Rapala Knot
Also called a Brubaker Loop knot, this knot is a good one to tie to a plug that needs to move freely on the line. It leaves a loop at the end of the line so the eye of the plug is not held tightly and the knot doesn't dampen the lure movement. It's easy to tie and is a combination of the Overhand knot and the Improved Clinch knot. The loop can be left any size that you need it to be.
When to Use the Rapala Knot
Use the Rapala knot when tying on plugs like the floating Rapala that needs to move freely at the end of the line. This knot eliminates the need for a snap or split ring, so it's good to use when the lure is light and the weight of the snap or split ring might interfere with the action of the plug. Using a loop knot like the Rapala, rather than a snap or ring, also removes one place that a piece of equipment might fail while fighting a fish.
Tying an Overhand knot in your line usually will weaken it by as much as 50 percent, but the Rapala knot uses the loops of line running through the Overhand knot to cushion it. Otherwise, never tie an Overhand knot in your line, and always cut back to any that form while casting.
How to Tie the Rapala Knot
To tie a Rapala knot:
Start by tying a loose Overhand knot about six inches up from the end of the line.
After putting the tag end of the line through the eye of the lure or hook, put it through the loop formed by the Overhand knot.
Twist the tag end of the line three to five times around the standing line above the Overhand knot, making a clinch knot; then bring the tag end back through the Overhand knot again.
Return the tag end through the loop formed by the last step. At this point the tag end should be running the same direction as the standing line.
Start pulling the tag end and standing line at the same time to tighten the Overhand knot and the clinch knot together.
When the Overhand knot is tight, pull on the tag end to tighten the clinch knot.
Make sure the loops are even and don't cross each other.
FIGURE 8-7
Tying a Rapala knot.
FIGURE 8-8
A finished Rapala knot.
When tying a Rapala knot, you can make the loop any size you want by increasing or decreasing the distance between the eye of the plug and the Overhand knot. The loop will be the same length as the distance from the hook eye to the Overhand knot.
