Yes—mostly ✅. The Kreh loop and Surgeon’s loop are generally interchangeable when you want a non-slip loop for lures, streamers, wet flies, or some bait rigs. Both give the lure more freedom to swing and breathe in the water, which is exactly why loop knots are so popular.
That said, they’re not perfectly identical. The Kreh loop is often favored by fly anglers because it’s clean, strong, and very dependable on lighter leaders. The Surgeon’s loop is usually praised for being faster and easier to tie, especially when your fingers are cold, wet, or your patience has left the building 😄. In practical use, if the knot is tied well and sized appropriately, both are solid choices.
For a quick visual reference, these loop-knot videos line up well with the discussion: Lefty Kreh Loop Knot, Surgeon’s Loop Knot, and Non-Slip Loop Knot.
Other loop knots worth knowing
- Perfection Loop — tidy, compact, and popular for fly leaders and some terminal connections: Perfection Loop
- Duncan Loop — a strong, versatile loop for flies and light tackle: Duncan Loop
- Figure-8 loop — a good option when you want a simple, secure loop structure: Figure 8 Loop
- Non-slip loop variants — great for lures that need extra action: Non-Slip Loop
My “winner” picks by category
- Strongest: Kreh loop / Non-slip loop tie, with a slight edge to the Kreh-style non-slip loop when tied well on leader material.
- Easiest to tie: Surgeon’s loop. Fewer steps, less fiddly, and very beginner-friendly.
- Simplest overall: Perfection Loop for neatness, but if you mean fastest and least brain-taxing, the Surgeon’s loop wins.
Practical rule of thumb
- Use Kreh / non-slip loop for max lure action and a very reliable presentation.
- Use Surgeon’s loop when you want speed and convenience.
- Use Perfection Loop when you want a clean, compact loop on fly rigs.
For mid spring fishing, loop knots are especially handy with streamers, small crankbaits, jerkbaits, and soft plastics when fish want a little more movement. If you’re tying lures on often, I’d learn two knots: Surgeon’s loop for speed and Kreh loop for your default “serious fishing” knot.
If you want, I can also give you a ranked cheat sheet of the top 10 fishing knots by strength, speed, and best use. Tight lines 🎣
