Double surgeon's knot
Also called Double surgeon knot
A double surgeon’s knot is a quick line-to-line knot for joining two pieces of leader or tippet. It uses two wraps through an overhand loop to add grip and strength.
- Group
- Line-to-line knots
- Category
- Knots & rigging
- Level
- Beginner
- Water
- Fresh & salt
Last updated
What Double surgeon's knot means
Start by laying the two line ends alongside each other with a few inches of overlap. Tie an overhand knot with both lines together, then pass both ends through that loop twice, wet it, and pull all four strands snug.
This knot shows up most when building or repairing leaders, adding a tippet section, or attaching a dropper tag off the leader. It joins lines of equal or moderately unequal diameter, like a tippet to a leader, and it is forgiving when your hands are cold or you are standing midstream.
Trim the tag ends close, but leave a little stub. If you pull the knot tight in stages, it seats cleaner and is less likely to cut into itself.
Why it matters on the water
Knowing this knot keeps small leader problems from turning into a full re-rig. A wind knot, a nicked section, or a tippet change becomes a quick splice instead of cutting back to the fly line connection.
It also helps with rigging options. You can build a tapered leader from sections, or add a dropper tag for a tandem rig without carrying specialty connectors.
Read next
- Blood knotA blood knot is a line-to-line knot used to join two pieces of similar-diameter mono or fluorocarbon, most often leader to tippet.
- LeaderThe leader is the clear, tapered line between the fly line and the fly. It turns the fly over and gives you a clean, controlled presentation.
- TippetTippet is the thin, level line tied to the end of your leader. It’s the section you cut back and replace as you change flies and re-tie knots.
- Triple surgeon's knotA triple surgeon’s knot is a line-to-line knot made by tying a surgeon’s knot with three wraps through the loop instead of two. It’s used to join leader and tippet, especially when the diameters are different.