The Albright Knot

The Albright knot is used to connect the fly line to the backing.

  • Start by unwinding 2-3 feet of fly line from the spool it came on (make sure that you use the end marked, "This end to reel").
  • Double back a couple of inches of fly line and hold the loop with you left thumb and forefinger. From the right, insert about 10 inches of the backing through the fly line loop.
  • While holding the loop, pinch the backing between your left thumb and forefinger, and use your right hand to wrap the backing tag end back over both strands of the fly line and the backing.
  • Starting next to your fingers and working towards the loop end, make 10 to 12 fairly tight wraps.
  • Push the tag end of the backing back through the loop on the opposite side from which it originally entered so both backing strands exit on the same side of the loop.
  • Pull on the standing part of the backing to remove the loop you were holding in your left hand. Pull both ends of the fly line backing.
  • Gently pull on both ends of the fly line loop with your left hand, squeze the knot with the fingers of your right hand and work it down to the loop end, but not off the fly line.
  • Moisten the knot. Hold the standing and tag end fly line strands in your left hand and the tag and standing backing strands in your right hand. Pull as tight as possible. Clip off the tag ends of both the fly line and the backing.