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Diagram

Rapala Knot

Rapala loop knot

Loop knot popular for hardbaits so the lure can swing freely.

Terminal · Intermediate · Monofilament / Fluorocarbon · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Rapala Knot, finishedRapala Knot, finished

Finished structure

Drawn from a rope model of this knot: which strand passes over which comes from where the rope actually lies.

  1. Tie a loose overhand, leaving a long tag, then pass the tag through the eyeA loose overhand knot is tied in the line well up from the end, and the tag end passes through the lure's eye.
    1Loose overhand
    2Tag through the eye
    Move 1 of 1Tie a loose overhand, leaving a long tag, then pass the tag through the eyeYou should now see: An open overhand in the line, the lure on the tag below it, and a long tag past the eye.

    Step 01

    Tie a loose overhand knot in the line, leaving a long tag below it, then pass the tag end through the eye of the lure.

    You should now see

    An open overhand in the line with the lure hanging on the tag below it, and enough tag past the eye to wrap and tuck twice.

    If it goes wrong

    Letting the overhand pull snug while you handle the lure. A closed overhand will not take the tag back through at the next step.

    Fix: Work the overhand open with a fingertip until the tag passes through it easily.

    Why: The overhand becomes the collar of the finished knot. The tag goes through it twice, so it has to stay loose until the final pull.

  2. Bring the tag back through the overhand, so the lure hangs in a loopThe tag comes back from the eye and passes through the overhand beside the line leading to the eye, leaving the lure in a loop.
    1Back through the overhand
    2Loop to the lure
    Move 1 of 1Bring the tag back through the overhand, so the lure hangs in a loopYou should now see: The lure hanging in a loop below the overhand, with the tag coming out of the overhand beside the standing line.

    Step 02

    Bring the tag end back through the overhand knot, so the lure hangs in a loop of line below it.

    You should now see

    The lure hanging in a loop below the overhand, with the tag coming out of the overhand beside the standing line.

    If it goes wrong

    Passing the tag beside the overhand instead of through it. Nothing then holds the loop, and it slides shut on the eye.

    Fix: Trace the tag from the eye. If it misses the overhand, pull it back and thread it through the loop of the overhand before wrapping.

    Why: The loop size is not fixed yet. Animated Knots stresses leaving the loop long enough that the lure is not gripped, since free movement is the reason to tie this knot.

  3. Wrap the tag 3 times round the standing line, working away from the overhandThree open turns of tag spiral along the standing line, moving away from the overhand.
    13 turns round the standing line
    Move 1 of 1Wrap the tag 3 times round the standing line, working away from the overhandYou should now see: Three even turns side by side on the standing line above the overhand, the tag free at the end of the last turn.

    Step 03

    Wrap the tag end 3 times around the standing line, working away from the overhand.

    You should now see

    Three even turns side by side on the standing line just above the overhand, with the tag free at the end of the last turn.

    If it goes wrong

    Turns crossing or bunching, seen as a lump instead of three neat turns, or extra turns added that leave the tag too short for the tucks.

    Fix: Unwind back to the overhand and make the 3 turns again, laying each beside the last with light tension on the tag.

    Why: Animated Knots and NetKnots both use 3 turns. The locking comes from the two tucks in the next step, not from the number of turns.

  4. Pass the tag back through the overhand, from the side it came out ofThe tag comes back under the turns and passes through the overhand again, from the side it last came out of, toward the lure.
    1Back through the overhand
    Move 1 of 3Pass the tag back through the overhand, from the side it came out of
    Then pass the tag through the loop that pass just madeThe tag passes just under the foot of the overhand, then up behind its own return run and out through the loop that run closes below the turns.
    1Through the new loop
    Move 2 of 3Then pass the tag through the loop that pass just made
    Wet it, pull the standing line holding the tag, pull both tight, then trimTightened, the overhand, the three turns and both tucks close into a compact knot beside a longer open loop to the lure, the tag trimmed short inside the last loop.
    Move 3 of 3Wet it, pull the standing line holding the tag, pull both tight, then trimYou should now see: A compact knot above an open loop that lets the lure swing, and a short tag that stays put.

    Step 04

    Pass the tag back through the overhand, then through the loop that pass just made. Wet the knot, pull the standing line while holding the tag, then pull both to tighten. Trim the tag.

    You should now see

    A compact knot sitting above an open loop that lets the lure swing freely, and a short tag that stays put when you tug the standing line.

    If it goes wrong

    Skipping the last tuck through the new loop, or pulling the standing line without holding the tag. The loop pulls down toward the eye or the knot slips.

    Fix: If the loop has shrunk onto the eye or the knot slides, cut it off and tie it again. Set the loop size before any pull, while the turns are loose.

    Why: Holding the tag while the standing line is pulled closes the knot without drawing the tag back through. The last tuck through the new loop is what separates the Rapala from the Non-Slip Mono Loop.

HTH · Reference layout

Rapala Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout

Rapala Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

HTH · Advanced failure modes

Rapala Knot — what fails and what to do

Rapala Knot — what fails and what to do
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Fixed-loop family

A loop that stays the size you made, with a return that cannot cinch.

  • !Loop cinched around the hardware — action is dead
  • !Return path reversed, so it becomes a slip loop
  • !Fluoro in a lock that only behaves on mono
Fails when
  • !Last tuck through the new loop left out
  • !Standing line pulled without holding the tag, drawing the loop down onto the eye
  • !Tag passed beside the overhand, so the loop slides shut on the eye
Geometry

  • Wrong return path collapsed the loop

    Hardbait sits dead against the eye

    The return must leave an open non-slip collar · step 04

  • Under-wrapped light line on the standing part

    The lure loop walks and the action dies

    Rapala holds loop size with wraps on the standing, not the hardware · step 03

  • Tag never went back through the overhand

    A slip loop, not a Rapala

    Missing the overhand is a different knot · step 02

If you saw this

  • Loop walks or collapses

    Check

    • ?Inspect overhand closure

    Then

    • →Retie; consider non-slip mono loop as alternate

  • Loop size shrinks under the first real load.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Loop size shrinks under the first real load.

    Then

    • →Hold loop size while seating; verify return path.

  • Wraps bunch instead of lying ordered.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Wraps bunch instead of lying ordered.

    Then

    • →Retie keeping wraps side-by-side.

  • Loop fails or creeps on fluoro/slick mono.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Loop fails or creeps on fluoro/slick mono.

    Then

    • →Use a verified loop for that material.

  • Tag works free after repeated casts.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Tag works free after repeated casts.

    Then

    • →Leave a safer tag and recheck mid-session.

  • Finished check failed — loop closes under load

    Check

    • ?fixed loop size is preserved after seating
    • ?wraps around the standing line stay ordered
    • ?final tuck locks without collapsing the loop

    Then

    • →Retie. lost lure action or knot collapse.

  • Wrong return path collapsed the loop

    Check

    • ?Hardbait sits dead against the eye
    • ?Inspect step 04

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Under-wrapped light line on the standing part

    Check

    • ?The lure loop walks and the action dies
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Tag never went back through the overhand

    Check

    • ?A slip loop, not a Rapala
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Same family

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

This failed — start Diagnose

Why this knot

What it earns its place with, what it costs, and what to reach for instead.

Best for
Hook to lineLoop connections
Not ideal for
  • Fine tippet fly work where a smaller loop knot is preferred
  • Braid-only terminals without a mono or fluoro working section
Common mistakes
  • Letting the overhand close before the tag goes back through it
  • Passing the tag beside the overhand instead of through it
  • Leaving out the last tuck through the new loop
  • Pulling the standing line without holding the tag
Alternatives
  • Non-Slip Mono LoopIntermediate

    Fixed-size non-slip loop for free-swinging lures and flies

  • Homer Rhode Loop KnotIntermediate

    Heavy-leader free-swing loop for lures when you want action without a tiny tippet loop knot

  • King SlingIntermediate

    Tying a lure, hook or fly to braid or mono with an open loop, so the bait can move more naturally

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