An alternative knot to use when less bulk is required (offering absolutely straight loop-to-loop connections) is the perfection loop.

With modern advances in design of leader materials, more and more anglers are using fluorocarbons for the majority their fly-fishing. With a refractive index close to that of water itself, the fluorocarbon becomes almost invisible once submerged. And having a faster sink rate than other materials it is most often thought to be advantageous, for example when fishing small, unweighted flies at depth. When constructing leaders carefully, the advantage of fluorocarbon used only in the tippet will enable you to fish dries without dragging them under and yet still give almost perfect, natural presentation of your fly.

There will always be debate as to which brands are best, and in what situations used. The best advice is to always imagine how your fly should be presented; should it be at depth or at the surface, should it be presented loosely or straight and rigid? Choose a leader to match the fly you are using not the fish you're hoping to catch. When a double figure trout is sipping tiny caenis from the surface, your leader must be supple enough to present the fly without drag and appear natural as it lands and as it is viewed from below. In cases like this the advantage of fine diameter for strength wins without question, so long as the material used is sufficiently supple.

Many anglers feel that their old mono or copolymer is all they need to catch fish, and catch fish they will, but there are always choices and sometimes a different choice of leader material and a careful leader construction can pay off. This more often than not happens on the toughest of days when many anglers are going home without a fish or even a pull. There's nothing wrong with improving our chances.

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