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The Snell Knot - Fishing Knots

The Snell Knot

Snell Knot

The Snell Knot is a knot used to pre-rig small leaders onto baithooks. You'll often see 'snelled' hooks for sale in packs of 6 or 8 at the sporting goods stores. This knot retains almost all of the line strength of the leader. Here's how to tie your own snelled hooks:

  1. Snell Knot
    Insert one end of the leader through the hook's eye extending one to two inches past the eye. Insert the other end of the leader through the eye in the opposite direction pointing toward the barb of the hook. Hold the hook and leader ends between thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Leader will hang below the hook in a large loop.
  2. Snell Knot
    Take the part of this loop that is closest to the eye and wrap it over the hook shank and both ends of the leader toward the hook's barb.
  3. Snell Knot
    Wrap for 7 or 8 turns and hold wraps with left hand. Grip the end of the leader that is through the eyelet with your right hand and pull it slowly and steadily. Hold the turns with your left hand if the knot will unravel. When knot is almost tight, slide it up against the eye of the hook. Grip the short end lying along the shank of the hook with a pair of pliers. Pull this end and the standing line at the same time to completely tighten the knot. Trim the tag end.