---
title: "How to Tie a Snell Knot: Step-By-Step Guide With Photos and Video"
description: "Want to learn how to tie a snell knot? Follow our fishing editor's photo and video guide here and you'll have better success bait fishing."
date: "2024-05-15"
modified: "2024-05-15"
authors:
  - name: "Joe Cermele"
    job_title: "Fishing Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/joe-cermele/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/how-to-tie-a-snell-knot/"
categories:
  - "Fishing"
  - "Freshwater"
  - "Saltwater Fishing"
tags:
  - "Evergreen"
  - "News"
---

# How to Tie a Snell Knot: Step-By-Step Guide With Photos and Video

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell_feature.png>)
*The snell knot is ideal when fishing with live bait. Outdoor Life*

The snell is a bit of an odd knot. Most anglers don’t know how to tie it, largely because while it has advantages in certain fishing styles, it’s not nearly as versatile as other common connections. The primary use for a snell knot is securing a single hook to the end of the line for casting live or cut bait. It is, arguably, the strongest connection for the task, but it has benefits beyond strength. Here we’ll dive into everything you need to know aobut how to tie a snell knot.

## Why a Snell Knot Works

Have you ever noticed that many bait hooks have an eye bent out at an angle perpendicular to the shank? That little feature helps a snell knot seat properly and firmly. A snell knot also keeps your hook perfectly in line with your line or leader, as there is really no way for it to twist, turn, or rotate, assuming you’ve tied it properly. This alignment means that when a fish grabs your bait, you’re more likely to achieve a fast, strong hook set, because you’ll always be pulling the hook point directly into the fish’s jaw.

## Snell Knot Variations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIKRxgd1l0U

The thing about the [snell knot](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIKRxgd1l0U>) is that there are several ways to tie one. What I’m presenting here is my preferred method and the one I first learned, which I believe is the easiest. The caveat to my method is that it requires the line you’re using to be disconnected from the main line. In other words, you’d tie your hook to a length of leader first, *then* attach that leader to your main line. The snell knot can take a bit of 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: [The Best Live Baits](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/best-live-baits/>)**

**Step 1:** Lay one tag end of your leader parallel to the underside of the hook shank, making sure it just barely protrudes past the hook bend.

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell_1.png>)
*The first step is lining up the leader parallel to the hook shank. Photo by Joe Cermele*

**Step 2:** Now, bring the other tag end around toward the hook bend, forming a wide loop. This tag end should end up lying parallel to the top of the hook shank and protrude slightly past the hook eye facing the opposite direction of the first tag.

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell2.png>)
*The second step is to form a wide loop. Photo by Joe Cermele*

**Step 3:** Pinch both tag ends against the hook making sure they stay on the top and bottom of the shank.

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell3.png>)
*The third step is to pinch both tag ends against the shank and make wraps around them. Photo by Joe Cerme*

**Step 4:** Here comes the trickiest part. While holding everything in place with your fingers, grab the side of the loop below the hook closest to the hook eye. Begin winding this leg of the loop around the hook shank and over both tag ends. Five to seven turns are sufficient. Press the wraps against the pointer finger of the hand pinching the shank to stop them from unraveling.

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell5.png>)
*Step five is about cinching everything up. Photo by Joe Cermele*

**Step 5:** While keeping everything in place with the fingers pinching the shank, use your other hand to grab the tag end protruding past the hook eye. Begin pulling that tag end away from the hook, always keeping pressure on the wraps with your other hand to thwart coils loosening as they form.

![snell knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snell6.png>)
*Step six requires you to pull the tag end through the hook eye. Photo by Joe Cermele*

**Step 6:** Next, take the tag end you just pulled and feed it back through the hook eye from the underside. Pull it all the way through firmly to seat the snell knot properly behind the eye. Trim the rear tag end close to the knot.

**Read Next: [How to Tie a Fishing Knot](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/how-to-tie-a-fishing-knot/>)**

## Final Thoughts on How to Tie a Snell Knot

While you can tie a snell knot with any kind of line in any diameter, it functions best with monofilament or fluorocarbon. These materials are stiffer than braided line, and as a snell’s coils create something like a collar around the hook shank, they make the connection point even stiffer. This helps to ensure that the hook stays in line with the leader at all times. Though a snell knot tied with braided line will still be strong, the thin, limp nature of the material won’t create the same inability for that hook to move and rotate.

## Author
Joe Cermele is the Fishing Editor of Outdoor Life, where he writes about fishing culture and how to catch a host of species. He has been in fishing media full time since graduating college in 2005. He’s authored three books, and written more articles, blogs, scripts, and voiceovers than he could count. He was the host of the Hook Shots video series and podcast, and most recently the host of B-Side Fishing, Das Boat, and the Bent podcast on the MeatEater Network.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/joe.cermele138/>)