How to Tie a Loop Knot

Loop knots have gotten complicated with all the YouTube tutorials and fancy gear recommendations out there. As someone who’s been tying lines for over two decades — from my first bluegill rig to deep-sea marlin setups — I learned everything there is to know about loop knots the hard way. Today, I will share it all with you.

Different Types of Loop Knots

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about the main players in the loop knot game:

• Bowline Knot: The old reliable. Creates a fixed loop that won’t let you down when you’re fighting a trophy bass.
• Perfection Loop: My go-to for fly fishing. Creates a clean, precise loop that sits just right.
• Figure Eight Loop: The climber’s favorite, but works great for securing gear on the boat too.
• Surgeon’s Loop: Quick and dirty double-line loop. I tie this one in my sleep.
• Dropper Loop: For running multiple hooks off one line — absolute game-changer for bottom fishing.

That’s what makes loop knots endearing to us anglers — they’re simple tools that solve complex problems on the water.

How to Tie a Bowline Knot

The Bowline is your workhorse. I’ve used it for everything from tying off to dock cleats to securing a cooler in rough seas. Here’s the method:

1. Make a small loop in your line with the standing end on top. Think of it as a rabbit hole.
2. Take your working end (the rabbit) and push it up through the hole.
3. Wrap the rabbit around the tree (standing line), going behind it from right to left.
4. Send the rabbit back down the hole.
5. Pull everything tight on the standing line side.

I’ve trusted my life to this knot more times than I can count. It holds under pressure but unties easily when you’re done — even after getting soaked and loaded.

Tying the Perfection Loop

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The Perfection Loop is what I tie most often when I’m rigging fly leaders.

1. Cross your line over itself to make your first loop.
2. Hold that crossing point and wrap around again to create a second loop.
3. Thread the tag end between the two loops you just made.
4. Pull that second loop over the first, passing it over the tag end.
5. Grab the standing line and tag end, then pull to cinch it down tight.

The beauty of this knot is how it sits perfectly in-line with your leader. No weird angles, no twisted connections — just clean presentation.

The Figure Eight Loop Method

Climbers love this one, but I picked it up from a charter captain who used it for everything on deck.

1. Form a figure eight with your rope, leaving several inches of working end free.
2. Take that working end and trace it back through the original figure eight path.
3. Adjust the loop to whatever size you need.
4. Pull both ends tight to set the knot.

What I appreciate most about the Figure Eight is how well it performs under serious load, yet you can still break it free when needed. That’s crucial when you’re dealing with safety gear.

Surgeon’s Loop Instructions

When I need a doubled-line loop fast, the Surgeon’s Loop is my answer. It adds extra strength without the complexity.

1. Double your line back on itself to create a long loop.
2. Tie a simple overhand knot with that doubled section, keeping the loop intact.
3. Pass the loop through the overhand knot one more time.
4. Hold everything and pull tight on both the standing line and the loop.

I’ve watched this knot hold up to tarpon that tried to strip every inch of line off my reel. It’s bombproof.

The Dropper Loop Process

This is the knot that changed my bottom-fishing game completely. Being able to tie loops anywhere along the line opens up so many rigging possibilities.

1. Pick your spot on the line and form a loop by bringing it back on itself.
2. Twist that loop around the standing line five or six times — I usually do six for good measure.
3. Spread those twists apart carefully to create a gap in the middle.
4. Push your original loop through that center gap.
5. Pull both ends of the standing line to tighten everything down.

With Dropper Loops, I can run a three-hook bottom rig that stays perfectly balanced. Each hook gets its own loop, no tangles, no twisted leaders.

Which Knot to Use?

Here’s the honest truth — the right knot depends entirely on what you’re doing. I reach for the Bowline when I need something that absolutely won’t slip, like securing my boat in a storm. The Perfection Loop gets the call for fly fishing where presentation matters. Figure Eight is my choice for anything safety-related or when I’m dealing with heavy loads. The Surgeon’s Loop comes out when I’m in a hurry and need doubled-line strength. And the Dropper Loop is reserved for those multi-hook bottom rigs.

The more knots you know, the more options you have when you’re out there solving problems on the water. It’s like having the right tool for every job.

Practicing Your Knots

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it — you need to practice these until your fingers know them by feel. I tie practice knots while watching TV, sitting on the porch, even waiting for strikes. Use the same type of line you’ll actually fish with, because mono feels different than braid, and both feel different than fluorocarbon.

Start slow. Watch your hands as you work through each step. Once you’ve got the motions down, try tying in low light, or with your eyes closed. That’s when you know you’ve really got it. Because when you’re on a rolling deck at dawn with cold fingers and a fish cruising your spread, you need these knots to be automatic.

I still remember the first time I tied a Perfection Loop without thinking about it. That’s when loop knots went from being a skill I was learning to being part of who I am as an angler. Keep at it — you’ll get there too.