Any recommendations for preferred knot for fishing the Spook? Palomar, Rapala Loop or other suggestions? Never fished one, going to give it a go this year.

I fish a spook jr. more than anything! I had always used a palomar and tied tight to the line eye. I read this was better in a In-Fisherman article on topwaters. Recently Ive been using the Rapala loop knot and I get more of a swaying action from it. You can nearly keep it in one spot this way.

i tie a palomar on my spook jr.

I install a split ring and use an improved clinch knot

  T

I mostly use a clip that I tied to my line using a Palomar knot.

Loop knot gives best action IMHO.

put a split ring on it and then tie any strong knot you want. Rapala type loop knots are only 75% break strength knots.

Uni-knot tied with superline directly to the line tie.

put a split ring on it and then tie any strong knot you want. Rapala type loop knots are only 75% break strength knots.

If its a dear to your heart lure I would agree. I normally just tie the loop knot on mine because my top waters are $5.00 lures and if I lose one its not a big deal. I can say I have never had my line break at the knot though, and never from a fish. Every line break was from a snag, and I simply troll over and pry my lure off of the snag since its a top water. Has anyone has the knot break from a fish?

The problem with a loop-type knot is not the knot, it is wear on the line at the lure eye.

I agree with Wayne on this its the wear at the lure eye that you have to check.  The loop knot I tie has never broke and I have caught countless snook, jacks, bass, peacocks and the occasional tarpon.  I usually use 20-30lb leader for tossing topwaters b/c the loop knot doesn't seem to work as well with light lines.  Just my $0.02

Ive never had a loop knot break but re-tying is supposed to be done often anyway. This includes saltwater fly fishing where almost all my flies are tied with a loop knot.  Lots of hard hitting fish a long runs.

A Palomar knot tied directly to a Duo-Lock snap does it for me.

Duo-lock I use quite a bit.

I expiremented with the Rapala loop knot for a bit but quick snap works the best for me.

Sixteen-Twenty Knot (also know as a Pitzen

or Duncan Knot)

http://www.orlandooutfitters.com/knots/knot.asp?id=12

8-)

#3 Duo Lock snap.  Use a Palomar knot to tie on the snap.

Ive never had a loop knot break but re-tying is supposed to be done often anyway.

Same here.

As for knots on a spook...  if I want a wider walk or am working it slow I use a loop knot and for a tight or fast walk I use a palomar