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Diagram

Centauri Knot

Fig 8 knot · Centauri

Sliding-collar mono terminal that also serves as a simple spool attachment; low-friction close on nylon.

Terminal · Beginner · Monofilament · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Centauri Knot, finishedCentauri Knot, finished

Finished structure

Drawn from a rope model of this knot: which strand passes over which comes from where the rope actually lies.

  1. Pass the line through the hook eye and form one loop of tag round the standing lineThe tag comes through the hook eye and makes one wide open loop round the standing line, crossing in front of it on the far side and behind it on the near side, with the tag end free above.
    1First loop, held open
    2Standing line, to the rod
    Move 1 of 1Pass the line through the hook eye and form one loop of tag round the standing lineYou should now see: One open loop of tag round the standing line a short way above the eye, and the tag end free.

    Step 01

    Pass the line through the eye of the hook and, with the tag end, form a loop around the standing line.

    You should now see

    One open loop of tag around the standing line a short way above the eye, with the tag end free to form the next loop.

    If it goes wrong

    Pulling the first loop snug as you form it, so it grips the standing line before the other two are made. The loop shrinks into a tight turn.

    Fix: Open the loop back up with a fingertip and hold it open while you make the next two.

    Why: All three loops close together at the end. A loop that closes early leaves no room for the tag to pass through it in step 3.

  2. Make a second loop and a third the same way, and hold all three openThree wide open loops of tag lie side by side round the standing line, each a little further from the eye than the last and all turning the same way, with the tag end free past the third.
    1Three loops, all the same way
    Move 1 of 1Make a second loop and a third the same way, and hold all three openYou should now see: Three open loops side by side round the standing line, about the same size and all turning the same way.

    Step 02

    Make a second loop around the standing line the same way as the first, then a third, and hold all three open together.

    You should now see

    Three open loops of tag lying side by side around the standing line, about the same size and all turning the same way.

    If it goes wrong

    Forming the second or third loop the opposite way round, or letting the middle loop collapse. The loops cross each other instead of lying side by side.

    Fix: Let go of the loops that are wrong and form them again the same way as the first, holding each one open as you add the next.

    Why: Loops formed the same way close into an even collar. A reversed or collapsed loop leaves a crossing that stops the collar closing and sliding cleanly.

  3. Bring the tag back over the loops to the eye end and run it through all threeThe tag end arches back over the three loops to the eye end, then runs through all three of them beside the standing line, under each far side and over each near side, and leaves on the side away from the hook.
    1Tag through all three loops
    2Tag leaves away from the hook
    Move 1 of 2Bring the tag back over the loops to the eye end and run it through all three
    Pull gently on the tag so the loops close onto the standing lineThe three loops close into a short collar round the standing line and the tag, standing well clear of the eye, and the hook hangs from an open loop of line between the collar and the eye.
    1Collar
    2Loop the hook hangs from
    Move 2 of 2Pull gently on the tag so the loops close onto the standing lineYou should now see: A neat collar gripping the standing line, with the hook hanging from a loop of line below it.

    Step 03

    Run the tag end through all three loops, then pull gently on the tag so the loops close onto the standing line.

    You should now see

    A neat collar gripping the standing line, with the hook hanging from a loop of line below it.

    If it goes wrong

    Missing one of the loops with the tag, or yanking the tag hard. A missed loop hangs open beside the collar, and a hard yank kinks the mono.

    Fix: Loosen the collar, pass the tag through the loop it missed, and close it again with a gentle pull.

    Why: NetKnots notes this knot puts little friction on the line, so it does not distort the mono the way some more complex knots do. A gentle pull lets the three loops close evenly.

  4. Slide the collar down the standing line until it sits on the eyeThe collar slides down the standing line and rests against the hook eye, with no loop of line left between them and the tag still long.
    1Collar on the eye
    Move 1 of 2Slide the collar down the standing line until it sits on the eye
    Pull the standing line firm against the hook, then trim the tagThe finished Centauri: a three-turn collar seated against the hook eye, gripping the standing line, with the short trimmed tag leaving the collar's far end beside the standing line.
    1Trimmed tag
    Move 2 of 2Pull the standing line firm against the hook, then trim the tagYou should now see: The collar resting on the eye with no loop between them, holding its place under a firm pull, and a short tag.

    Step 04

    Slide the collar down the standing line until it sits on the eye of the hook, pull it firm, then trim the tag.

    You should now see

    The collar resting on the eye with no loop of line left between them, holding its place under a firm pull, and a short tag.

    If it goes wrong

    Trimming while the collar still sits up the line, leaving a small loop between the knot and the eye. The collar can creep under load.

    Fix: If the tag is still long, slide the collar down and pull again. If it was already trimmed, cut the knot off and tie it again.

    Why: The same collar can be slid down onto a reel arbor instead of a hook eye, which NetKnots gives as an alternative to the arbor knot.

HTH · Reference layout

Centauri Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout

Centauri Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

Jam-hitch terminal family

A compact hitch or jam at the eye — fewer wraps, a different lock than a clinch barrel.

  • !Lock never jammed to the eye — it is a loose hitch in disguise
  • !Used on a small eye that cannot take the bulk of the jam
  • !Confused with a clinch: the tag path is not a barrel tuck
Fails when
  • !The tag was trimmed with the collar still up the line, leaving a small loop above the eye, and the collar creeps under load
  • !A loop was reversed or collapsed, and the crossing stops the collar closing and sliding cleanly
  • !The tag missed a loop, which hangs open beside the collar instead of closing into it
  • !The tag was yanked hard to close the collar, kinking the mono
Geometry

  • Loops closed out of order

    No collar — the usual Centauri failure

    Three loops in order make the sliding collar; a flipped first loop will not form it · step 01

  • Hard pull before the collar formed

    Kinks nylon and the collar never seats

    Form the collar, then seat; a yank is not a Centauri · step 03

  • Used on braid

    A nylon collar on braid will not hold

    Centauri is a mono knot — braid needs a different terminal · step 04

If you saw this

  • Collar walks or opens under load

    Check

    • ?Collar butted to the eye
    • ?Three-loop stack visible

    Then

    • →Retie on nylon
    • →Do not transfer this collar to braid

  • Finished check failed — Misdrawn final geometry

    Check

    • ?Distinctive Centauri geometry seated
    • ?Clean tag exit
    • ?No open loops

    Then

    • →Retie. A misdrawn Centauri loses the geometry that gives it strength.

  • Loops closed out of order

    Check

    • ?No collar — the usual Centauri failure
    • ?Inspect step 01

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Hard pull before the collar formed

    Check

    • ?Kinks nylon and the collar never seats
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Used on braid

    Check

    • ?A nylon collar on braid will not hold
    • ?Inspect step 04

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Same family

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

This failed — start Diagnose

Why this knot

What it earns its place with, what it costs, and what to reach for instead.

Best for
Hook to lineQuick to tie
Not ideal for
  • Braid-first terminals
  • Fluoro-first use that has not been verified for this collar
Common mistakes
  • Pulling a loop snug as it is formed, so it grips the standing line before the other two are made
  • Forming the second or third loop the opposite way round, or letting the middle loop collapse
  • Missing one of the loops with the tag, or yanking the tag hard to close the collar
  • Trimming the tag while the collar still sits up the line above the eye
Alternatives
  • Uni KnotBeginner

    Tying a hook, lure or other terminal tackle to braided or monofilament line

  • Arbor KnotBeginner

    Tying line to the bare arbor of a reel spool before winding it on

  • Pitzen KnotIntermediate

    Tying a hook, lure or fly to line or tippet

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