Page 95 - Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton "The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots"

Surgeon’s loop

This strong knot (also called a spider loop) hails from the days when anglers still used horsehair

lines and believed the advice of the Greek biographer Plutarch that the best ones were made
from the tails of thoroughbred white stallions. With an extra tuck or two it can still be effective
in nylon monofilaments to make a long loop in fishing lines prior to the assembly of a tackle rig.

Make a long bight in the end of the line and tie an overhand knot (see page 292) (1). Tuck at least

once more (2), then pull the loop away from the remainder of the line to tighten (3). In thinner,
slicker lines, add more tucks. Snip the end off short.