By Sam Hudson.
Do you remember in the early 2000s when pork was branded “the other white meat”? I think of snelling a hook as “the other fishing knot.” Although not as common as everyday knots, the versatile snell knot can be used with different styles of hooks, different techniques and different strength leaders. Plus, it’s easy to tie.
While researching this column, I realized just how many ways there are to snell a hook, whether it’s a uni-style or traditional snell wrap. You can thread the terminal end of the leader through the eye of the hook once, twice or not at all before making your wraps, or you can complete your wraps toward or away from the hook eye.
Anglers often use an offset eye or traditional-style circle hook when snelling. No matter which method you use to snell, insight from these experts can help you get the most out of these clean connections. What do you believe is the best way to snell a hook?
Use A Snell Knot When Live-Baiting
Capt. Dean Panos, of Double D Charters in Miami, favors snelled hooks whenever he needs a connection tight to the hook, as opposed to one that’s free-swinging, such as a loop knot. For him, applications include live-baiting for yellowfin tuna or yellowtail snapper, or pitch-baiting dead ballyhoo for blue marlin.
“Fluorocarbon, in my opinion, does not tie very well,” says Panos. “Snelling provides a very good connection. Anglers must make sure they are snelling their circle hooks correctly, so at the bite, when the line pulls tight, the hook turns upward toward the fish — not downward away from the fish.”
read more at sportfishingmag.com.
