Loop knots have gotten complicated with all the variations and opinions flying around. As someone who has lost fish to failed knots more times than I want to admit, I learned everything there is to know about which loop knots actually hold under pressure. Today, I will share it all with you.
The basic idea is simple: a loop knot gives your lure freedom to swing and wobble naturally instead of being cinched tight to your line. That movement makes a huge difference in strike rates, especially with hard baits.
The Rapala Knot: Start Here
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Named after the lure company that popularized it, this is the loop knot most anglers should learn first. Not the absolute strongest, but reliable and fast once you have done it a few times.
Start by tying a loose overhand knot about four inches from the end of your line. Thread the tag end through your lure’s eye, then back through that overhand knot — entering from the same side you exited. Wrap the tag end around the standing line three times (two for heavier line, four for light stuff). Pass the tag back through the overhand knot, then through the loop you just created. Wet it, pull it tight, trim it.
Takes about 30 seconds once you have practiced. The loop stays open and consistent.
Non-Slip Mono Loop for Bigger Targets
When you are throwing bigger lures for bigger fish, step up to the non-slip mono loop. Same concept as the Rapala but with more wraps for additional strength.
The number of wraps depends on your line weight. Thirty-pound mono gets two wraps. Twenty-pound gets three. Ten-pound and under needs four or five wraps. More wraps equal more security on lighter line where each wrap has less material to grip.
This knot holds well in fluorocarbon too, though fluoro’s stiffness makes loop knots slightly trickier to dress properly. Take your time cinching it down. That’s what makes loop knot selection endearing to us detail-obsessed anglers — the right knot for the right line type makes all the difference.
Perfection Loop for Fly Fishing
Fly anglers use the perfection loop constantly for loop-to-loop connections between leader and fly line. The knot sits inline with the leader rather than off to the side, which matters when you are trying to turn over a delicate presentation.
Make a loop by crossing the line over itself. Hold the crossing point and make a second loop in front of the first. Pass the tag end between the two loops. Take that front loop and pull it through the back loop. The tag end gets trapped. Tighten by pulling on the standing line and the loop.
Sounds complicated in text. Watch someone do it once and it clicks immediately.
When Loop Knots Do Not Matter
Not every application needs a loop. Crankbaits with a split ring already have freedom of movement — a standard Palomar works fine there. Soft plastics on jigheads do not benefit from loops either. Anything with a snap swivel (which I generally avoid, but some anglers like them) ties to the swivel, not the lure.
Loop knots shine with hard baits tied directly — jerkbaits, topwater plugs, lipless cranks. Anything where the lure’s action depends on it hanging freely from your line.
Test Before You Fish
Whatever loop knot you choose, tie a few at home and pull on them. Hard. Really hard. Better to find a weak spot at your workbench than when a fish is running away with your favorite lure. If the loop slips or the line breaks below the knot’s rated strength, something is wrong with your technique. Back to practice.
