Sunday Experiment- could this get you more hookups?

[shoefish]

Well it's 30 degrees outside, and since I can't do much in the way of fishing when it's that cold out, I might as well do something that's related to the fishy ones. Now I've always subscribed to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, but I thought that I would try to learn a new knot today, and since I've never used one, I decided to try a snell. What I learned in my little experiment has lead me to think that even though it hasn't seemed like anything has been broken, I may have been missing out on a lot of hook-ups over the years. Follow me through this, and then please let me know what you think.

For this experiment, use your imagination...this will be the fish's mouth


When I snelled the hook, and simulated the hook up by pulling the line, the hook "aligned" itself by pointing the barb towards the corner of the "fish's" mouth...






Because this was my first experience with the snell, I thought "this must be the same thing that happens when I do my normal (improved clinch) knot..." So I tied an improved clinch, and to my surprise, when I simulated the hook up, the knot wanted to orient the hook the opposite way- with the barb facing the middle of the mouth.


And as you continue to pull the line....


So I tried it for a uni knot...same results....


So to try to really test it, as I thought it could perhaps be due to the angled eye in the hooks, I decided to try the same experiment with a straight eye circle hook...


And again, the snell grabbed the latch every single time, whereas the others would many times grab the roof of the mouth, or just plain pull all together.


When you look closer, you see why.....the angle that the line come out of the eye naturally orients the barb of the hook towards the latch.


So what does this mean? Obviously the idea of snelling isn't new, but I don't think that it is used as often as perhaps it could be.

So what I want to know from everyone is do you snell? If so, do you notice more fish that are hooked in the latch?

If not, why don't you snell?

Here's another thought for the masses- with all the new regs for circles in tournaments, could this be a way to improve hook up ratios? Especially on the drop backs?

For any of you who are doubters about this experiment, please try it- it was so apparent to me when I did it that the hook was better oriented when I snelled it.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it........could this be something that is broke and we just don't know it? Personally, I think that I am going to start trying to snell more of my hooks. What do you think?

[hubris 1]

but i dont think the line goes through the eye of the hook on a snell. not unless the eye is bent back as i have seen some. am i wrong? wait on one hook it is bent back on the other, no.

[whitey]

IMO I think this is the best way to rig a cirlce hook for trolling. I have used this rig plenty of times and always had a high hookup ratio on it.

[SeaBiscuit]

I got it! Hooks don't work good when it's cold outside?
Biscuit

[Seaker]

I snell especially on hook baits began that way with chunkin for stripers and carried over to chunkin in the canyons...unless Jay has made up some from J hook stock

There's a real fast way to snell if you know how to whip finish a fly it's the same basic movement with two fingers...drives Jay nuts as I have found out something he just doesn't hone in on so has just passes the hook and leader to me

I like your expirement Shoe keep pushin brother

[gottaflylee]

Kinda like this one...this is what I use when fishing for the "Old Drum" here in NC. Snelling works great on circle hooks.



Biscuit, We gotta get you on the water SOON!...

[shoefish]

but i dont think the line goes through the eye of the hook on a snell. not unless the eye is bent back as i have seen some. am i wrong? wait on one hook it is bent back on the other, no.

Here's the animation that I found that shows it best. I'm pretty sure that the line goes through the eye of the hook, which is why it orients itself correctly every time. I could be wrong though...I'm just learning about this myself.

http://www.animatedknots.com/snell/i...matedknots.com



Biscoto- I hear the hooks work fine in the cold if you want to cut a hole in the ice.....me, I'd rather stay warm and troll around the house...

Have you used snelled hooks for the bottom critters?

[fmoore]

Biscoto- I hear the hooks work fine in the cold if you want to cut a hole in the ice.....

I can attest to that

Shoe, great thinking here. Can't wait to see where this goes. I may have to retie a bunch of rigs this winter. Those pics are very convincing. I think I will try this, more out of boredom than anything else. I hate this "in between" time. Not winter, but not summer. Just make up your mind, mother nature.

I actually refrained from snelling the hooks on my cod rigs this summer because just putting them through the dropper loops was so much easier. Strangely enough, I did notice a drop in my hook up ratio, although this was the first year I tied my own cod rigs and also the first year I used circles. So, too many variables to be conclusive. You are making me wonder though.

[luv2fish67]

I like it. ! Makes perfect sense. I'll be using the snell for sure. Something to do on a blow out day.....sit and tie up a bunch.
GREAT TIP THANKS

[squirtis]

Excellent though Shoe......

Thanks for sharing.....might put some research into that one myself.

Curtis