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SIGNUP

How to Snell your own Fishing Hooks
by www.fishingkites.co.nz

Besides improved catch rates, the snell knot takes only seconds per hook to tie. The resulting attachment is one of the strongest fishing knots around, whereas tying to the eye of the hook weakens the trace by as much as 40% (depending on the knot used and the skill of the fisherman tying the knot).

The snell is the easiest fish hook tying knot around.

Tying snelled hooks

• First pass the main line through the eye of the hook from the front of the hook. Only pass it through about half an inch.
• Hold the shank of the hook and the half inch tab end and wrap the line around both the shank of the hook and the tab end 7 or 8 turns.
• Pass the line back down through the eye of the hook from the back of the hook.
• Pull the line tight while holding the hook to set the snell.
• There should be very little or no tag end protruding when the knot is set.

If the hook curls up towards the main line you have snelled the hook correctly. I like to think that snelling a hook like this makes the line act as a spring and improves the hook up rate and also prevents the fish from throwing the hook.

Knot Tying Illustration-Two Hook Rig

Once you have perfected snelling a hook, it is very simple to make up a two hook setup.

Simply snell the first hook on, then pass the end of the line through the back of the second hook and you're ready to snell the second hook on.

Set the distance between the hooks at about two thirds of the length of the bait fish you intend to use before snelling the second hook.

When tying a quick strike rig, we have found that keeping the hooks in line further improves both your catch rate and the ability of the rig to hold soft baits or live baits.

This technique works great for dead baiting big northern pike. You just need to find some tie-able steel leader material and you’re off! Very heavy mono or braid will work in a pinch too.

Finished quick strike rig:

If using whole fish baits, put one hook through the head and the other hook through the body behind the gut cavity and make sure the second hook goes around the spine of the bait fish.

The head of the bait should be on the bottom hook.

Well, I hope that this article on tying snelled knots and quick strike rigs has given you some ideas! I like to have a few of these ready before hand so I can easily tie them onto my mainline by using a swivel. This helps keep line twisting to a minimum and allows for easier changing of hooks, or eliminates the need to re-tie. This is especially useful in cold ice fishing conditions! Have fun and good luck!