Straight Shanks And Snell Knots

[Teal]

Like alot of guys i have always fished my plastics on offset worm hooks and EWGs with an improved clinch knot or a Braid knot when tying directly to braid. I have used straight shank flipping hooks but only with bigger, thicker creature baits.

With all that back ground said, i have been reading more and more about pros, local guides, and weekend worriors like myself using straigh shank hooks on almost all of their softplastics (except for swimbaits and such) they say that the hook up ratio is better.

Ive also read that alot of people are recommending the snell knot for better hook ups.

My questions are , what are yalls thoughts? Are snell knots the real deal? Are they just good for straight shank hooks? Are any of you using just snells?

I have actually sat down and learned the knot and have been practicing it.

[mnbassman23]

It is for sure the real deal. I have used a modified snell knot on my straight shank hooks the past 3-4 years and my hook up percentages have increased greatly. I'd say by 40-50%.. I will stick a fish 9 times out of 10 in the roof of the mouth using a modified snell (the other 10% i may get them in the corner or bottom jaw) . My point is I rarely miss or lose a fish anymore.

 

 I have yet to have the knot slip with braid and i'm only doing 3 or 4 twists down the top shank of the hook. I will fish the rig all day and sometimes a couple days and not retie if my line isn't fraying. Just make sure when you tie the knot and it's cinched down to pull AS HARD AS YOU CAN  on the main line and the inside bend of the hook, in opposite directions. Leave a little extra tag end and you are set to go.  

[Teal]

Are you using the straight shank for most your worms and such or just flipping baits. Whats the method to the madness when choosing which baits get the straight hook?

[dave]

Add a touch of superglue.  Snells work on the precept of the more the fish pulls,  the tighter it gets.  Braid can tend to slip,  whereas mono stretches and squeezes tighter on itself.

[mnbassman23]

As long as i'm fishing a plastic with a weight and on the bottom 75% of the time i'm using the snell knot with a straight shank hook. If i'm not in heavy cover, say i'm on a deep weed line fishing a worm, I will use a lighter wire straight shank hook. I still do use offset worm hooks from time to time on my non flipping baits, due to the fact that you won't go through as many baits in a day (straight shanks really eat up your baits in a hurry). If i'm out fishing for fun and really don't care if I miss a couple fish, or don't want to go through a ton of baits, I will use a offset worm hook. Not saying I don't ever miss fish with a straight shank, but for me it is considerably less. Come tournament day you can bet my plastics will be riding a straight shank hook with a snell knot. 

 

 I started using the snell knot with copolymer line last year with good results as well. In my experience most times you will need to retie due to line nicks or fraying before having to worry about the knot slipping. Again, I also leave the tag end a little longer than normal when using a snell knot. 

[BobP]

When you set a snelled hook, it will cam upward and that helps to hook the fish.  That's IF you tied it properly and inserted the line through the front of the hook (the side with the point) when you began the knot.

[Darren.]

Def the real deal. I snell every worm hook every time. If there's no shank, I'll palomar it. I've snelled my wacky hooks down to size 4.

 

So EWGs, straight shanks, short shanks, I snell 'em. If I'm tying direct braid, I'll do several more wraps around the shank.

[retiredbosn]

Anyone have a link to a video on how to tie?

[EvanT123]

I use the snell knot for all my single hooks and definetly noticed an increase in hook ups but that also could be to me tying crappy knots before learning the snell. Also I tie a single overhand knot when done Snelling the hook.

[mnbassman23]

This is the modified snell that I personally use.. Skip to 1:20 to by pass him pushing his products if you wish. 

 

[retiredbosn]

Thanks

[Megastink]

I'm starting to use snell knots on my offsets too. Not sure that it makes a difference, but I use strait shanks a lot more and yes, I snell them.

I also snell a 3/0 Gammy finesse wide gap hook for my senkos. I just might start Snelling my drop shot hooks...... Idk, this knot is crazy awesome!!!

[Loop_Dad]

This is the modified snell that I personally use.. Skip to 1:20 to by pass him pushing his products if you wish. 

 

 

I thought that was just regular snell. What part is modified?

[Loop_Dad]

 Anyone use snell with flouro? Any failing?

[mnbassman23]

There are a lot of different ways to tie a snell knot. If you ask 5 different people you may get 5 different answers.  If you google or youtube how to tie a snell knot you'll see what I mean, you can find many different ways to tie a snell. I found this one to be the easiest and it works so I stick with it. 

[Teal]

Ive been practicing the knot (actully the same waay that Tosh showed, only i use 6 wraps) with a piece of flouro and i have yanked on it pretty hard and it holds good.

I figured that more wraps wont hurt. 3 wraps may work, but i felt better about 6.

[Felix77]

This is the modified snell that I personally use.. Skip to 1:20 to by pass him pushing his products if you wish. 

 

 

Great video ... the easiest snell I have seen thus far.  One question.  It looked like the wraps happened above the keeper but the knot ended up below the keeper.  Did I see that wrong?

 

I thought you were supposed to move the knot above the keeper and then tighten.

[mnbassman23]

Great video ... the easiest snell I have seen thus far.  One question.  It looked like the wraps happened above the keeper but the knot ended up below the keeper.  Did I see that wrong?

 

I thought you were supposed to move the knot above the keeper and then tighten.

You're right it is suppose to be above the keeper. I'm pretty sure he has it above the keeper, it's kinda hard to see in the video though.  

[retiredbosn]

Do you use asnell with a Texas rig? Seems that the weight and rod action would make the plastic dance, maybe to much??

[Felix77]

The only time I know I would avoid this knot is with weightless presentations.

 

Otherwise I honestly don't see why not.  It's one of those try it and see for yourself moments in

fishing.  It may give you the action you need on certain days.

 

I know I am going to tinker with it.

[Darren.]

The only time I know I would avoid this knot is with weightless presentations.

 

Curious. Why would you avoid it on weightless? I use it all the time. Are you not referring to weightless TX rigs, wacky, etc.?

[J Francho]

Anytime I am using a straight shank hook, I snell it. Period. No matter the bait, line, or size hook. It's fast and easy to tie, and VERY secure.

[Loop_Dad]

The only time I know I would avoid this knot is with weightless presentations.

 

Otherwise I honestly don't see why not.  It's one of those try it and see for yourself moments in

fishing.  It may give you the action you need on certain days.

 

I know I am going to tinker with it.

 

Agree, something you need to try and see for yourself. For me I prefer bait to more straight majority of the time. Depending on the weight and bait, it moves unnaturally.

[jhoffman]

I snelled a drop shot hook the other day, it seemed like its perfect for that also.