Fishing Knots

Surgeon's Knot

Double surgeon's
DIFFICULTY ○○○○

Lay the two lines side by side and tie a double overhand knot with both at once. That's the entire knot — brutally simple and effective.

fishingleaderfastjoining
See it tied step-by-step ↗

Why it earns its place

The fastest reliable way to join two lines, and it happily handles lines of different diameters where the blood knot gives up. A must-know for adding tippet in failing light.

Where it fails

Bulkier than a blood knot, so it can tick through rod guides. Both lines must cinch down together evenly — pull all four ends when tightening.

Quick facts

TypeLine-to-line knot
LineUnequal diameters OK
Strength~90–100% in light line
Best forFast leader-to-tippet joins

Related knots