The Double Fisherman’s knot is a secure way to join two ropes together or turn a cord into a loop.
It’s perfect for making Prusiks loop or Cordelette.
Despite the name, it is seldom used by fishermen for fishing.
It’s tied by wrapping the Double Overhand Knot (strangle knot) on the other rope’s standing end.
It’s used in climbing, arboriculture and search & rescue operations.
Let’s learn this knot in detail.
How to Tie the Double Fisherman’s Knot
- Lay the ends of two ropes next to each other.
- Take the free end of one rope and loop it around the other rope twice. Then pass it back through the coils.
- Go through the same step with the other rope.
- Tighten both knots.
- Pull the standing ends to draw the knots close together.
You have tied this knot correctly if you see a parallel line on one side and the “X” pattern on the other.
Note: The tail is left short for animation purpose only. Always leave at least 6 inches of tail to account for the slippage. If you are tying a Prusik loop, you can leave about 2-3 inches of tail so it does not interfere with the hitch.
Pro TIP
If you are using high-modulus ropes like Spectra, Dyneema or Kevlar/Technora for load-bearing situations, the double fisherman’s bend might not hold the load tight.
In such cases, go for Triple Fisherman’s Knot.
It’s tied in a similar way but you just add an extra loop in the strangle knot.
If you are using a stiff rope, adding that extra turn makes all the difference.
Also, this knot works best when used with ropes of similar diameters. If you use smaller diameter ropes, the smaller rope might slip through the Strangle Knot.
Try the Zeppelin Bend
One of the downsides of the Double Fisherman’s Bend is that once it’s loaded, it’s hard to untie it.
This can be an advantage if you are building a Prusiks loop which is intended to be permanent.
So, if you want to avoid the risk of jamming, try the Zeppelin Bend.
It’s a great alternative to the Double Fisherman’s bend because it’s strong, secure, reliable—and can be untied after being heavily loaded.
But, it’s easy to get it wrong because it looks similar to the other bends, so it requires some time and practice.
Applications and Uses
The Double Fisherman’s Knot is commonly used for joining two ropes together or forming a closed loop.
Climbers and mountaineers use this knot to form a fixed loop like the Prussik loop which is used to connect the rope to the carabiner.
You’ll also find the Double Fisherman’s Knot in Arboriculture and Search & Rescue situations where it holds strong even after being loaded heavily.
It’s also used for creating the “grab handles” on kayaks or canoes.
If you are into DIY, you can use this bend for making adjustable lanyards, bracelets or even necklaces.
Related: Sheet Bend
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Secure and reliable
- Easy to tie and inspect
- Can support heavy loads
Cons
- Hard to untie when loaded
Other Knots Similar to Double Fisherman’s Knot
Fisherman’s Knot
The Fisherman’s Knot is tied in a similar way to the double Fisherman’s knot.
But, instead of four overhand knots, it consists of two overhand knots each tied around the standing end of the other rope.
It is also used for connecting two ropes together and is mostly used in fishing.
Figure 8 Bend
The Figure 8 bend is a “rewoven” Figure 8 knot that forms a bulky bend knot for joining two ropes together.
It works with ropes of equal diameter and should be avoided in ropes that differ much in diameter.
It’s relatively weaker than the Double Fisherman’s Bend.
The advantage of this knot is that it is easy to tie and inspect.
And, it does not jam badly when heavily loaded.
Flat Overhand Knot (European Death Knot)
The Flat Overhand Knot joins the two climbing ropes together with a simple Overhand Knot.
It’s less strong than the Double Fisherman’s knot, but it has a good track record although it might not work as expected with wet ropes.
Did you find the article helpful? If you have any questions, write them in the comments.
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