How to Tie the Surgeon’s Knot

The Surgeon’s Knot is a good knot to use when you want to connect monofilament or fluorocarbon lines of similar diameter and strength. You can use it for attaching leader to your main line, or for attaching tippet to your leader when fly fishing. One of the important things to remember about this knot is that when it’s used with braided lines, it tends to slip unless you double up the braid alongside the mono or fluorocarbon leader.

When learning how to tie the Surgeon’s Knot, just create two overhand knots, and then pull the length of the leader through the knot each time.

Surgeon’s Knot Steps

1. Place your leader line parallel to your main line, making sure that they overlap by several inches.
2. Create an overhand knot by passing the long end of the leader and the tag end of your main fishing line through the loop.
3. Form a second over-hand knot by passing the same ends through the loop a second time.
4. Moisten the knot and tighten by pulling on all four ends, and trim the tag ends.

You’ll find that the Surgeon’s Knot is one of the easiest to tie line-to-line knots there is. Keep practicing this knot until you are proficient at tying it, and then learn a few other strong line-to-line knots.