Surgeon’s Knot

Tying procedure — Surgeon’s Knot

1. Step 01 / 4

   Lay the end of the tippet alongside the end of the leader, the two ends pointing in opposite directions, so the lines overlap by several inches.

   You should now see: Two lines side by side with a long shared section, the leader tag pointing one way and the tippet end pointing the other.

   If it goes wrong: Too short an overlap. You notice it at the next step, when there is not enough paired line to form the loop and still make two passes.

   Fix: Slide the lines further along each other before you start. The extra overlap only costs tag, which is trimmed off at the end.

   Why: The rest of the knot is tied with the two lines handled as one strand, so the overlap is all the working length there is for the loop and both passes.

   1Leader's tag end

   2Tippet's tag end

   Step 1 of 4 · move 1 of 1

   Lay the leader and tippet side by side with a long overlap, ends pointing opposite ways

   Hold: Left hand holds the leader and tippet together at the overlap

   Move: Right hand lays the tippet along the leader until the overlap is long

   You should now see: Two lines lying parallel along a long overlap, the leader's tag pointing one way and the tippet's tag the other.

2. Step 02 / 4

   Holding the two lines together as one strand, form a loop in the overlap, as if starting an overhand knot.

   You should now see: One open loop with both lines running around it together, and the leader tag and the whole tippet on the same side, ready to go through.

   If it goes wrong: Letting the lines separate so only one of them goes around the loop. You see a single strand on part of the loop instead of a matched pair.

   Fix: Open the loop, lay the two lines back together along its whole length, and pinch them where they cross.

   Why: If one line is left out of the loop, the result is an overhand in one line with the other lying beside it, which does not join them.

   1Loop of both lines

   Step 2 of 4 · move 1 of 1

   Bend both lines together into a loop, as if starting an overhand

   Hold: Left hand pinches both lines where they cross

   Move: Right hand brings the leader's tag and the tippet round and over both lines

   You should now see: One loop made of both lines, crossing over the overlap, with the leader's tag and the tippet hanging below the crossing.

3. Step 03 / 4

   Pass the leader tag and the whole length of the tippet through the loop together, then through the same loop a second time. Make a third pass for a triple surgeon's knot.

   You should now see: Two or three turns of the paired lines wound around each other inside the loop, with the loop still open and nothing pulled tight.

   If it goes wrong: Stopping after one pass, or feeding the lines through separately so one gets a full pass and the other does not. The knot shows a single crossing, or turns that do not match.

   Fix: Back the lines out to the first pass and feed both through together again until there are two full passes.

   Why: Because the whole tippet has to go through the loop each time, this knot suits a short tippet or leader section. The second pass is what makes it a surgeon's knot rather than a plain overhand.

   Step 3 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Pass the leader's tag and the whole tippet through the loop together

   Hold: Left hand keeps the loop open at the crossing

   Move: Right hand feeds the leader's tag and the tippet through the loop from behind

4. 1Two passes, both lines

   Step 3 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Take both lines round and through the loop a second time

   Hold: Left hand holds the first pass in place

   Move: Right hand brings the leader's tag and the tippet round and through the loop again

   You should now see: Two complete passes through the loop, both lines in each, and the loop still open.

5. Step 04 / 4

   Wet the knot and pull all four ends evenly, a standing line and a tag in each hand, until the knot closes. Then pull the two standing lines apart and trim both tags close.

   You should now see: A compact knot with all four ends leaving it evenly and matching turns on both sides. A slight bend where the lines leave the knot is normal.

   If it goes wrong: Seating the knot on the two standing lines alone. The turns close unevenly, the knot twists out of shape, and a tag can draw back into the body.

   Fix: If the knot is only loose, wet it and pull all four ends again. If it has twisted or a tag is buried, cut it out and tie it again.

   Why: Pulling all four ends lets the turns close together. Animated Knots notes the finished knot leaves the line at a slight angle, so that bend is how the knot sits rather than a sign of a mistake.

   Step 4 of 4 · move 1 of 2

   Wet the knot and pull all four ends evenly until it closes

   Hold: Left hand holds the leader and the tippet's tag together

   Move: Right hand holds the tippet and the leader's tag together and draws them the other way, slowly

6. Step 4 of 4 · move 2 of 2

   Trim both tags close to the knot

   Hold: Left hand holds the knot by the leader

   Move: Right hand trims the leader's tag and the tippet's tag close

   You should now see: A compact knot with four ends leaving it evenly: the leader and the tippet straight out either side, and two short tag stubs.