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The snail is like a strange knot. Most fishermen do not know how to tie it, mainly because it has advantages in certain styles of fishing, but it is not as versatile as other common connections. The primary use of the snail knot is to secure a hook to the end of the line for casting live or cut bait. This is, arguably, the strongest connection to function, but it has benefits beyond strength. Here we’ll explain in detail everything you need to know about how to tie a snail knot.
Why does the snail knot work
Have you ever noticed that many bait hooks have one eye bent at an angle perpendicular to the shank? That little feature helps the snail knot sit properly and firmly. A snail knot keeps your hook perfectly in line with your line or leader, as there’s really no way to bend, twist, or rotate it, assuming you’ve tied it properly. This alignment means that when a fish takes your bait, you are more likely to get a faster, stronger hook set, as you will always draw the hook point directly into the fish’s jaw.
Snail Knot Variations
The best snail knot! Snail knot for circle hook!
talk about snail lump The thing is, there are many ways to tie one. What I’m presenting here is my favorite method and the one I learned first, which I believe is the easiest. The caveat to my method is that it requires that the line you are using be disconnected from the main line. In other words, you will first tighten your grip on the leader length, Then Add that leader to your main line. The snail knot may take a little practice to master, but if I’m fishing with bait on a single hook, it’s the only knot I’ll use because it rarely – if ever – fails.
Read Next: Best Live Bait
step 1: Place one tag end of your leader parallel to the bottom of the hook shank, making sure it just barely protrudes from the hook bend.
step 2: Now, bring the other tag end towards the hook bend, creating a wide loop. The end of this tag should be parallel to the top of the hook shank and slightly past the eye of the hook, facing the opposite direction of the first tag.
step 3: Press both ends of the tag onto the hook, making sure they stay on top and bottom of the shank.
step 4: Here comes the trickiest part. Holding everything in place with your fingers, grasp the edge of the bottom loop of the hook closest to the hook eye. Begin wrapping this leg of the loop around the hook shank and both ends of the tag. Five to seven turns are sufficient. To prevent the wraps from opening, pinch the leg and press it with the index finger of the hand.
Step 5: Using your fingers to press down on the shank to keep everything in place, use your other hand to grab the protruding tag end behind the hook eye. Start pulling that tag end away from the hook, always keeping pressure on the wraps with your other hand to prevent them from loosening as the coils form.
Step 6: Next, take the tag end you just pulled out and put it back through the hook eye on the bottom. Pull the snail knot firmly to secure it behind the eye. Trim the back tag end close to the knot.
Read Next: How to Tie a Fishing Knot
Final Thoughts on How to Tie a Snail Knot
While you can tie a snail knot with any type of line in any diameter, it works best with monofilament or fluorocarbon. These materials are stiffer than braided line, and as the snail’s coils form something like a collar around the hook shank, they make the connection point even stiffer. This helps ensure that the hook remains in line with the leader at all times. Although a snail knot tied with braided line will still be strong, the thin, limp nature of the material will not create as much inability to move and rotate the hook.
