I am curious if anyone else is having trouble with breaking snells or if anyone has a solution for me. I tie my own snells and have done so for years. Just recently, my snells have been breaking - all in the same place - 1/4" from the top loop. I have been using either Berkley Vanish or Berkley sensi-thin. The puzzling thing to me is that I just talked to a friend who has recently had the same problem. When I say 1/4" from the top loop, I mean the loop that is tied to connect to the swivel. I have been using what I believe to be called the simple surgeon's knot.

From the location of the break, I would guess that you aren't wetting the line enough when you pull the knot tight. If the line is dry you create friction and that weakens it. Try this, after tying one the usual way, look at the spot where it usually breaks, if you see a little curl there it's a pretty good gues that it wasn't wet enough. Use a little more spit or dip it in some water. Good luck.
Dale Frank NPAA #251

thanks for the heads-up, it seems like I have been getting them wet enough but I have seen that curl you refer to also.

For the last few years I have gone exclusively to the florocarbon leader material made by Segaur. I use mainly 15#, but occasionaly 20# as well. This material is very stiff, and makes excellent wraps for your snells.

Tight lines


Keith Segar
NPAA #260

Keith, do you soak this line before you tie your rigs. I have been tying mine with 20# and it stills seems a little stiff when I tie the knots.

Scott Hittman