The surgeon’s knot is an essential fly fishing knot. This is one that should be in every angler’s arsenal. In the video below, Anglers All retail specialist Collin Heyerdahl shows us how to tie the double surgeon’s knot, along with a few helpful tips.

When to Use a Double Surgeon’s Knot

The surgeon’s knot is one of the quickest, easiest and most reliable knots for attaching a new section of tippet to the end of your leader – or anytime you need to attach two lines of similar diameter.

We use a double surgeon’s knot nearly every time we tie on a new leader. For example, let’s say you just put on a new 5x tapered leader for a classic nymph set up. Every time you change flies, you’re chipping away at that leader. In doing so, the leader gets shorter and eventually the material gets thicker. Before you know it, you no longer have a 9-foot leader. And the end you’re working with is more like 3x than 5x.

So every time you start with a new leader, go ahead and use a double surgeon’s knot to tie on about 16-24 inches of tippet. That way, as you’re changing flies throughout the day, you’ll be chipping away at that piece of tippet and not your leader. When there’s not much left of the tippet, simply cut it off at the surgeon’s knot and start over.

The double surgeon’s knot is also a great way to add droppers to a nymph rig. When you finish the knot, instead of trimming off both tag ends, leave the "top" tag 5-7 inches long. The tag towards your leader, not towards your fly. The "top" tag will be less likely to tangle then the "bottom" tag. Then attach your first fly to the tag. Next, you can add a second fly to the end of the tippet to create a two-nymph rig. Or, you can repeat the process with another piece of tippet for a three-nymph rig.

How to Tie a Double Surgeon’s Knot

If you have questions or if you need help, please visit us at the fly shop in Littleton. We’d be happy to show you the double surgeon’s knot or answer any of your other rigging questions.