In fishing there are many “tails” that we often encounter.
There’s the:

• Fishing tale: A story of a mighty struggle and hardship
  that a fisherman underwent while trying to land a fish
  that got away. Typically followed with a gross
  exaggeration of the size of that elusive fish;

• Fish tail: The back end of the fish, used for swimming;

• Pony tail: What can be found on many female fishermen
  while out on the stream (and some men too);

• Rooster tail: The spray that comes off the back of a
  boat travelling at high speed;

• Tailing a fish: Grabbing the fish at the narrow part of the
  tail to pick it up without a net; And a

• Tailing loop: In fly casting is a very open cast that you’ve
  misjudged. It could even cause you to get hooked by
  mistake.

One tail that many fishermen often wonder about, but
don’t often ask because they fear that they will look like
a “donkey’s tail”, is how long to leave the tail (or tag end)
of the line after tying your fishing knot.

I received just that exact question from Ted over in
the UK, “I never know how much line to leave or how close
to the hook I cut.”

The video you just watched demonstrated how much of a
tail you should leave after completing your knots.

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg

http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html