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How to Tie a Snell Knot
The snell knot attaches a leader directly to a hook shank — aligning the line perfectly with the shank for superior hook-setting power, especially effective with circle hooks.
How to Tie a Snell Knot Step by Step
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Written Instructions — Snell Knot
- Thread through hook eye Pass line through hook eye from point side, leave 6 inch tag end.
- Double back alongside shank Fold tag end back parallel to the hook shank, creating a loop alongside the shank.
- Wrap tag end 6 times toward eye Wind tag end around both shank and doubled line 6 times toward the eye.
- Pull main line through eye Pass main line through eye again, pull while holding tag end.
- Finish Wraps compress against shank. Trim tag end flush.
Tips for Tying a Snell Knot
- The snell's advantage is maximum on offset or circle hooks where the eye angle matters most.
- Tie snell knots with larger hook sizes first — technique scales down to smaller hooks.
- 6 wraps is standard. Use 8 wraps on lighter lines.
- The finished snell should have the line exiting in perfect alignment with the hook shank — if it exits at an angle, the wraps are uneven.
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