Snelling a hook on a short leader

[AtlantaKing]

Have you ever seen those fishfinder rigs that the Hatteras regulars use? You know, the ones that have a super short leader between the hook and swivel? Well, I just wanted to put some pics up on how I go about "reverse snelling" a hook for a fishfinder rig, keeping the hook leader short. In this series of pictures, I'm using a 150 lb-test swivel, 100 lb-test line and an 8/0 Eagle Claw octopus circle hook. Enjoy. [IMG]http://www.****************/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

Start by tying a piece of leader material with the knot of your choice to the swivel. Tighten and trim the tag end. Cut the standing end about 10" long.


Insert the long end through the eye of the hook, pulling the knot all the way to the end of the eye. Depending on how long you want the hook leader to be, leave appropriate amounts of line between the eye of the hook and the swivel. I’d leave about 3” of line between the hook eye and the swivel if I want the hook leader to be 4” long. Experiment to see how it turns out.


Another view of the line inserted into the hook eye.


Then, place the hook on the side of the tip of the tool, not in the “channel”.


Notice that there’s a shallow “forked” area at the very tip that the line pulls to.


Pull down and wrap the standing line around the shank and the tip of the tool, wrapping towards the eye of the hook. Note the relation of the hook, the tool, my thumb and forefinger and the standing end.


Another view.


Now, grab the tag end and insert it through the loops that are held open by the channel of the tool so that it “finishes” off the snell.



Part 2 coming soon...

[AtlantaKing]

Part 2.

Grab the tag end with pliers and hold the swivel with your thumb while still holding onto the tool.


Pull hard and fast while holding onto both the tool and the swivel. Note, in this picture, I’ve dropped the tool because I’ve already pulled the knot off of the tip.


At this point, the knot is tied, but still a bit loose and at the middle of the shank. Slide it to the eye.


Grab the tag end with pliers again and cinch the knot down. Trim tag end to about 1/8”.


This shows the length of the finished rig.



Hope you guys like it!

[John M]

seems kinda the hard way to skin a cat.......I snell the hook then put the barrel on. but to each their own.......never saw anyone do it the other way around.

but good info for those who wanna do it that way.

[Mike S]

Has anybody else used any of the variations of the standard drum rig? For the past year or two I've seen a lot of people placing their snap/sinker combo between the hook and a swivel rather than on the shock leader.

[AtlantaKing]

I've used that rig as well. On the occasions where the maximum distance is needed, that's what I go to, but for the most part, the shorty fishfinder rig is my default.

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

Mike, I use it sometimes... An oldtimer in Texas showed me it years ago...he called it a "Cannon Ball Rig" because it places the sinker right up against the bait and makes for a very compact payload...the cast is like a shot from a cannon I guess...

I make mine as follows: I use a hook leader (stiff mono 100# - 125#) that is about 2' - 3' long...first, the hook is snelled...then I put on a bead followed by the slider (FF snap and barrel swivel). At the other end of the leader I terminate w/ a crimp and barrel swivel... I then tie on the shock leader to the barrel swivel...

Poppy

[Mike S]

Thanks guys,

Any particular reason why you don't use it all the time?I I imagine the longer hevier leader would be nicer on the hands when getting a fish under control in the wash.

[John M]

Ive used the rig poppy mentioned for cobia.

[crashq]

Like John M, I snell the hook first and then tie the leader to the barrel swivel. I think it is easier that way.

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

The reason why I only use the Cannon Ball Rig on occasion, actually rarely, is I am of the “old school”… A regular fish finder rig’s purpose was to allow a fish to pick up the bait without detecting the sinker… The theory was if the fish felt the weight (resistance) of the sinker, it would realize something was unnatural and drop the bait… The Cannon Ball Rig, as I use it with a barrel swivel at the hook leader’s end, serves as a fish finder for a short few feet…once the fish swims off it will detect the weight and maybe drop the bait… I suppose I could tie the hook leader directly to the shock leader and thus have no sinker resistance. But this leades to other potential problems like the sinker working its way up the line too far...

The Cannon Ball Rig I think keeps the bait on the surf bottom most of the time right up against the sinker. For Red Drum, who I envision grope along the bottom w/ their inferior mouths, this is fine. But I think Stripers like an offering that is further away from the sinker and freer (unencumbered) looking…

However, over the past few years, my thinking is changing some… I am not convinced that a fish will drop the bait if it feels some resistance from the weight of a sinker… Also, I am not sure of the dynamics of what is going on w/ the bait regardless of a short or long leader; i.e., is the bait pulled away from the sinker by the current?

Poppy

[Mike S]

I've always thought that if you are fishing a tight line, the fish is going to feel tension no matter what. It would be simple to test this, I just have never thought to do it.

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

When I use a FF rig the spool drag is backed off...if I am holding the rod, my thumb holds the spool... If I spike the rod I engage the clicker...

Poppy

[John M]

Ive heard guys talk about ca5tchign drum using the cannon ball rig where the drum also has the sinker in its mouth. Ive never seen it, but I ve heard about it a few times in the last ocuple years. Like poppy I wonder if the sinker being there doenst spook off the drum. that being said some of the guys i know using the cannonball catch alot of drum anyway.

[Plug]

I worry more that with the hook snugged right up against the sinker that in a soft sand situation where the sinker gets buried the bait will also be buried. Plenty of times I've really got to pull to get a buried sinker unstuck. I have to believe at such a time the bait could be buried also.

I also like the idea of a 3" snell allowing the bait to move around a little bit in the current. That little bit of movement just might cause a fish that is upcurrent and can't smell the bait to see it.

[newsjeff]

Poppy, you're calling it a "Cannonball Rig." I like it.

I use this rig almost exclusivly now for drum and coibia. I use 3' of 130lb leader. I tie this section of 130lb right to the end of my shock with a double nail. Yes, some use a swivel to connect the shock to the 130lb. It doesn't really matter, just a personal prefrence I guess.

Awsome rig, this one. I like it much better than the standard drum rig I've always used.