Surgeon’s Knot

Surgeon’s Knot

Based on the square (reef) knot, the surgeon’s knot owes its name to its common use by surgeons to secure the threads in a suture. Though originally a surgical knot it has found wide use in fly fishing to effectively connect the leader to the tippet. It joins 2 lines of equal or unequal diameters as well as lines of different materials.

How to Tie a Surgeon’s Knot

How to Tie a Surgeon’s Knot

Tips

1. When it is properly tied, the knot achieves almost 100% line strength.
2. It is also referred to as the double surgeon’s knot since it is actually a double overhand knot with the entire leader passed through the knot twice.
3. The triple surgeon’s knot utilizes 3 turns for added security. Similarly, it can be given 4, 5 or 6 turns increasing the complexity and bulkiness but adding strength.
4. Hemostats and forceps are sometimes used as tying tools.
5. A similar technique is applied for tying the surgeon’s end loop that can be attached to a hook or swivel.

Uses

1. Fishing
2. Tying quilts
3. In medical field
4. In boat crew survival vests of coast guards
5. Attaching a dropper tag to the tippet or leader
6. In beading, jewelry (stretch bracelet, necklace) making

Surgeon’s Knot Tying Video

The tying method has been shown clearly in this video.

Steps to Tying a Surgeon’s Knot

1. Overlap the ends of the 2 lines
2. Form a loop and pass an end through it
3. Pass it through one more time
4. Tighten by pulling both ends
5. Trim the tag ends
6. The finished knot is compact

Alternatives

1. Blood knot – Harder to tie but works best with lines of same diameters.
2. Nail knot – Slimmer version but more complex. Needs a nail or any similar substitute for tying.