How to tie the Orvis Tippet Knot
17 Jun 2025
0 Comments
How to tie the Orvis Tippet Knot?
Use case: leader to tippet
You know, there’s something almost meditative about tying a good knot when you’re out on the water. The Orvis tippet knot—yeah, that little guy—has saved my butt more times than I’d like to admit, especially when the fish are being picky and the tippet’s thinner than a spider’s web. It’s not the fanciest knot out there, but man, does it hold.
I remember this one evening on the Madison, wind whipping like it had a personal vendetta against my fly line. I’d just snapped off yet another fly (stupid overzealous backcast), and my hands were numb. But the Orvis knot? Didn’t even blink. Just held on, like it was laughing at the chaos.
Here’s how I do it—no guarantees it’s the "right" way, but it works for me. Take the leader and the tippet, overlap ’em by about, oh, four inches or so. You want enough to work with, but not so much you’re wrestling spaghetti. Then, make a loop with the tippet around the leader—not too tight, just enough so it feels like it’s hugging it. Now, wrap the tippet around itself and the leader, maybe three, four times? I usually lose count and just go by feel. You’ll know when it’s enough because the line starts to resist, like it’s saying, "Alright, pal, that’ll do."
Then—and this is where I messed up the first dozen times—you gotta thread the tag end back through that little initial loop you made. Sounds simple, but if your fingers are cold or you’re rushing, it’s easy to miss. I’ve tied more than a few "mystery knots" this way, ones that unravel faster than my patience when I see a trout rise just out of reach.
Once it’s through, moisten the knot (lick it if you’re not squeamish, or use the water—either way, don’t skip this, or the friction’ll murder your tippet). Then pull slow, steady. You’ll feel it cinch down, and that’s when you know you’ve got it. A little tug-test never hurts, just to be sure.
The beauty of this knot? It’s slim. Slides through guides like butter, which matters when you’re trying to sneak a dry fly into a tight spot. And strength-wise? I’ve had 5X tippet hold against a rainbow that fought like it was auditioning for a tarpon documentary.
Downside? It’s not the fastest knot in the world. If you’re the type who panics when fish are rising everywhere, maybe practice at home first. But once you get the rhythm, it’s second nature.
Funny thing—I used to hate tying knots in low light. Now? It’s almost comforting. The pull of the line, the way the knot comes together under your fingers… it’s like the river’s reminding you to slow down. And when it works, when everything holds just right? That’s the stuff that keeps you coming back.
Used to connect two lines of different diameters, commonly used to join leader and tippet. Originated by the Orvis Company, it's praised for its high strength, excellent performance under tension, and straightforward tying process.
Step 1
Put leader and tippet parallel
Put leader and tippet next to each other parallel.
Step 2
Make a loop
Keeping the lines together, make a loop.
Step 3
Wrap around the line and the loop
Still keeping the lines together, first wrap them around themselves, then wrap them around the loop that you created twice.
Step 4
Pull on both ends
Make sure you hold the lines together on both ends, and pull.
Step 5
Tighten the knot
Keep pulling until the knot is nice and snug.
Tags:
