The traditional way of attaching leaders to flylines is with a nail knot. This is not an easy knot to tie, particularly for beginners. Even worse is the needle nail knot.

A better bet is to buy some of those braided loop connectors, which work similar to the old Chinese finger traps. You feed the flyline into the braided material. Pulling it out contracts the braid and locks it in place. For a smoother finish, small heat-melt tubes are placed over the connection.

This gives you a permanent loop at the end of the line. You then connect the leader with a simple loop-to-loop connection.

One thing to keep in mind as you learn to cast: Poppers are difficult, because they are very air resistent. Don’t let that frustrate you. Practice casting out on the lawn, with just a small piece of yarn tied to the leader (no fly or hook, in other words). Then, as necessary, you’ll learn to adjust your timing based on the kind of fly you’re casting.

Have fun!

Here are some tips and techniques for beginning flyfishers:

Since your just starting out i would imagine that your casting will still need to be improved. The problem that most beginners face are wind knots in their leaders-(overhand knots that form in the line and in turn weaken it, they are very difficult to remove)

This would mean constantly changing your tapered leaders as very often they will form too high up to just add a length of tippet.

What i suggest is this, buy some braided loops-they can be bought in various densities(sinking, floating etc).

Once attached you can connect either a length of tippet that is around 9ft long- a fluorocarbon will suit as its stiff enough to aid turnover- frog hair or airflo g3

It reduces the need for knots since either a tapered leader or straight length of tippet can be attached by a simple loop to loop connection, meaning if you get a wind knot it can be easily removed and replaced.

Braided loops
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20507_TGP&id=0003291320244a&navCount=2&podId=0003291&parentId=cat20507&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20507&hasJS=true

Leader material-can actually be used straight through with out the need for it to taper since its not small dries your fishing with but weighted streamers etc- you might want to use a tapered leader for poppers
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/subcategory/subcategory.jsp?id=cat20439&navCount=0&parentId=cat20431&navAction=jump

Good brands to try- Airflo g3, RIO, Frog Hair.

Buying leaders specifically designed for fly fishing is your best option they often have a finer diameter than any others available.

Tapered leaders
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0062732320794a&navCount=6&podId=0062732&parentId=cat601301&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20439-cat601301&catalogCode=UJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601301&hasJS=true

Information on fly casting-dont let the name stop you it is fly fishing

http://www.sexyloops.com/beginners/index.shtml

For that type of fishing (buggers, poppers and such ) I believe a 7 1/2 foot 3x tapered leader would be appropriate – readily available in just about any sporting good store, fly shop or bait shop.

Here’s how you attach it to your fly line (butt, or heavy end to fly line)

http://www.animatedknots.com/nailknot/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

you may add a drop of superglue to it when completed

hope this helps

good luck and good fishing