RAPPALA KNOT Vs TURLE KNOT

[tayspringer]

I read in this months T&S (Feb 2007) that Andy Murray uses the rappala knot to tie his flies to the leader. Has anyone used this knot for their flies? how does it do in comparison to the traditional turle knot. Anyone had success with it?

Cheers

[altmor]

Tried and tested turle for me, not saying that I haven't tried the rapala knot - I just feel the confidence factor with the turle - a neat head knot keeping the fly in line to the current swing.

Would agree with the principle though that for larger lures like the rapala, a knot that promotes free movement (in a more traditionally "solid" lure), may have the edge, but for smaller (hair) flies / tubes / waddingtons, I still favour the turle.

[granters]

what would Andy Murray know, he's a tennis player. That boy's gettin too big for his boots if you ask me, all this nonsense about the pros and cons of Rapala knots...

[easky]

guys have you any pictures of these knots and how to tie them? I have seen the turle knot but wouldn't know how to start tying it Never even seen the rapala knot ;D

cheers

E

[clydebuilt]

Easky,

This is an animated site for the rapala knot

www.animatedknots.com/rapala/index.php

Clydebuilt

[wilson]

I've always used the non-slip loop myself. Very easy to tie, 100 percent breaking strength and all that. My preference is to use the loop over the turl because I think it gives the fly more action.

www.flyfisherman.com/skills/lkknots/index1.html

-Chris

[easky]

cheers guys, nice clear instructions Will give them a go this season.

E

[lomond]

I use a double turle knot most of the time. You can fish all day with this knot and the fly never twists around the nylon. I have never used the rapala knot on flies (only rapalas), however I would imagine with the loop in front of the fly and movement, the fly would twist round the nylon ?? I would be interested to know if this is the case.

Each to their own though. Use whatever knot you are happy with.

[kercock]

The Turl knot for me,Idid see the rapala knot used on flies quite a lot in Norway. I think along the same lines as lomond.

[Fruin]

If the Rapala knot has a loop in front of the fly, this will double up the nylon and make it more obvious to a fish - no?
Nothing wrong with a turle, I use a double turle. Keeps the fly in line with the leader, and you can have confidence that your fly is swimming as you think it should be.
I was once fishing for sea trout ( run into the piles pool, russell ) and had missed about three takes when an angler passed on the other bank. He asked if I had caught anything and I told him the story so far. He asked what knot I was using and I explained a half blood knot. He told me to try the turle knot - nothing to lose I thought. The next two takes that I got, I hooked up and landed the fish. Coincedence? - Maybe, but I wouldn't like to go back the way and risk losing more fish.

[jan]

I used the rapala knot last season after having used it for a few years on tarpon flies tied to 80lb leaders - the fly never got tangled on the small loop, and i caught more fish per day than i have in the past - probably just co-incidence but i intend to continue using it for flies (as against tubes/waddingtons) in the future. It does allow the fly to move very freely in the water which is particularly noticeable when using heavy leaders. I dont think the fact that the line is doubled has any relevance as the fish dont know what a leader is - if the fly moves freely then we coudl probably use 40lb leaders without it detering the fish from taking - mostly we go down in leader size as we use smaller flies to allow them to move - but using the loop that may not be neccessary - just my thoughts.

when using a loop, a straight eyed double would be an advantage - anyone know of one - i use partridge BMD but they only go up to a 10 and are very short shanked ?

[davewallbridge]

jan said:

.....does allow the fly to move very freely in the water which is particularly noticeable when using heavy leaders.

Good point jan, and that was the reason I started using a loop many years ago.
I can change down to a size 14 if necessary and yet still present a lively looking fly on a 10-15Lb leader.


Fruin,

Regarding the doubled line aspect you mention, I agree with jan when he says - "..I dont think the fact that the line is doubled has any relevance as the fish dont know what a leader is.."
But even if you disagree with that, the amount of doubled line can be so small as to be insignificant.
If you use a uni or even a tucked half blood knot in the way described in my earlier post you will only have about 1/16" - 1/8" of doubled line ahead of the hook eye.
It only requires a very small loop to allow the fly to swivel.

Dave.

[wilson]

If you ensure that the loop is small it won't wrap your fly. I have had times with a slightly large loop where that has happened. Keep it tidy and you can fish all day with it.

As far as the leader size goes if you keep to the floroucarbon it's pretty seamless. If you used 15 lb Maxima it would be obvious, like an extra head on your fly, but I almost always use a floroucarbon tippet anyway.

-Chris

[tayspringer]

Thanks guys. I will give the rapala knot a go just to see how I get on. I would have tried it today but I had to work arhhhhhhhh

[scotty]

i use a half blood knot for my seatrout fishing,not been flyfishing for salmon all that long and use the same knot, do you think this could put a salmon off taking my fly?

thanks scotty. ;D

[tynetraveller]

I've just got back from a tarpon fishing trip in Cuba where we used rapala knots with 80lb leader, and I was really impressed by how well the fly moved. I will give it a go when I fish hook flies this year for salmon. The knot is easy enough to tie and seems very strong. You can also use a perfection loop to tie the fly on by putting the fly on the leader after you have made the first loop..