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Diagram

Seaguar Knot

Seaguar join

Joining a fluorocarbon leader to monofilament line, using a leader cut to length because the whole leader passes through the knot.

Line-to-line · Intermediate · Monofilament / Fluorocarbon · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Seaguar Knot, finishedSeaguar 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. Form a loop in the line and a loop in the leader, side by sideThe line and the leader, held side by side, make one loop together: the pair from the left crosses on top and runs round the top of the loop, and the line's tag and the leader come back underneath and leave to the left.
    Move 1 of 1Form a loop in the line and a loop in the leader, side by sideYou should now see: Two loops, one in each line, lying together as one, the strand from the left crossing on top.

    Step 01

    Make a loop in the line and a loop in the leader and hold the two loops side by side, with the strand running from the left on top in each loop.

    You should now see

    Two loops lying together as one, the strand from the left crossing on top in both, and the leader's full length hanging free.

    If it goes wrong

    Letting the loops separate or cross differently, so the strand from the left ends up underneath in one of them.

    Fix: Lay the loops together again and check the left-hand strand is on top in both before you twist.

    Why: The two loops are twisted as one in the next step, so they need to lie the same way.

  2. Twist the two loops together three timesBetween the pinch and the loop, the pair coming in from the left and the pair going back are twisted round each other three times. The loop of both lines stays open at the far end.
    Move 1 of 1Twist the two loops together three timesYou should now see: Three twists between the pinch and the loop, which is still open at the far end.

    Step 02

    Put an index finger into both loops and make 3 full counter-clockwise twists.

    You should now see

    Three even twists in the paired loops, with your finger still through the loop at the end.

    If it goes wrong

    Losing count of the twists, or letting them unwind when you shift your grip. With fewer than three the knot can pull apart.

    Fix: Untwist fully and make three again, counting each full turn of your finger.

    Why: The twists become the wraps of the finished figure eight. NetKnots uses three.

  3. Pass the line's tag and the whole leader through the loopsThe line's tag and the whole leader come back over the twists and pass through the loop, in front of its top side and behind its bottom side, then leave to the right. The line and the leader's tag leave to the left.
    Move 1 of 1Pass the line's tag and the whole leader through the loopsYou should now see: The line's tag and the leader go in front of the loop's top side and behind its bottom side. Four ends are ready to draw up.

    Step 03

    Hold the loops open and feed the tag end of the line and the entire leader through the loop, following your finger back out.

    You should now see

    The line tag and the whole leader have passed through, and the twists sit loosely around them.

    If it goes wrong

    Feeding only part of the leader through, or going through a different opening than the one your finger held. The knot does not form.

    Fix: Pull everything back out, put your finger back in the loop and feed the line tag and the full leader along the path it marks.

    Why: Your finger marks the right path through the twists. Following it keeps the ends from snagging the wrong turn.

  4. Seaguar Knot — step 4 of 4Step 4 of 4. Wet; all four ends pulled in turn until it cinches into a figure eight. Trim both tags. This step is the line being placed now. Working is the end already placed. Standing is the line that stays. What is still to come is drawn lighter. A loop in each line twisted together three times, tag and leader fed through, cinched into a figure eight.
    4
    step 04 · schematic

    Wet; all four ends pulled in turn until it cinches into a figure eight. Trim both tags.

    Step 04

    Wet the lines and pull on all four ends to cinch the knot into a figure eight, alternating between the tag ends and the line and leader. Trim both tags close.

    Wet; all four ends pulled in turn until it cinches into a figure eight. Trim both tags.

    You should now see

    A tight knot with a clear figure eight shape, two short tags, and no slipping when you pull the line and leader apart.

    If it goes wrong

    Pulling only the line and leader, so the tags slip back and the knot closes into a lump instead of a figure eight.

    Fix: If the closed knot is not a clear figure eight, cut it off and tie again, alternating the pull between tags and main lines.

    Why: Alternating the pull lets both halves of the eight close evenly. The figure eight shape is the check that the twists and the pass were made correctly.

HTH · Reference layout

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

Seaguar 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.

HTH · Advanced failure modes

Seaguar Knot — what fails and what to do

Seaguar Knot — what fails and what to do
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Albright family

Bight in the heavier leader; lighter line wraps the bight, then tucks.

  • !Bight in the lighter line — the wraps have nothing to bite
  • !Wraps walked off the bight instead of packed against the fold
  • !Tag never tucked back through the bight, so the wraps dump
Fails when
  • !Fewer than three twists, so the knot can pull apart
  • !Tags left out of the cinch, so they slip back and the knot closes into a lump
  • !Twists or pass made wrongly, which shows as no figure eight in the closed knot
Geometry

  • Too few twists on fluoro

    The join walks

    Seaguar grip is twist count plus an even seat, not a single overhand · step 02

  • Forced diameter jump through this family

    Slips — mismatch is a different join

    Do not use Seaguar as a step-down join · step 01

  • Dry fluoro seat glazed the twists

    Scored before it ever sees a fish

    Wet the seat; heat is a retie · step 03

If you saw this

  • Slips or breaks at join

    Check

    • ?Twist count
    • ?Even seat

    Then

    • →Retie
    • →Use Blood/Orvis Tippet for closer diameters

  • One side twists more than the other.

    Check

    • ?Look for: One side twists more than the other.

    Then

    • →Retie with matched twist counts.

  • Braid used where mono-main is required.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Braid used where mono-main is required.

    Then

    • →Use the verified material pairing for this knot.

  • Finished junction shows a sharp cutting angle.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Finished junction shows a sharp cutting angle.

    Then

    • →Seat so the join is compact and square.

  • Outer strands abrade after guide contact.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Outer strands abrade after guide contact.

    Then

    • →Dress tags; consider a slimmer join.

  • Finished check failed — braid is substituted for the mono-main system

    Check

    • ?mono and fluorocarbon loops twist together evenly
    • ?both line ends/leader pass through the shared opening as required
    • ?figure-eight-like finished junction is compact

    Then

    • →Retie. unstable mono-to-fluoro junction.

  • Too few twists on fluoro

    Check

    • ?The join walks
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

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

  • Forced diameter jump through this family

    Check

    • ?Slips — mismatch is a different join
    • ?Inspect step 01

    Then

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

  • Dry fluoro seat glazed the twists

    Check

    • ?Scored before it ever sees a fish
    • ?Inspect step 03

    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
Leader to tippetJoining lines
Not ideal for
  • Extreme mismatch
  • Primary braid-to-heavy-leader (use FG/Slim Beauty family)
Common mistakes
  • Holding the loops so the strand from the left ends up underneath in one of them
  • Losing count of the twists, or letting them unwind before the pass
  • Feeding only part of the leader through, or through a different opening than the finger held
  • Pulling only the line and leader instead of alternating with the tag ends
Alternatives
  • Orvis Tippet KnotIntermediate

    Joining tippet to the end of a leader

  • Blood KnotIntermediate

    Joining two lines of about the same diameter, such as sections of a fly-fishing leader or tippet, with matching turns on each side of the centre

  • Surgeon’s KnotBeginner

    Joining a tippet to a leader, including lines of moderately unequal size

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