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Diagram

Spider Hitch

Spider hitch double

Forming a double line quickly. NetKnots says it is not as durable as a Bimini twist but is much faster and easier to tie.

Loop · Intermediate · Monofilament / Fluorocarbon / Braid · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Spider Hitch, finishedSpider Hitch, finished

Finished structure

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

  1. Double a long length of line and pinch the standing line and tag togetherThe line is folded back on itself into a long double; the standing line and tag lie side by side at the left where the double starts, and the two strands run on together to the loop end.
    1Tag and standing line, pinched together
    2The double, toward its loop end
    Move 1 of 1Double a long length of line and pinch the standing line and tag togetherYou should now see: A long double, its loop end free, with the standing line and tag pinched side by side where it starts.

    Step 01

    Double a length of line to make a long loop, and hold the standing line and tag together so the loop end hangs free.

    You should now see

    A long double with its loop end free and the standing line and tag pinched side by side where the double starts.

    If it goes wrong

    Doubling too little line. There is not enough double to form the small loop, take the wraps, and still leave the double you wanted.

    Fix: Let go and double more line before you start the small loop.

    Why: Everything after this is tied with the two strands of the double handled as one line, so keep them side by side and untwisted.

  2. Twist a small loop into the double and pinch it against your thumbA small loop of doubled line lies along the thumb with its rounded end beyond the thumb tip; the double crosses in front of itself at the base of the loop and hangs away toward the big loop.
    1Small loop, end past the thumb tip
    2Double crosses in front of itself
    Move 1 of 2Twist a small loop into the double and pinch it against your thumb
    Wrap the double round your thumb and the small loop 5 times, 15 with braidFive wraps of the doubled line encircle the thumb and both legs of the small loop, lying side by side toward the thumb tip, with the rest of the double hanging off to the right.
    1Five wraps round thumb and loop
    2Small loop past the thumb tip
    Move 2 of 2Wrap the double round your thumb and the small loop 5 times, 15 with braidYou should now see: Five side-by-side wraps of doubled line round the thumb and the small loop, none riding on another, and the loop end of the double hanging past the thumb.

    Step 02

    Twist a small loop into the doubled line and pinch it between thumb and forefinger. Wrap the double around your thumb and the small loop 5 times, or 15 times with braid.

    You should now see

    A row of side-by-side wraps of doubled line around your thumb and the small loop, with the loop end of the double hanging past your thumb.

    If it goes wrong

    Too few wraps, or wraps that cross over each other on the thumb. You see a turn riding on top of another, or fewer turns than the count.

    Fix: Unwind back to the last clean wrap, lay the rest down side by side, and count them again.

    Why: The wraps come off the thumb one at a time in step 3, which only works if they lie in order. Braid is slicker than mono, which is why its count is higher.

  3. Pass the loop end of the double through the small loop, front to backThe double leaves the last wrap near the thumb tip, crosses in front of the small loop and passes through it from front to back, then runs on toward the big loop.
    1Through the small loop
    2Wraps still on the thumb
    Move 1 of 2Pass the loop end of the double through the small loop, front to back
    Pull the double slowly so the wraps unwind off your thumb one at a timeWith the thumb withdrawn, the five wraps sit loosely round the two legs of the small loop in an even column, and the double leaves through the small loop toward the big loop.
    1Wraps now round the small loop
    Move 2 of 2Pull the double slowly so the wraps unwind off your thumb one at a timeYou should now see: The wraps have left the thumb in order and lie round the small loop in a neat column, with the long loop coming out through the small loop.

    Step 03

    Pass the loop end of the double through the small loop, then pull the double slowly so the wraps unwind off your thumb one at a time.

    You should now see

    The wraps leaving your thumb in order and settling around the small loop in a neat column, with the long loop coming out through it.

    If it goes wrong

    Pulling fast, or taking the double around the small loop instead of through it. The wraps jump off the thumb together and tangle, or the hitch falls apart when released.

    Fix: If the wraps tangle or the double is not through the small loop, pull it all apart and start again from step 2.

    Why: The wraps move from lying on your thumb to lying on the small loop. Coming off in order is what keeps the column neat.

  4. Wet the hitch, pull all four strands evenly until the wraps close, and trim the tagSeated, the five doubled wraps form a tight even barrel round the legs of the small loop, the double leaves through the small loop to the right, and the standing line and short trimmed tag leave to the left.
    1Tag, trimmed
    Move 1 of 1Wet the hitch, pull all four strands evenly until the wraps close, and trim the tagYou should now see: A tight, even column of wraps where the double starts, and a double that stays closed under a hard pull against the standing line.

    Step 04

    Wet the hitch and pull all four strands evenly, the two legs of the double against the standing line and tag, until the wraps close tight. Trim the tag.

    You should now see

    A tight, even column of wraps where the double starts, and a double that stays closed when you pull it hard against the standing line.

    If it goes wrong

    Pulling only one leg of the double, or stopping before the wraps close. The column looks loose or lumpy and the double can slide open under a test pull.

    Fix: Wet it and pull all four strands evenly again. If the column still moves under a hard test pull, cut it off and tie it again.

    Why: NetKnots notes that the spider hitch is not considered as durable as a Bimini twist but is much faster and easier to tie, so give it a hard pull before fishing it.

HTH · Reference layout

Spider Hitch — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout

Spider Hitch — 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

Spider Hitch — what fails and what to do

Spider Hitch — what fails and what to do
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Double-line family

A load-bearing loop of doubled line, locked so it cannot crawl back.

  • !Twists or wraps not packed before the lock
  • !Lock that crawls back into the double
  • !Uneven legs — one side takes the shock
Fails when
  • !Double taken around the small loop instead of through it, so the hitch falls apart
  • !Wraps crossed on the thumb or pulled off together, so they tangle
  • !Wraps not closed tight on all four strands, so the double slides open under a hard pull
  • !Braid tied with only the 5 wraps given for mono
Geometry

  • Hitch column unravels — double is gone

    The doubled section fails

    Wrap friction under tension holds the Spider; a collapse is a retie · step 03

  • Under-wrapped or messy hitch column

    Weak double you cannot trust on a fish

    Even wrap count is the Spider; too few wraps is a different hitch · step 02

  • Bight never completed the hitch pass-through

    Unreliable lock

    The loop must complete the hitch before you load the double · step 03

If you saw this

  • Double unravels or shortens under load

    Check

    • ?Wrap count
    • ?Hitch column density

    Then

    • →Retie with more wraps
    • →Build a Bimini when time allows

  • Twist column shows gaps or stacked reverse wraps.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Twist column shows gaps or stacked reverse wraps.

    Then

    • →Retie with continuous even twists.

  • One loop leg carries more load than the other.

    Check

    • ?Look for: One loop leg carries more load than the other.

    Then

    • →Equalize legs, then finish locks.

  • Locking wraps are too few for the line.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Locking wraps are too few for the line.

    Then

    • →Add the practical wrap count for the material.

  • Loop legs fray at the twist shoulder.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Loop legs fray at the twist shoulder.

    Then

    • →Retie; inspect for nicks before reuse.

  • Finished check failed — short wrap bundle in slick braid

    Check

    • ?loop legs emerge evenly
    • ?wrap bundle is compact
    • ?braid uses the higher practical wrap count required by the material

    Then

    • →Retie. rapid slip or reduced durability.

  • Hitch column unravels — double is gone

    Check

    • ?The doubled section fails
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

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

  • Under-wrapped or messy hitch column

    Check

    • ?Weak double you cannot trust on a fish
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

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

  • Bight never completed the hitch pass-through

    Check

    • ?Unreliable lock
    • ?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
Loop connectionsHigh strengthQuick to tie
Not ideal for
  • Maximum big-game double-line strength (Bimini still preferred when you can build it)
  • Situations where the hitch can work loose under cyclic load without inspection
Common mistakes
  • Fewer wraps than the count, or wraps crossed over each other on the thumb
  • Pulling the double fast, so the wraps jump off the thumb together
  • Taking the double around the small loop instead of through it
  • Tightening by pulling one leg of the double instead of all four strands
Alternatives
  • Bimini TwistAdvanced

    Making a double line with a loop at the end, for loop-to-loop leader connections or as the doubled line in knots such as the Yucatan

  • Yucatan KnotIntermediate

    Joining a heavier mono leader to a lighter braid or mono main line that has first been doubled with a Bimini twist or spider hitch

  • Surgeon’s LoopBeginner

    A fixed loop tied quickly in the end of a line, for a loop-to-loop connection or to let a lure or fly move freely on the loop

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