Spider Hitch

Tying procedure — Spider Hitch

1. Step 01 / 4

   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.

   1Tag and standing line, pinched together

   2The double, toward its loop end

   Step 1 of 4 · move 1 of 1

   Double a long length of line and pinch the standing line and tag together

   Hold: Left finger and thumb pinch the standing line and tag side by side

   Move: Right hand draws the double out long, loop end hanging free

   You should now see: A long double, its loop end free, with the standing line and tag pinched side by side where it starts.

2. Step 02 / 4

   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.

   1Small loop, end past the thumb tip

   2Double crosses in front of itself

   Step 2 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Twist a small loop into the double and pinch it against your thumb

   Hold: Left thumb and forefinger pinch the small loop, its end standing past the thumb tip

   Move: Right hand turns the double over so it crosses itself and closes the loop

3. 1Five wraps round thumb and loop

   2Small loop past the thumb tip

   Step 2 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Wrap the double round your thumb and the small loop 5 times, 15 with braid

   Hold: Left thumb and forefinger keep the small loop pinched flat

   Move: Right hand takes the double round thumb and loop, each wrap beside the last

   You 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.

4. Step 03 / 4

   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.

   1Through the small loop

   2Wraps still on the thumb

   Step 3 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Pass the loop end of the double through the small loop, front to back

   Hold: Left thumb keeps the wraps in order on the thumb

   Move: Right hand feeds the loop end of the double through the small loop

5. 1Wraps now round the small loop

   Step 3 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Pull the double slowly so the wraps unwind off your thumb one at a time

   Hold: Left hand holds the standing line and tag where the double starts

   Move: Right hand draws the double slowly away, letting each wrap slip off the thumb

   You 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.

6. Step 04 / 4

   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.

   1Tag, trimmed

   Step 4 of 4 · move 1 of 1

   Wet the hitch, pull all four strands evenly until the wraps close, and trim the tag

   Hold: Left hand pulls the standing line and tag together

   Move: Right hand pulls both legs of the double evenly against them

   You 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.