The Arbor Knot is the go-to knot for attaching a fishing line to the spool of a reel.
It does not matter if you’re using a baitcaster, spinning reel, conventional reel, or a fly reel; it works on all of them.
Outside fishing, it’s popular as the Canadian Jam Knot. In bushcraft, people use it to tie down a bedroll or sleeping bag.
Let’s learn it in detail.
Arbor Knot Details
Type: Fishing Knots
Other Names: Canadian Jam Knot, Reel Knot
ABoK Reference: #1114
How to Tie the Arbor Knot
The Arbor Knot is composed of two Overhand Knots that are jammed against each other.
The Overhand Knot (the stopper knot) at the working end tightens around the knot tied at the running end and prevents the working end from slipping.
- Pass the fishing line around the arbor.
- Tie an overhand knot around the line.
- Tighten the knot.
- Tie another Overhand Knot in the free end.
- Pull on the standing line to slide the Overhand Knot towards the spool.
To untie, just pull the loose end. It will loosen the first Overhand Knot and make it easy to untie.
If your reel is polished or slick, tie the line 2-3 times around the arbor before making the first knot. Be mindful of the direction of the turn. Make sure the turns tighten as you rotate the reels, like you are tying a Tensionless Hitch.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to tie, even for beginners.
- Does not slip while spooling the line.
- Works with both monofilament and fluorocarbon lines on any fishing reels and rods.
- Comparatively compact and won’t create bulk on the spool.
- Does not work well with braided lines unless you have a non-slip spool.
- Not made for line-to-line connections.
Application and Uses
- Attach the fishing line to the reel spool.
- In bushcraft, this is known as the Bushcraft Zip Tie, which is used to tie off items like bundles, bedrolls, or sleeping bags.
Does the Arbor Knot Work with the Braided Line?
Not really.
The Arbor Knot is not recommended for attaching the braided line to a smooth spool.
Braid is too slick and can slip even with a well-tied knot.
So, what’s the solution?
Tie a short piece of monofilament line as a backing.
Tie it to the spool using the Arbor Knot, then use a knot like the Double Uni Knot, FG Knot, or Albright Knot to join the braid to the mono backing line.
Other Alternatives for Connecting the Line to the Spool
100% Arbor Knot
The 100% Arbor Knot, as the name suggests, has 100% of the rated breaking strength of the backing line.
That said, the Arbor Knot is usually sufficient for almost all fishing setups.
Uni Knot
Some anglers prefer using the Uni Knot for connecting the line to the spool.
If you do, only use one to two wraps instead of the usual 5-6 wraps. Still, the Arbor Knot is the most secure knot for this application.
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