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Diagram

Orvis Knot

Orvis tippet knot (terminal form)

Ties tippet to a hook or fly with a small knot built on a figure eight. Animated Knots says it works in light and heavy line and in any tippet material.

Terminal · Beginner · Monofilament / Fluorocarbon · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Orvis Knot, finishedOrvis 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. Push the tippet up through the hook eye from underneathThe tippet passes up through the hook eye from below, the tag coming out on the upper side beside the standing line.
    1Tag, up through the eye
    2Standing line, to the rod
    Move 1 of 2Push the tippet up through the hook eye from underneath
    Take the tag over in an arch and down behind the standing lineThe tag rises from the eye in an arch and goes down behind the standing line, leaving an open first loop between the arch, the eye and the standing line.
    1First loop
    Move 2 of 2Take the tag over in an arch and down behind the standing lineYou should now see: The tag lies behind the standing line, with an open turn of line between them beside the eye.

    Step 01

    Push the tippet up through the hook eye from underneath, then take the tag behind the standing line.

    You should now see

    The tippet comes up through the eye from below, with the tag lying behind the standing line and an open turn of line between them.

    If it goes wrong

    Threading the eye from the top. The turns then lie the other way round and the figure eight in step 2 does not come out as shown.

    Fix: Pull the tippet back out and feed it up from underneath before going on.

    Why: The direction through the eye sets which side the loops of the figure eight fall on, and the passes in step 3 follow from that layout.

  2. Cross the tag back over the standing line and down through the first loopUnder the standing line the tag hooks round, crosses up in front of it, runs over the top and passes down through the first loop from front to back, making a figure eight; the tag end then lies along the bottom.
    1First loop
    2Right-hand loop
    Move 1 of 1Cross the tag back over the standing line and down through the first loopYou should now see: A figure eight above the eye: the first loop by the eye and a larger right-hand loop, both open.

    Step 02

    Cross the tag back over the standing line and pass it through the first loop you made, forming a figure eight above the eye.

    You should now see

    A clear figure eight shape in the tippet just above the eye, with both of its loops still open.

    If it goes wrong

    Missing the cross over the standing line, which leaves a single plain loop instead of a figure eight.

    Fix: Undo the tag back to the eye and make the cross over the standing line again before tucking through the first loop.

    Why: The figure eight makes the second loop that the tag passes through in step 3. Without it there is nothing for those turns to lock into.

  3. Bring the tag up behind and through the top of the right-hand loopThe tag runs behind the knot, comes up behind the right-hand loop, passes through it toward you just under its top rim, and goes over the rim and down behind it: one pass.
    1Through from behind
    Move 1 of 2Bring the tag up behind and through the top of the right-hand loop
    Take the tag through the same loop from behind a second timeThe tag has passed through the right-hand loop twice from behind, so two turns lie side by side round the top rim of that loop, and the tag end leaves toward you.
    1Two turns round the top
    Move 2 of 2Take the tag through the same loop from behind a second timeYou should now see: Two turns of tag round the top of the right-hand loop, side by side, with the figure eight still loose.

    Step 03

    Feed the tag from behind through the top of the right-hand loop of the eight, then go through that same loop from behind a second time.

    You should now see

    Two turns of the tag through the right-hand loop, lying side by side, with the figure eight still loose.

    If it goes wrong

    Making only one pass, or entering the loop from the front. The knot draws down crooked or creeps under load.

    Fix: Back the tag out and redo both passes from behind. Count two turns before you wet the knot.

    Why: The two turns wrap the tag around the loop so that tightening clamps it. With one turn the tag has less holding it and can creep.

  4. Wet it, pull the tag, then hook, standing line and tag in turn; trim the tagDrawn down, the figure eight closes onto the hook eye with the two turns of tag snug round the top of the loop and the tag trimmed short.
    Move 1 of 1Wet it, pull the tag, then hook, standing line and tag in turn; trim the tagYou should now see: A small knot sitting on the eye with both turns snug and the tag cut short; a slight angle is normal.

    Step 04

    Wet the knot and pull the tag to close it. Then pull the hook, the standing line and the tag in turn until the knot seats on the eye, and trim the tag.

    You should now see

    A small, symmetrical knot sitting squarely on the eye, with both turns snug and the tag cut short.

    If it goes wrong

    Hauling only on the standing line. The knot seats off to one side of the eye, and turns can slip over each other.

    Fix: If the knot is crooked or a turn has crossed, cut it off and tie again, alternating the pull between hook, standing line and tag.

    Why: Alternating tension lets the knot close evenly on the eye. Pulling one end alone closes one side first and drags the knot off centre.

HTH · Reference layout

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

Orvis 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.

Fly / tippet family

Fine tippet at the eye, or fly-line to leader with a tube or nail.

  • !Hitch path around the eye instead of through it
  • !Single pass where two were the job
  • !Gap at the tube or nail on a fly-line join
Fails when
  • !Only one pass went through the right-hand loop, or it went in from the front, and the knot draws down crooked or creeps under load
  • !The cross over the standing line was missed, so there is no figure eight for the two passes to lock into
  • !It was seated by hauling on the standing line alone, so it sits to one side of the eye and the turns slip over each other
Geometry

  • Compact path incomplete — not an Orvis

    Slips or opens under a short tag

    Orvis is a specific compact sequence, not a generic hitch · step 03

  • Dry half-seat on fluoro

    Glazes the tippet before it sees a fish

    A moist, complete seat is the lock on fluoro · step 02

  • Tag too short to finish the compact path

    The sequence cannot complete

    Leave working length until the stack is locked · step 01

If you saw this

  • Slips or opens

    Check

    • ?Structure tight at eye

    Then

    • →Retie
    • →Compare to vetted diagram

  • Finished check failed — Open figure-eight that did not draw down

    Check

    • ?Figure-eight style seat looks compact
    • ?Tag and standing line exit cleanly
    • ?No open loops after pull test

    Then

    • →Retie. An undrawn Orvis can open on the first fish.

  • Compact path incomplete — not an Orvis

    Check

    • ?Slips or opens under a short tag
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

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

  • Dry half-seat on fluoro

    Check

    • ?Glazes the tippet before it sees a fish
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

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

  • Tag too short to finish the compact path

    Check

    • ?The sequence cannot complete
    • ?Inspect step 01

    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
Fly hooksQuick to tie
Not ideal for
  • Heavy braid terminals
  • Large saltwater hooks without testing
Common mistakes
  • Threading the tippet down through the eye from the top, so the figure eight lies the wrong way round
  • Missing the cross over the standing line, which leaves a single plain loop instead of a figure eight
  • Making only one pass through the right-hand loop, or entering it from the front
  • Hauling only on the standing line to seat the knot
Alternatives
  • Davy KnotBeginner

    Tying a small fly to tippet with a quick, compact knot

  • Pitzen KnotIntermediate

    Tying a hook, lure or fly to line or tippet

  • Improved Clinch KnotBeginner

    Tying a hook, lure or swivel to monofilament line

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