How to Snell a Hook: The Snell Knot for Circle and Octopus Hooks
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A snell wraps the line around the hook shank 7 or 8 times. The pull then comes along the shank, not through the eye. It takes 5 steps.
It's the usual knot for octopus and circle hooks on bait rigs. A straight pull along the shank helps the hook turn toward the corner of the mouth.
On a lure, a jig or a treble hook, skip it. Those tie to the eye with a Palomar or a clinch.
Spec card
Snell knot
- Connects
- line to hook shank (the line passes through the eye)
- Line types
- mono · fluoro (braid works but slides more)
- Wraps
- 7 around shank and line5 to 10 in published steps; fewer on heavy line
- Line exits
- the inside of the eye, on the point side
- Tag to start
- about 8 in.
- Don't use for
- lures, jigs, treble hooks; hooks with an eye too small for 2 passes of line
Why snell a hook?
Look at the hook from the side. With a knot on the eye, the line can pull from any angle. With a snell, it leaves the eye on the inside. Then it runs along the shank.
When the line comes tight, it pulls the point up and in. That's the whole idea.
It matters most with circle hooks. A circle hook is meant to slide to the corner of the mouth and turn. The snell keeps the pull in line with the shank. Turned-eye octopus hooks get the same effect.
The snell changes the direction of pull. The line runs down the inside of the shank. You can see that on any snelled hook.
The 5 steps
Pass about 8 in. of line through the eye. Lay the tag along the shank toward the bend.
Step 1. Pass about 8 in. of line through the eye. Tap to enlarge. Let a loop of line hang below the hook. Pinch the tag against the shank near the bend.
Step 2. Let a loop of line hang below the hook. Tap to enlarge. Wrap the loop around the shank and both lines 7 or 8 times. Start at the eye and work toward the bend.
Step 3. Wrap the loop around the shank and both lines 7 or 8 times. Tap to enlarge. Pull the standing line to close the wraps. Hold them with your thumb so they stay side by side.
Step 4. Pull the standing line to close the wraps. Tap to enlarge. Check that the line leaves the inside of the eye. Pull the tag to seat the wraps, then trim it.
Step 5. Check that the line leaves the inside of the eye. Tap to enlarge.
Step 3 is the fiddly one. Hold the hook by the bend. Point away from you. The wraps go over the shank and both strands of line. Each one lies next to the last. Count to 7 or 8.
In step 4, the loop shrinks as the wraps tighten. Keep your thumb on the wraps the whole time. If they ride up over each other, open the loop and start again.
Step 5 is the check that matters. The line must leave the eye on the side the point faces. If it comes out the back, the pull goes the wrong way. Retie. It costs about 8 in. of line.
Any eye takes a snell, but a turned-up eye makes the line path easy to see. Octopus hooks with an up-turned eye, in 3/0, suit cut bait and big minnows.
Hook tyers that wrap the snell for you are compared on our knot tying tools page.
Checking the snell
- Count the wraps. 7, side by side, none crossed.
- Check the exit. Line leaves the eye on the point side.
- Pull the line against the hook with pliers. Hold for 2 or 3 seconds. The wraps shouldn't slide toward the bend.
If the wraps slide on a smooth shank, add 2 wraps on the retie. Braid slides more than mono, so a mono or fluoro leader of 12 to 24 in. is the easy fix.
Which hooks suit a snell?
| Hook type | Snell? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus, turned eye | yes, the classic use | turned eye plus snell gives a straight pull |
| Circle, inline or offset | yes | keeps the pull along the shank |
| Straight-eye bait hook | works | less reason to bother |
| Offset worm (EWG) | not usual | Texas rigs tie to the eye |
| Drop shot hook | not usual | tied with a Palomar and a long tag |
| Jig hook | no | the eye is molded into the jig |
| Treble hook | no | 3 points, no shank to wrap |
How many wraps?
Our assumptions
- Base count: 7 wraps, from the outline we follow.
- Range: published snell steps run 5 to 10.
- Direction: fewer wraps on stiff heavy line, more on light line.
| Line | Wraps |
|---|---|
| 6 to 12 lb mono | 7 to 10 |
| 15 to 30 lb mono or fluoro | 6 or 7 |
| 40 lb and up | 5 or 6 |
Double snell for tandem hooks
A double snell puts 2 hooks on 1 leader. It's used for long baits like nightcrawlers or strips of cut bait, so a hook sits in each end.
- Snell the upper hook first, leaving a long tag. Slide the upper hook up the line.
- Snell the lower hook at the end of the leader.
- Slide the upper hook down to the spacing you want. The wraps grip the line but can be moved before you seat them hard.
- Seat the upper wraps. Then trim.
Spacing depends on bait length. For a nightcrawler, 3 to 4 in. between hooks is a common range. Some states limit the number of hooks per line, so check with your state fish and wildlife agency before fishing a tandem rig.
Where it fits on the water
Sizes below are common ranges. Hook sizes vary by brand, so compare on the hook size chart.
- Channel catfish on cut bait in 6 to 15 ft holes: 2/0 to 5/0 circle hook. Snell it on 20 to 30 lb mono. Leader 12 to 24 in.
- Nightcrawler for walleye or perch: size 4 to 1 octopus hooks, often a double snell on 10 to 12 lb mono.
- Live shad or herring for stripers: 1/0 to 3/0 circle hook. Check your state's hook rules first.
- Bluegill with wax worms: size 8 to 10 hooks. A snell works, but a uni or clinch is quicker on a hook that small.
The common thread is bait plus a turned eye or a circle hook. Those are the hooks where the direction of pull changes what the hook does. On a size 10 panfish hook, the change is small.
Leader length for snelled hooks
Snelled hooks usually go on a short leader. It runs from the hook to a swivel or a loop.
| Rig | Leader length | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Catfish slip-sinker rig | 12 to 24 in. | catfish rigs |
| Striper live-bait rig | 2 to 4 ft | striper rigs |
| Bottom rig with a dropper | 6 to 12 in. dropper | dropper loop |
Tie the snell first, then measure and tie the other end to the swivel. That way the snell gets the fresh line. A Palomar or uni at the swivel end works fine.
When to skip the snell
- Lures and jigs. The eye is the connection point. Tie a Palomar or clinch.
- Tiny eyes. The line has to pass through the eye before wrapping. A size 10 hook on 20 lb mono may not fit.
- Braid on a straight shank. Braid can slide on a smooth shank. Use more wraps or a mono leader.
Common Questions
Can you buy snelled hooks instead?
Yes. Pre-snelled hooks come with a short leader and a loop. You loop them to your main line or a swivel.
Check the leader's line test and length on the card. The snell itself is the same knot. Tying your own lets you pick the leader length and line.
Do you need a special hook for a snell?
No. Any hook with an eye can take a snell. Turned-eye octopus and circle hooks are the usual picks because the snell and the turned eye work together.
On a straight-eye hook, the snell still works. It just changes the pull less.
Can you use a uni knot to snell?
Yes. A uni snell lays the line along the shank and wraps the tag through a loop, like the uni knot. It's a different route to the same result.
Many anglers find the uni version easier to remember. Check that the line leaves the eye on the point side either way.
Gear for this page
XFISHMAN Octopus Hook 3/0 Red - 50 Pack (Reversed Point, Up-Turned Eye)3/0 up-turned eye octopus hooks for the snell knot.
FREGITO Fishing Line Hook Knot Tying Tool, Copper, 1pcsA hook tyer that wraps the snell knot for you.
Gamakatsu Circle Offset Point Octopus Hook-Pack Of 25 (Black, 2/0)2/0 circle octopus hooks you can snell for catfish rigs.
LUCKYFISHING Circle Hooks Catfish Hooks Circle Hooks for Saltwater Freshwater OfCircle hooks for snelled catfish rigs.
Next knots
- Fishing knots by connectionevery knot by job
- Albright knotjoining lines of very different size
- Arbor knotline to the reel spool
- Fisherman's knotsorting out the name
- Knot tying toolshook tyers and clippers
Sources: published snell knot instructions for steps and wrap range. Hook-type notes from hook maker descriptions. Method on our methodology page..
Also: Animated Knots Snell Knot (7 or 8 wraps). Great Lakes Angler crawler harness guide (spacing). Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (hook sizes).