Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Snell Vs Tied to Hook Eye

Guys,

Do you spend the extra time to tie a snell knot (around shaft of the hook) when building leaders or do you simply tie it to the eye on the hook?

I can tie 5-6 to the eye in the time it takes to tie one snell.

Thanks

Tom

I prefer to snell my pre-tied leaders. I don't think I have ever had a good snell knot fail. If something breaks off, the leader is usually broken off clean and not at the snell.

Also, I think the snell knot keeps the main line aligned with the hook, which might result in better hook sets. If you have a snelled hook handy, you can see what I mean. When the line is pulled in one direction, the hook follows the same path.

With a knot, it seems like I never know where the knot will be in place on the hook eye because it is somewhat free to slide around. I think there are times that if the knot/hook eye isn't aligned with the main line, it can cause the hook to be pulled at an odd angle when the hook is set.

With that said, I've probably caught way more fish with a simple knot over the years than I have with a snell - especially fly fishing. I've never snelled a fly and manage to get decent hook-ups.

Snell -- it doesn't take any longer than any other knot.

There are several methods to tying the snell, and some I have seen can make it difficult. If you use one of the easier methods, it takes no longer than a clinch or palomar to tie.

I prefer the snell for the reasons CoalCracker outlined.

If it has an offset eye and exposed shank it gets a snell if I'm running mono or FC. Braid gets a palomar.