View Full Version : Snelling hooks.
Over the years, I have picked up a few different devices for tying snelled hooks. However, I have never been very satisfied.
When I tie slip bobber knots, I simply use the stir sticks that are available at your local convenience store coffee counter.
I tried using those, but when you are tying up #4 , 6, or 8 hooks for crawlers, the items are all a bit clumsy.
During the heat of the day after lunch, I decided that I needed to tie a couple more spinner rigs with three hook harnesses. I got out the usual stuff for tying the hooks and wasn't pleased with the results or time that it was taking.
I glanced over at my Wifes sewing basket and got the ides of using a darning needle.
This works slick.
Put the line through the eye of the hook, and while holding the hook at the hook end, and the line and the pointed end of the needle - take the required number of wraps around the hook shank - 5,10,20 -- what ever works for you.
Then, thread the line back through the hook eye, in a downward direction toward the hook, and then thread the darning needle. Pull the line through the wraps just made around the hook shank and darning needle -- and pull the line tight.
The advantage of the darning needle, is that it isn't much larger than the hook shank and you don't have a bunch of loose wraps to tighten after making the loops around the hook shank.
Simple quick and neat.
Happy hooking
Take care
REW
Hightower
06-30-2000, 02:03 AM
Good tip, but still too complicated for me. I found a tool that can tie snells in seconds. At the local fleet farm, (Plymouth, Wi) there's a tool sold called the TIE-FAST KNOT TYER, it's made by sierra stream & mountain
p.o.box 7693
Chico, CA 95927
i haven't seen it anywhere else but i'll bet i can make them faster than you. as many hooks in a row as you want. its takes a couple to figure out the spacing in between the hooks but it's cheaper than buying them. cost was under 5.00 bucks but worth its weight in gold. anybody know anything on finding cheap florocarbon line? good luck
You dont need those goofeytools. I have a way which is strong and you can tie in 10 seconds.
1. Cut you length of line to size.
2. Put one end about an inch and a half thru the eye form the top down. This is now the tag end.
3. Take the long end and grip it just above the eye. Make 5 to 10 tight wraps around the shank starting just below the eye and working down.
4. While holding the loops tight take the long end and go back thru the eye from the bottom and pull tight.
For a second hook....
1. Run the long end thru the eye of the second hook from bottom up.
2. Hold the hook exactly where you wan it to end up and repeat steps 3 & 4.
The big benefit of this method is the speed, ease and accuracy of the placement of the 2nd hook. Also, noo goofy tools required.
Chad,
And I thought I was the only one using this short cut method! The line from the last turn on the shank of the hook runs outside the other turns to the eye, but I've never found a walleye who seems to care! Tight Lines!
fisherman
06-30-2000, 08:20 AM
Chad's got it. Fastest way to tie snells. Can do a spinner rig in a couple of minutes and always have the hook spacing exactly the way you want it..I snell straight shanked hooks with this method/and treble hooks too...
Thanks for the tip Chad.
I was wondering -- since the long end is running on the outside of the loops -- do you have any problems with the hooks getting loose -- particularly the last hook?
If it doesn't -- this certainly seems like the way to go.
The reason that I was using the needle, and or straw and or other tools -- is that I thought it preferable to have the both tag and long lines locked inside the loops so you wouldn't get any loose lines.
Thanks again.
REW
I have been using the Stren Florocarbon line -- good results.
The base price was 7.00 for 300 yards and there was a 2.00 rebate from Stren for $5 / 300 yards -- seems like a god deal.
Take care
REW
Dave S
06-30-2000, 11:10 AM
Chad, I have been tieing sneels like you say for several years and it works fine. I discovered this knot by purchasing a sneeled crawler harness from Walmart. Slowly untied the knot and it was exactly as you describe. Very simple and works great.
No problems with comming untied since the hook and the snell are pulling in a way which makes the knot tighter.
The benefit is if you want to untie it you just push the line back thru. No need to cut.
Boy, I feel like I invented sticky notes with all of the good replys.
I just helped put on a seminar at our club showing this knot to people. That's what I love most about being associated with fisherpeople, they like to share info to make everyone better and more educated.
REW,
I have been using Chad's method of snelling for about 8 years. Not a single end hook has unraveled. The only thing you need to watch for is when unhooking using pliers, if you nick the monofillament when you are grabbing the shank of the hook with the plier tips.
Its a great method for tying snells, but not one a "purist" would use.
take Care
A dab of super glue will keep it from coming loose.
Fin Addict
07-01-2000, 03:53 AM
I have always tied a polamar or Trilene knot for the rear hook for the reason you describe. In my opinion both are better knots than a snell. But you just can't beat a snell knot for getting perfect spacing on that front hook and Chad describes the way I have always tied them.
moose
07-01-2000, 07:03 AM
Agreed. This realy works. I recently returned from Ontario but didn't bring along crawler harness. I recalled someone wrighting about this technique, so I tried it. Works good, the only problem I encounterd with the worm harness was the second ( bottom ) hook always wanted to ravel up. I don't if using 4 lb / 6lb line was too light to prevent the twisting.
ranger05
10-23-2010, 11:57 AM
Good tip, but still too complicated for me. I found a tool that can tie snells in seconds. At the local fleet farm, (Plymouth, Wi) there's a tool sold called the TIE-FAST KNOT TYER, it's made by sierra stream & mountain
p.o.box 7693
Chico, CA 95927
i haven't seen it anywhere else but i'll bet i can make them faster than you. as many hooks in a row as you want. its takes a couple to figure out the spacing in between the hooks but it's cheaper than buying them. cost was under 5.00 bucks but worth its weight in gold. anybody know anything on finding cheap florocarbon line? good luck
CAn you give me directions how to use, I have tool but lost illustration of use, thank you
hgmeyer
10-23-2010, 12:18 PM
Add a drop of Fishing Glue (or really any other super glue) and you will never worry about a knot slipping. I tie up snells for slip bobber rigs and crawler harnesses with the wrap aznd pull back through knot and have never had a knot fail.
P.S. I glue ALL of my knots....
Little buddy
10-23-2010, 01:04 PM
You dont need those goofeytools. I have a way which is strong and you can tie in 10 seconds.
1. Cut you length of line to size.
2. Put one end about an inch and a half thru the eye form the top down. This is now the tag end.
3. Take the long end and grip it just above the eye. Make 5 to 10 tight wraps around the shank starting just below the eye and working down.
4. While holding the loops tight take the long end and go back thru the eye from the bottom and pull tight.
For a second hook....
1. Run the long end thru the eye of the second hook from bottom up.
2. Hold the hook exactly where you wan it to end up and repeat steps 3 & 4.
The big benefit of this method is the speed, ease and accuracy of the placement of the 2nd hook. Also, noo goofy tools required.
This is exactly the way I tie them too.
stevefellegy
10-23-2010, 01:27 PM
Thanks for the tip Chad.
I was wondering -- since the long end is running on the outside of the loops -- do you have any problems with the hooks getting loose -- particularly the last hook?
If it doesn't -- this certainly seems like the way to go.
The reason that I was using the needle, and or straw and or other tools -- is that I thought it preferable to have the both tag and long lines locked inside the loops so you wouldn't get any loose lines.
Thanks again.
REW
if done right, can "Chads" knot come loose! No way......nada! (I have a little "history" on the subject) And ZERO need for any glue or the like. LOL
jerry
10-23-2010, 01:50 PM
I tie the same snell knot as Chad. Over the years I got fast enough at it that I can do 20-25 two hook spinner rigs an hour. Very easy knot to tie.
Gilligan
10-23-2010, 08:27 PM
I've tied the method Chad describes for years. Used to tie as many as 5,000 snells a season for bait shops without issue.
Dipstick
10-23-2010, 10:19 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBC678f85qg
tight lines and tight knots!
walleyedmike
10-23-2010, 11:05 PM
Wow..... is there a record for the oldest thread?
In case nobody noticed, this one started over 10 years ago! COOL!
Campcountry
10-23-2010, 11:25 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBC678f85qg
tight lines and tight knots!
That is the knot I use - it doesn't get any easier than that!
I saw a lady at a tackle shop 30 years ago tieing a bunch of harnesses for some guys going to Canada. I watched her and used the same technique and haven't had one fail since. Sometimes I'll put some glue and sometimes not. Chad uses the same technique.
Clamp-It
10-24-2010, 11:32 AM
Thanks for the tip Chad.
I was wondering -- since the long end is running on the outside of the loops -- do you have any problems with the hooks getting loose -- particularly the last hook?
If it doesn't -- this certainly seems like the way to go.
The reason that I was using the needle, and or straw and or other tools -- is that I thought it preferable to have the both tag and long lines locked inside the loops so you wouldn't get any loose lines.
Thanks again.
REW
Good thread!
You really need to have someone show you.
That'll shorten the learning time.
It's a question of being able to wrap the line several times around a loop you lay across the hook's shank. Then holding the loops pinched between your thumb and forefinger, you thread the tag end thru the loop you created, and snub it tight, so so..
hgmeyer
10-24-2010, 06:35 PM
if done right, can "Chads" knot come loose! No way......nada! (I have a little "history" on the subject) And ZERO need for any glue or the like. LOL
I fished an FLW event as a co-angler with a pro that had/has had some good success over the years... As he tied up a crawler harness in the boat, I asked if he ever tried using fishing glue. His attitude was the same as yours.... never had a knot come loose... Well, fate and arrogance bit him in the posterior... About 4 feet from the back of the boat a 5-7 lber swam away. What was left... a swirly pig tail of mono where the back hook had been tied on a crawler harness... It, for the world and me, looked exactly like a knot that "pulled loose". After the weigh-in the last day, we talked again, about that lost fish maybe being worth several thousands of dollars...it was definitely 2 or 3 lbs better than the smallest fish we weighed that day. I happen to know that that Pro learned from that experience that attention to details and "extra effort" can pay off. As far as I know he now carries super glue and uses it on snells...
stevefellegy
10-25-2010, 07:50 AM
I fished an FLW event as a co-angler with a pro that had/has had some good success over the years... As he tied up a crawler harness in the boat, I asked if he ever tried using fishing glue. His attitude was the same as yours.... never had a knot come loose... Well, fate and arrogance bit him in the posterior... About 4 feet from the back of the boat a 5-7 lber swam away. What was left... a swirly pig tail of mono where the back hook had been tied on a crawler harness... It, for the world and me, looked exactly like a knot that "pulled loose". After the weigh-in the last day, we talked again, about that lost fish maybe being worth several thousands of dollars...it was definitely 2 or 3 lbs better than the smallest fish we weighed that day. I happen to know that that Pro learned from that experience that attention to details and "extra effort" can pay off. As far as I know he now carries super glue and uses it on snells...
some (most ) knots can slip and glue could add security. This knot, if done properly, can not physically slip or come untied with a fish or anything else pulling on it.
FYI--this knot that Chad speaks to here, was formally introduced to the fishing world in the fall of 1989.
Suzuki
10-25-2010, 10:00 AM
I can snell a hook blind folded but no way I could explain in writing. I always have to show people.
goose89
10-25-2010, 07:07 PM
Is the U-tube knot the same as Chad's knot? I've got to see something done as well. No way can I take the instructions and make it work.
hgmeyer
10-25-2010, 07:20 PM
some (most ) knots can slip and glue could add security. This knot, if done properly, can not physically slip or come untied with a fish or anything else pulling on it.
FYI--this knot that Chad speaks to here, was formally introduced to the fishing world in the fall of 1989.
There's the "rub" as they say... As a police officer, every day, I carried a handgun on my side.. Always cleaned, checked, tested ammo, etc. I never once, ever, would have chosen a handgun if I knew I was headed into a gunfight... But, I was more than proficient with one and very careful to have all of the details attended to... Because, as it happened, twice, I ended up in a gunfight when I was not expecting one... I got the "first place" trophy both times because of my attention to detail and preparation... Same with with gluing my knots... I glue every knot because someday I will make a mistake and not tie one properly... But, I will be prepared as much as possible becasue that "bad knot" will have the extra attention to detail, it will be glued, so I might just save myself...
BOBBYBB
10-25-2010, 10:07 PM
Great site for knots
http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com