How to Tie a Snell Knot

intermediate

Attaching a hook so the pull comes straight off the shank, common with bait hooks

Use the snell when you're fishing bait on a hook with the eye turned up or down, especially for bait rigs like fish-finder or wire leader setups, since the snell puts pull force directly in line with the shank and improves hookset over a knot tied at the eye alone.

Steps

1. 1.Pass the line through the hook eye and lay several inches alongside the shank.
2. 2.Wrap the tag end around both the shank and the standing line 5-7 times, working down toward the bend.
3. 3.Hold the wraps in place and pass the tag end back through the eye from the same side it entered.
4. 4.Wet the knot and pull the standing line to draw the wraps tight down the shank, then trim the tag.

Common Mistakes

• •Wrapping toward the eye instead of down toward the bend, the wraps must work down the shank away from the eye or the knot won't cinch correctly
• •Not holding firm tension on the wraps while threading the tag end back through the eye, loose wraps slip out of position before you finish the tie
• •Using too few wraps for the hook size, 5 wraps for larger bait hooks, up to 7 for smaller ones, too few and the knot can spin or slide on the shank under load
• •Pulling only the tag end instead of the standing line to finish cinching, the standing line is what actually draws the wraps down snug against the shank