Question For Snell Knot Users

[james 14]

I've seen it recommended several times to use a snell knot, especially when flipping, but I have some concerns. Not sure why I'd want to change since the palomar hasn't failed me but I suppose I'm just curious.

First off, most hooks I've seen are not welded where the eye loops back into the main shank of the hook. Wouldn't this rough edge cause excess wear on the line where the knot pulls up into the eye of the hook?

Second, how does it work with braided lines? Palomar is the only one I've found that doesn't slip...at least for me. I suppose you could double the line over to help with this problem? With that idea you could even flip the resulting loop on the tag end around the bend of the hook so it can't pull through the knot...assuming you could tighten it down correctly to get the loop tight around the hook shank (if that makes any sense the way I explained it).

[webertime]

I have used the snell on a bunch of hooks that aren't welded and haven't has anymore issues than using welded hooks.

I've never had one slip and you can leave the tag pretty long since it'll probably be buried in the plastic anyway. No need to double anything over.

One note about this set up... Using braid with a non-"Flipping" hook has caused me to open up more than a couple hooks on hooksets. The knot didn't slip, the hook eye didn't shred the line or open; the hook just bends out and to one side. I had to learn to not go nuclear on my hooksets and by the end of the season I was not doing it at all.

[james 14]

One note about this set up... Using braid with a non-"Flipping" hook has caused me to open up more than a couple hooks on hooksets. The knot didn't slip, the hook eye didn't shred the line or open; the hook just bends out and to one side. I had to learn to not go nuclear on my hooksets and by the end of the season I was not doing it at all.

I learned this lesson very shortly after using braid for the first time several years ago. I now only use Gamakatsu or Owner with a stronger preference towards Owner since they're stronger. Even still I had a stretch where I couldn't get any fish in the boat. I thought I wasn't setting the hook hard enough and kept ramping it up to where I eventually started flying fish over the boat. At that point I realized something else must be the problem and figured out the hook was bent out just enough to hinder the hookset. That was still with a Gamakatsu. I've also had the knot slip off the eye on some Gammy hooks with braid. Thus my preference for Owner.

I may switch to some type of flipping hook in the future if for no other reason than to avoid having to skin the tip of the hook on the opposite side of the bait as you have to do with a standard wide gap. This is what got me to thinking about using the snell knot since it seems to be so highly recommended with straight shank hooks.

[A-Rob]

Snell works great for me with braid.

If you find any slipping when you test your knot add another wrap or 2. But I've had no problem with braid slipping. It is a strong knot I had no failures last year.

I haven't had a problem with the braid popping thru a non-welded eye but I add a drop of krazy glue/epoxy to seal it in the pre-season on all my flipping hooks that have a non-welded eye.

I've had 0 problems and lots of stuck fish!

Give it a try and do whatever you have the most confidence and and the best results!

[tstone]

I use a snell knot for flipping with 65lb braid. I have had no issues with slipping. I use Trokar flippin hooks which have a welded eye.

[msolorio]

snell knot is all ill use for flippin n pitchin. never slipped on me or given me any other issues. if the knot is gonna fail, itll fail when you go to tighten it down, if that happens like stated above, add a couple more wraps around the shank. i usually do 6 or 7 wraps and found that to be sufficient enough. the snell is great in the fact that its simple, fast, and positions the hook at a 90 degree angle when setting the hook, therefore most hooksets are in the roof of the mouth.

[Darren.]

I snell 99% of my hooks (welded or not), the exception being weedless hooks where there's already wrap around the shank.

Ditto to the add-more-wraps comment for braid. Depending on the braid diameter, you can wrap 10-15 times or more around a hook. If you're deft of hand, you can also tie an overhand knot in the tag end which will have trouble pulling thru if it slips.

Or use the tried-n-true dab o' superglue.