How to tie the Snell Knot knot
A knot that ties line directly to the shank of a hook rather than the eye, aligning the pull for a powerful, straight hook set. It is a staple for bait rigs.
Best for
Bait fishing with octopus or circle hooks where a strong, straight-line pull improves hookups, common in bottom and surf bait presentations.
Strength
Very strong, near 90 to 100 percent of line strength with a strong hook-setting angle
Difficulty
moderate
Tying the Snell Knot, step by step
- 1Pass the tag end through the hook eye and lay it along the shank, leaving a loop hanging below.
- 2Hold the line against the shank and take the loop, wrapping it around the shank and both lines five to eight times.
- 3Work from the eye toward the bend, keeping the wraps snug and neat.
- 4Hold the wraps in place and pull the standing line to begin tightening.
- 5Wet the knot and pull the standing line until the wraps seat firmly against the shank.
- 6Trim the tag end close to the eye.
Tips
- • Keep the wraps tight against each other so they do not overlap and cause weak spots.
- • Snelling works best on hooks with a turned-up or turned-down eye that anchors the line.
Strengths
- + Aligns the pull for strong hook sets
- + Very strong connection to the hook
Watch out for
- - Works best only on eyed hooks with the right eye shape
- - Slower to tie than an eye knot