idea how the form. Could this be because i have poor casting mechanics or is this somthing that just happens every so often. It drives me nuts.

Tailing loops -- here is some info

[Gavin]

Nice video...some great tips there.

[3wt]

Yup, either your loops is tailing or you're not letting the line straithen. If you cast correctly, the leader should not pass over itself which is the only way it can knot up.

[DaddyO]

I used to be real concerned about getting knots in my leader. I've stopped worrying about it because I started thinking about the knot that connects my tippet to the leader. It doesn't prevent me from catching fish. I don't get a lot of knots anymore. But, if I do get a knot, I don't spend a lot of time trying to undo it. If I can't undo it in about 15 seconds, I just cinch it down and get back to fishing.

Birds Nests are a different story. I'll spend about 2 to 3 minutes on it. If I can clean it up, great. If not, I just cut it out and tie on a new leader and tippet.

[vanven]

These guys covered it. I get them occasionally as well typically for a couple of reasons:

1) being too fast on my forward cast and not letting the line extend on the backcast

2) being lazy about my backcast and letting it go too far past 10 o'clock

3) goofing off and trying to make off-plane casts instead of sticking to the normal mechanics

-Jerod

[Wayne SW/MO]

Could this be because i have poor casting mechanics

Yep and the simplest reason I can give is you're coming forward too fast, fast as in timing.

[ohmz138]

turning your thumb down a little more at the end of your forward cast will help turn it over.

[Flyflinger]

turning your thumb down a little more at the end of your forward cast will help turn it over.

Could you elaborate a bit...I don't hold my rod with my thumb on the top, I use my index finger. Maybe thats my problem?