Fishing Knot Guide

How to Tie the Arbor Knot

Strength: N/A (reel attachment)Difficulty: BeginnerBest for: monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Loop the line around the reel spool arbor (the center of the spool).

  2. 2

    Tie an overhand knot with the tag end around the standing line.

  3. 3

    Tie a second overhand knot in the tag end itself, about 1 inch from the first knot.

  4. 4

    Pull the standing line to slide the first knot down to the spool.

  5. 5

    The second overhand knot acts as a stop. Trim the tag end.

Pro Tip

Add a small piece of electrical tape to the spool after tying the arbor knot to prevent braid from slipping on a smooth spool.

When to Use the Arbor Knot

The Arbor Knot is best suited for monofilament and fluorocarbon and braid lines. With a breaking strength of N/A (reel attachment), it's a reliable choice for connecting your line to hooks, lures, or swivels. This is an easy knot to learn and should be one of the first knots every angler masters.

More Fishing Knots

Palomar KnotImproved Clinch KnotUni KnotDouble Uni Knot (Line to Line)Non-Slip Loop KnotBlood Knot (Line to Line)Snell KnotPerfection LoopNail Knot (Fly Line to Leader)

Ready to put your knot skills to work? Build a personalized fishing plan.

Build Your Strike Plan