5 steps
Surgeon's Knot Dropper
A 3-pass surgeon's knot that joins tippet and leaves one tag as the dropper.
Use it for
A 3-pass surgeon's knot that joins tippet and leaves one tag as the dropper.
This line
Braid wants more than two passes.
Avoid when
A bulky six- or seven-pass surgeon in the tip of a fly leader. It will click in the guides.
All steps visible
Surgeon's Knot Dropper
Step 1
Lay the two lines together, overlapping by several inches.
Step 2
Form a loop and pass both tags through it once.
Step 3
Pass both tags through the loop again. Pass 2 of 3.
Step 4
Pass both tags through the loop again. Pass 3 of 3.
Step 5
Wet all four strands and pull. Leave one tag long to tie on the dropper fly.
The drawing follows this tying order. Pause, step, or scrub to stay with the words. The standing line runs to the reel. The tag is the short end you trim. Skin-hook means the point lies flat in the plastic, not out where grass can grab it.
Common mistakes
- One pass, which is only an overhand and will slip.
- Pulling one line harder so the knot cocks.