Braided Fly Line Loops
Fly line to leader connections are very much down to personal preferences, so we do our best to offer choices.
(1) For those who prefer to craft their own connections - our lines are supplied without loops.
(2) For those who prefer braided loops - we offer a fitted braided loop service.
(3) For those who prefer welded loops - we offer a custom welded loop service.
Fitted Braided Loops
Barrio fly lines come with the option of a fitted braided loop at the tip.
Braided loops are an easy way to connect your leader to your fly line using a 'loop to loop' connection.
Order a fitted braided loop in the accessories section of the webshop - and I will fit a braided loop to your line for you 'in house' before I post your order.
Spare braided loops can also be ordered to keep as a back up, or to fit yourself.
Fitting Braided Leader Loops
(1) This is a twin walled braided loop, the expanding mesh braid has been inserted back inside itself to form the loop and then travels along the full length inside the outer to form a strong twin walled construction. The green sleeve tubing will be used to anchor the braided loop to the fly line.
(2) To get started, I usually grab about 10 inches of thick spare nylon, which I thread through the loop and hold back in a 'U' against the loop.
(3) Push/slide the sleeve tubing over the loop and leave it sitting on the thick spare nylon, out of the way.
(4) Pinch the braid about a centimetre from the end and push it onto the fly line, making sure that you keep the fly line in the center of the two walls of braid. The braid will fray a little and it might take a few attempts to get it centered. The line should be inside the inner braid and not between the inner and outer braid.
(5) Feed the line up through the expanding mesh braid, from where it is in photo 4 until it reaches the point where the loop is formed in photo 5. We do this with a 'pinch-expand-push' caterpillar shuffle kind of process.
(6) Now hold the spare nylon and push/slide the green sleeve tubing back over the loop and along the braid towards the other end. You want the line visible between the loop and the sleeve to be about 2.5cm to 5cm, depending on your preference for a short or long braided loop.
(7) Once you are happy with the sleeve tubing position (longer is stronger) trim back any surplus/frayed braid behind the sleeve.
If you must add superglue for your confidence (I never do) add a tiny amount of glue to the loose ends when you start the next step.
(8) To finish off, push/slide the sleeve tubing a smidgen further to cover up the loose ends. I like to have about 3/4 of the sleeve sitting on the braid and 1/4 on the fly line.
Additional notes
A braided loop works by constriction, so the harder you pull the braided loop from the loop end, the more it will tighten and grip the fly line between the loop and the 'sleeve anchor point'.
Braided loops work well when simply fitted as above and this is how I fish them, but I know some anglers like the added assurance of a spot of waterproof superglue on the sleeve.
I hope you find this wee fitting guide useful.
Customer Reviews
Name: Paul Yochim
Country: USA
Subject: Roman Moser Minicon Leader Loops
The Roman Moser Minicon loops are the best I have used. I fish bamboo rods and the guides are generally smaller than on graphite or fiberglass rods. The loops are so small that they slide through the guides smoothly.
Name: Stewart Yates
Country: Scotland
Subject: Roman Moser Minicon Leader Loops
Very nicely made high quality braided loops. There are a lot of cheap loops out there - don't buy them!