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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. While it may look confusing at first, arbor knots are actually very easy to tie as long as you take your time.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Tying the End Knot

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  1. Take the free end of the string and wrap it around whatever you’re tying the knot to. [1] 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. [2]
    • If you’re tying the knot to a fishing rod, you’d wrap the string around your spool.
  2. 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. [3] [4]
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  3. 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. [5]
    • 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. 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. [6]
    • 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. Take the end of the string and cross it over your free line again with the loop still intact.
  3. 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. [7]
  4. 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. [8]
  5. 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. [9]
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      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!

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