Orvis knot
Also called Orvis knot, Orvis tippet knot
A tippet-to-fly knot that uses a doubled line through the hook eye, then a tuck back through a loop. It’s known for good strength with less twist than a clinch-style knot.
- Group
- Tippet-to-fly knots
- Category
- Knots & rigging
- Level
- Intermediate
- Water
- Fresh & salt
Last updated
What Orvis knot means
Instead of starting with a single strand, this knot begins by doubling the tippet and passing the doubled section through the hook eye. The tag end then wraps around the standing line and passes back through the loop created near the eye before tightening.
It seats best when the wraps stack neatly and the knot is snugged down in stages. Wet the knot, pull on the standing line and tag to set it, then finish with a firm pull on the standing line. Trim the tag close once it’s fully seated.
Why it matters on the water
The doubled pass through the eye spreads load and helps the knot hold its strength on lighter tippet, especially with small flies and fine wire hooks. It also tends to leave the fly sitting straight, which matters with tiny nymphs and midges where a kinked connection shows up as spin or a fly that tracks sideways.
It’s a practical alternative to the Improved clinch knot when tippet is very limp, the hook eye is small, or the line wants to twist during tying. The tradeoff is that it takes a little more finger work at the eye, and it won’t fit every hook-eye/tippet combination.
Read next
- Clinch knotA clinch knot is a simple knot for tying tippet or leader to a fly’s eye. It’s quick to tie and common for dry flies, nymphs, and small streamers.
- Davy knotA compact tippet-to-fly knot that uses a simple overhand structure. It’s popular for tiny flies because it’s quick to tie and uses very little tippet.
- Improved clinch knotA common knot for tying tippet to a fly. It’s a clinch knot with the tag end passed back through a second loop before tightening for a more secure finish.
- Non-slip loop knotA tippet-to-fly knot that leaves a small open loop at the hook eye. The loop lets the fly swing and track more freely than a snug knot.