Nasty Braided Loops

...Soon, I figured out how to get my orange-bellied Hewitt's Nymph into the hot spot just right, and a salmon took the tiny fly. The fish stayed in the heavy current, where it pulled ultra-hard against the 4-weight rod.

Then, much to my shock, the braided loop on the end of the fly line slipped off, and the fish got away with my fly, tippet and leader -- the latter a $10 item. I was far more angry about losing $10 than the fish.

I've never had a braided loop slip off before, but I don't use that particular reel much. The loop had been on the fly line for six or seven years, a stupid mistake. The loop should be changed every year or two.

From The Kennebec Journal

Thread a thick tapered leader butt into the tip of the fly line and then tie a nail knot. It will never drop off, never hinge, and it will never stick in your rod's tip ring.