How To Properly Tie A Fishing Hook

[RAK]

Hello,

Many people dont know how to properly tie a hook. They tie it some random way and when they hook a fish it gets away! Well three good knots that hold your hook nice and strong are Hook snell knot, palomar knot and improved Clinch knot.

The Hook Snell Knot

1.Insert one end of leader material through eye of hook just past turn and barb. Pass other end through eye in opposite direction leaving large loop.

2. Hold both lines along shank. Use line hanging from eye to wind tight coils from eye toward hook, 5 to 10 turns.

3.Move fingers to hole coils inplace. Oull leader extending from eye until entire loop has passed under coils. With coils snugged up neatly, use pliers to pull tag end, clinching up snout. Clip tag end and the loop knot in end of leader.

http://outdoor-fishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10&d=1281121799


Palomar Knot

1.Double about 4 inches of line and pass loop through the eye.

2. Let hook hang loose and the overhand knot in doubled line.

3. Pull loop of the line far enough to pass over hook, swivel or lure.

4. Pull tag end and standing line to tighten. Moisten before fully tightening. Clip tag end.(nail clippers work great)

http://outdoor-fishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11&d=1281121805

Improved Clinch Knot

1. Pass line through eye of hook, swivel, or lure. Double back and make five turns around the standing line. Thread line through first loop above the eye. then through big loop as shown.

2. Hold tag end standing line while coils are pulled up. Moisten and slide tight against eye. Clip tag end.

http://outdoor-fishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12&d=1281121831

Best Regards

RAK


NOTE:PICS ARE IN ORDER

CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER VIEW

[Malottguy]

Great post and a critical one.

I snell all my own hooks if at all possible and I an a huge fan of the Palomar Knot as it can be used with all types of line..

[fatworm]

Great post and a critical one.

I snell all my own hooks if at all possible and I an a huge fan of the Palomar Knot as it can be used with all types of line..

"snell"? Please explain...

[Malottguy]

Here is a video of what I do with the exception that I run my line through the eye first but he also says you can at the end of the video. It seems hard but it is truly fairly simple and I have been doing this since I was about 18 or so. One reason I like it is because I can use the hooks I like and also the length leader I need.. I also wet the line a little to let it slide easier and not stretch out, but that is a personal preference I have If you have any questions just let me know..

YouTube - Snelling a Hook

[B.Spain]

That looks like a great technique, something I myself have never seen before. I will have to give this a try, thanks.

[B.Spain]

Does anyone here do any fishing on the Tennesse River around Paris Landing? Looking for someone to talk with about good bass fishing and Crappie fishing spots around this area.

[RAK]

I snell all my hooks when making trolling spinners. Snelling hooks is a very trusted way of tying, if you do it right.

[Malottguy]

I agree RAK it makes you feel more confident when you snell yourself and if it goes wrong you are the only one that is to blame. I have had very few fail on me.

[bui boater]

i snell my own walleye crawler rigs , but i always tie palomar knots onto every hook, jig,and even my duck decoys.i am convinced in the holding power of a properly "lubed" and tied palomar.(VERY important to lube!)

[Malottguy]

bui boater, any knot is important to lube but the palomar even when not lubed as well as it should is still fairly strong. When I tie any gear to my line whether it is braid or mono I use that knot, but I usuallly am tying them stream or lake side so I use the water and at home it sounds crude but I lick the line LOL. But it works.

[bass or bass?]

I have a DVD that is all knots. For tying hooks or lures the two strongest knots are Trilene and Palomar knots. You already have shown the Palomar. The Trilene is tied like the improved clinch but you pass the line through the hook eye twice, making two loops. As you would pass the tag end of the line through the final loop of the improved clinch, you must pass it through the double loop of the Trilene.
On a maching thet pulls the line to the breaking point, the knots fail before line does. The improved clinch breaks at @ 75% line test strength. The Palomar at @ 85%, and the Trilene at @ 95%. I use the Trilene knot almost exclusively. Occasionally I use the Palomar. If the hook eye is too small for doubled line , such as a when tying on a small fly, then I go with the improved clinch.
Hope this information is of help.

[Malottguy]

Good advice I myself have had trouble with the Trilene knot often. But that all goes to what works for each and when you find one you are comfortable with and confident in go for it.

What is the DVD called as I would love to have a copy for myself.

[lip ripper]

I have a question MALOTTGUY why is this done? Is it for a certain rig like live bait or do you do it for every hook you tie? Now that I know how to do it and I have practiced what do I do it for? I like to try new stuff fun to learn thanks.

[Malottguy]

Lip normally I use it for all applications that I use a single hook for especially for bait. Anytime I need a hook tied to the line its what I do.

It also comes in handy when tying eggloops for salmon and steelhead or if using two hooks such for trolling plug cut herring (for trolling for salmon in Puget Sound).

On a rare occasion when I need a single trailer hook off a lure I will tie the hook end with a snell.

I have only done this with mono but this winter I am going to try snelling hooks with braid so I can get a smaller diameter line. Where I fish in winter the fish can get skittish about seeing the line.

Hope this helps some.

[lip ripper]

Thanks! It is perfect for a trailer hook. I like this way for bait I think it's my new way.

[Malottguy]

Hope you catch many fish with it in the coming years...

[RockyWatsonKS]

i use the improved clinch knot, and wet the line with your mouth before you pull your knots tight, acts as a lube and no heat or stress on your line!

great post!

redneck rock

[KevinLee]

Check out knott wars on nafc.com they have all kinds of knotts and they put them head to head for strength. I know they did a series on knotts for terminal tackle this year(the homers circle knott won) and I think they did one on snell knotts haven't checked that one out yet.

[lip ripper]

Lately i have been fishing with my friend Matt and he uses the polymer knot for just about everything except big swim-baits.