Rapala Knot - Good Loop Knot For All Line Types
As any pro can tell you, there’s a big difference between a snug knot and a loop knot when you’re connecting your main line directly to a lure.
Snug knots are just that--snug--and they deaden the action of crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater lures, and the like. By contrast, loop knots are secure while leaving room for the lure to move, allowing it to make the most of its action and vibration.
For anglers who need the strongest possible loop connection, there’s nothing better than the Rapala knot. And fly anglers love the Rapala for floating flies.
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Related: Best Fishing Knots
I like the Rapala knot a lot, and most other anglers do, too. Especially if I’m running a big crankbait that’ll draw the attention of a monster, I want the strongest connection I can get, and nothing beats the Rapala.
The downside to this otherwise excellent knot is that the trimmed tag end sticks up, creating a bit of a tail that can catch slime and vegetation.
And there’s one more big problem with the Rapala knot: it can only be used with monofilament!
Monofilament is extruded from a single strand of nylon. And while it might feel slick and hard in your hand, it actually bites itself pretty well, creating plenty of knot-holding friction.
By contrast, braided lines are woven from Dyneema or Spectra fibers, and these materials are slick. Essentially toothless, they’ve got very little bite, and many knots that’ll hold like gum in your hair in mono will simply slip through in braid.
Fluorocarbon has a similar problem with a different cause. It’s a very hard material, and without easy deformation, it can’t bite well against itself.
The Rapala knot looks a lot like the Kreh, and it’s stronger than the Kreh in mono, but it will not hold in fluorocarbon or braid.
Don’t try it!
The Rapala knot is the strongest loop knot you can tie, but if you make one of these common mistakes, it’ll fail just when you need it.