How To Tie An Arbor Knot: 8 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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How to Tie an Arbor Knot Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Tying the End Knot 2 Finishing the Arbor Knot Other Sections Video Related Articles Expert Interview References Article Summary Co-authored by Jordan Frazier

Last Updated: October 31, 2025 References

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This article was co-authored by Jordan Frazier. Jordan Frazier is a Knot Tying Expert based in Middleburg, Florida. He has over 8 years of experience with knot tying–he started out with the craft as a hobby, and has expanded over time into knot tying as a vocation. He is the owner and operator of Paracord and What Knot, an online small business that is a “one stop knot shop”. He sells custom wrapped steering wheels, lanyards, keychains and a variety of other related products. He is skilled in the art of nautical fancywork and accepts custom commissions through his business. He has curated an online community of over 13K followers on Instagram with his knot tying content and how-to’s. In addition to his knot tying work, Jordan has a career as a Machinery Technician with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he has been doing for over 10 years. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 98,702 times.

An arbor knot is one of the most basic knots that you can tie and is commonly used to attach fishing reel to fishing spools. Arbor knots consist of two simple overhand knots and can provide more security than a simple overhand knot would provide.[1] While it may look confusing at first, arbor knots are actually very easy to tie as long as you take your time.

Tying an Arbor Knot Overview

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Tying the End Knot

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1. 1 Wrap the string around whatever you’re tying the knot to. Take the free end of the string and wrap it around whatever you’re tying the knot to.[2] Pull both sides of the string so that it’s tight against the object. Both ends of the string should point in the same direction and run parallel with each other.[3]
   • If you’re tying the knot to a fishing rod, you’d wrap the string around your spool.
2. 2 Form a 1 in (2.5 cm) loop at the end of the line. Hold the free end of the string or rope and cross it over the string or rope to form a loop at the very end of it.[4] [5] Advertisement
3. 3 Pull the free end of the string through the loop. Pull the free end of the string up and through the loop and continue pulling it till it forms a knot. You should now have a small knot at the end of your string or rope.[6]
   • This is what is known as an overhand knot, and is one of the most common knots out there.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Finishing the Arbor Knot

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1. 1 Loop the free end of the string over the mainline. The mainline is the portion of rope or string that’s on the other side of your spool or object. Cross the free end of the string (the end with the knot) over the mainline, then bring it under the mainline so that it forms a loop around it. Hold the loop with your fingers.[7]
   • This loop should be around 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) large.
   • The main line should be able to move through the loop you created.
2. 2 Pull the string over the free line. Take the end of the string and cross it over your free line again with the loop still intact.
3. 3 Pull the end of the string behind and through the loop. Thread the tag end of the line through the loop to make a slip knot. Pull on the free end of the string to tighten the knot. This will create a slipknot that can slide down your string or rope.[8]
4. 4 Pull on both strings to tighten the knot. Pulling on the strings will tighten the slipknot around whatever you’re tying the knot to and position both knots right next to each other.[9]
5. 5 Trim the excess free line. Use a pair of scissors or a razor blade to cut the excess string on the free line. Cut the line or rope so there is a 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) of slack at the end of the knot.[10]
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about knot tying, check out our in-depth interview with Jordan Frazier.

References

1. ↑ Jordan Frazier. Knot Tying Expert. Expert Interview
2. ↑ https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/arbor-knot
3. ↑ https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/arbor-knot
4. ↑ https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/arbor-knot
5. ↑ https://youtu.be/IcoAF_jspGo?t=26s
6. ↑ https://youtu.be/IcoAF_jspGo?t=30s
7. ↑ https://youtu.be/IcoAF_jspGo?t=43s
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/w3TUP9XL72k?t=6s
9. ↑ https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/arbor-knot-how-to-video

More References (1)

10. ↑ https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/arbor-knot-how-to-video

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About This Article

Co-authored by: Jordan Frazier Knot Tying Expert This article was co-authored by Jordan Frazier. Jordan Frazier is a Knot Tying Expert based in Middleburg, Florida. He has over 8 years of experience with knot tying–he started out with the craft as a hobby, and has expanded over time into knot tying as a vocation. He is the owner and operator of Paracord and What Knot, an online small business that is a “one stop knot shop”. He sells custom wrapped steering wheels, lanyards, keychains and a variety of other related products. He is skilled in the art of nautical fancywork and accepts custom commissions through his business. He has curated an online community of over 13K followers on Instagram with his knot tying content and how-to’s. In addition to his knot tying work, Jordan has a career as a Machinery Technician with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he has been doing for over 10 years. This article has been viewed 98,702 times. 45 votes - 78% Co-authors: 7 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 98,702 Categories: Knot Tying Article SummaryX

An arbor knot is a basic knot that’s great for attaching fishing reel to spools. To tie one, start by wrapping the string around the object you want to tie it around so you have both ends of string pointing in the same direction. Then, make a 1 inch loop near one end of the string and pull the other end through it to tie a knot. You’ll next need to loop the free end of the string over the main line, which should still be on the other side of your object. Hold the loop in place as you bring the free end of your string over the main line a second time, then thread the end through the loop. Finally, pull on both strings to tighten the knot. For tips on how to trim your string after tying the knot, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jordan Frazier Knot Tying Expert 45 votes - 78% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 7 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 98,702

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