Tool for Tying Snell Knots - How to Use It

This knot-tying tool makes it easier to tie small hooks and can help in situations that negatively affect the agility of your fingers - in a rocking boat, in strong winds, in freezing weather when your fingers are stiff, or when you are tying hooks for micro-fishing which you can barely see. There are several versions of this tool that may look different but they work on the same principle.

If you don't have the tool, you can get it from Rare Monster.

Let's start with a regular hook that has an eye. This is the most common hook type and is the easiest to tie. Secure the hook between the jaws by rotating the thumbscrew.

Push on the bracket with bent ends to move the two pols up.

Run the tag-end of your fishing line through the hook eye.

Then around the two poles on the tool.

And then back again through the hook eye.

Start wrapping the tag-end around the mainline and the hook shank working from the eye towards the tool.

Keep constant tension and try to make the coils lay next to each other without overlapping. The number of wraps depends on the thickness of your line. You will need more for a thin line and less for a thick line. Make 6-7 wraps and see if this works for you.

Without easing the line tension - wrap the tag-end around the longest pole.

Push the poles down. This will catch the tag-end and release the line from the other pole - creating a loop.

Pull the mainline to form the knot on the shank. But don't tighten it yet - otherwise, it will be difficult to complete the next step.

Release the hook from the jaws of the tool and pull it away from the tool. This will free the tag-end.

Now you can tighten the knot. And you've got a snelled hook.

Let's snell a small hook without an eye. As before, secure the hook between the jaws by rotating the thumbscrew. Don't forget to move the poles up.

Snelling eyeless hooks is a bit trickier because there is nothing to hold the line along the shank. There are several ways to do this but you can make it easier by wrapping the tag-end up the shank instead of down, like in the previous example. Wrap your line around the two polls on the tool.

Make the first wrap on the bottom of the shank and start wrapping the tag-end around the shank and the mainline by rotating the tool.

Keep the line tension and wrap the tag-end around the longest pole. Then push the poles down to hold the tag-end.

Pull the mainline without tightening it completely.

Release the hook from the tool and pull it away to free the tag-end.

Now you can tighten the knot. And this is one of the ways to snell an eyeless hook. When you get a handle on it - you can try wrapping the shank downwards and see if you like the result.

For more DIY projects visit my Youtube channel - www.youtube.com/aseev