The Best Surgeon's Knot for Braid - 6 Turn Surgeon

The surgeon's knot is a popular knot for connecting two lines of equal or different diameters.
Its popularity is due to how easy and quick this knot is to tie along with the impressive strength of the surgeon's knot.
However, there are multiple ways to tie this popular knot that need to be considered... most important of all is matching the amount of turns in the knot to the type of line you're using.
For example, a 3 turn surgeon is sufficient for a mono to mono connection, but it'll unravel if used to connect a braid to a mono leader.
So for connecting a braided line to a mono or fluoro leader with a Surgeon's knot, it is essential to make more turns.
We did some testing, and 6 is now our recommended minimum when using a braided line.
Click on the link below to see how the Surgeon's knot did against some of the most popular other options in a recent knot contest we held:
www.saltstrong....

[@curttimmbch]

Finally a simple knot that won't take for ever to tie on the boat with the wind blowing. Thanks for sharing.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad to see that you enjoyed this surgeon knot video... it's a shockingly strong knot for how easy it is to tie!

[@FrankLadd]

I was doing the double uni but now I'm going to use this as it is much easier. Thanks!

[@gc176]

I use 3 knots. Never failed.

[@reelestatejeremy]

Holy Mackerel! ...How have I ever not known about this....Pat just suggested this from a 'ask a coach question', I figured you'd have a video on it...Thanks!

[@Saltstrong]

Hope the video was helpful!

[@ReelinTension]

This has been my go to leader knot for a while now. Super easy to tie weather it’s dark or bad weather

[@jamespetrie6786]

Great video! Super precise and easy to follow! Thank you!

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for watching!!

[@LBCBassKings]

I've been using this knot for years and never really knew the name of it. Caught some big striped bass with this knot using 30lb power pro and 15lb flouro with 5 wraps. Still haven't seen one undone.

[@ryantheranga4622]

My left ear really liked that

[@Triton_shimano]

Thanks i will add this to my list of knots , my go to knot for braid mono is the rp knot

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful.

[@lesrinehart933]

Out in the field it’s the best knot and strong

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@grantlaredo9795]

great vid, this is my fav knot!!!!!!

[@user-wv3pe1yd7h]

Very good knot

[@Saltstrong]

Definitely!

[@UserUser14880]

By the looks it will work very well. I will try this. I tried some other braid to floro knot and it worked great for a few casts and then i lost everything.

[@Saltstrong]

Give this a try and let us know what you think!

[@lesrinehart933]

I’ve always used 4 wraps and no problems 😊

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the tip!

[@mikebusmc88]

Thank you...nice and simple but effective.

[@williammawk9626]

I use this knot to tie my tapered leader to the butt section on my fly line and it has never failed me.

[@lljustice3877]

Was hoping to replace uni to uni knot but I go 2 feet leaders or more sometimes. Trying to bring that much leader through for 6 loops seems daunting

[@Saltstrong]

It's a great knot!

[@lornehargis2614]

Your test results are on a 3 turn surgeons knot but this video shows 6 turns. Is the 6 turn a higher breaking strength than 13 lbs? Thx

[@umx4]

Very nice thank you

[@evangelinecatungal7712]

Nice! Thank you!

[@TheAimtoplz]

3 or 4 loops ...using it for UL

[@xyzct]

What's this knot called in mph?

[@MrA8figureman]

that sure did seem really simple. Will this work for flouro and briad?

[@GameCastCubed]

I can't mange to get this to work on heavier fluoro

[@grantlaredo9795]

I had same problem ,try putting more turns, or use a Uni Knot, both great knots!

[@stevenvamvakis5888]

I am curious about using a combination of knots. Have you ever tested or do you have an opinion on first creating a surgeon's loop at the end of my braided main line and then using that loop to tie a surgeon's knot to my fluorocarbon leader. I ask because for me both knots are the easiest for me to tie quickly. I have read that a doubled braid is a much stronger knot connection than single strand.I often snag my line on rocks and docks. I use 10 - 30lb Spiderwire Invisibraid and 12 - 50lb Fluorocarbon leader from multiple manufacturers. The fluorocarbon varies for the species I am targeting. Snook and mackerel I use 40 or 50lb leader for everything else I use lighter leader.

[@xl6589]

How well will this knot hold up going through the rod guides with hours of casting lures?

[@Saltstrong]

All knots get weakened after repeated casts through guides, so we recommend not making a habit of doing that.

[@pakde8002]

confused...on the FG v Alberto comments you suggested the 6 turn surgeon's knot as an alternative to both. but now you say it's not recommended for knots to pass through the guides. if i want to throw big lures or baits long distances (surf/rock fishing) and need an extra long leader as shock leader or protection against rubbing on coral/oyster shells, what is the best alternative to the FG knot that won't catch line on the reel or get stuck on the guides and is relatively easy for seniors or those without great dexterity. I can't imagine how to tie this with a 15-20 foot leader.

[@cmargheimable]

Will this work with a mono backing to braid main line?

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for your question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here:www.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-line-to-line-knot/

[@nthfishing7640]

Is this as small as the fg knot?

[@patrickdelaney2596]

Have a question! Why is it that my line breaks when i am casting and i don’t even have a heavy weight on the line?

[@grantlaredo9795]

Hi, Patrick , there could be few reasons, 1/ Old line, any line has a use by date, UV light really degrades it. So change it for new line! 2/ You may have line wrapped around tip of rod, check , check before each cast! 3/ Poor quality line, spend little bit extra, and get good quality line! 4/ With nicks in your line it don't, take much for even the best line to snap, if its got a nick,! 5/ Get right pound line, for what your after and, what is your right , for your rod and reel! 6/See a tackle store for advice not a place that sells every item under the sun. hope this help mate. all the best from Australia.........

[@patrickdelaney2596]

@@grantlaredo9795 Hey! Thanks for the advice. I am still trying to figure out certain things that work. So far I have been lucky. Good advice. Will check all that you said. I believe on the reel and rod it tells you what line to use and the maximum lb test you should use. I do a lot of research on you tube and such places like that. Again thanks for replying.

[@grantlaredo9795]

@@patrickdelaney2596 welcome ! if you got other Q happy to try and help! all the best.

[@kylemolletfishing9123]

@@patrickdelaney2596 check to make sure you don't have any nicks in the spool, bail wire, or the rod guides also.

[@richarddavis8025]

Will 8 turns be stronger for Sufix 832 30# braid and 25# flourocarbon? It is easy to tie and is very compact and goes through the mini tip top.

[@Saltstrong]

If you can get them to tighten down without getting bunched up then yes. If they get out of order when tightening them, a weak point may be created.

[@richarddavis8025]

@@Saltstrong Not to be tried in a rocking boat or hurricane. I have learned to make my wraps evenly and manually keep them from bunching up. Tkaes a little dexerty, but my 8 wraps are smooth. Thanks for the encouragement

[@GonTheTube813]

Is this just for mono leaders?

[@Saltstrong]

+BigBagRambo The surgeon's knot is good for both mono and braid... but it needs to have more turns with braid compared to mono. Here's a link to a test I did on different variations of this knot of braid and mono to see what works best for each: www.saltstrong.com/articles/surgeons-knot/.

[@backwoodssurvivalist1779]

I use this knot to add tippet to my fly line

[@ericw7859]

So what works better, this knot or uni to uni knot?

[@littlegoobie]

never used the uni knot myself. It's been shown to choke itself off and dig in. Watch some of the line comparison videos where they happen to use uni knots and you'll see that the lines almost always break inside the uniknot.

[@michaelk1853]

Hey WASUP and bc I can first