Snell Knot vs Palomar Knot
Different jobs. The Snell ties to the hook shank and produces inline pull — required for circle hooks and live bait. The Palomar ties through the eye and is the universal terminal knot for lures and jigs.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Snell Knot | Palomar Knot | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Strength | 95% | 98% |
| On Monofilament | 95% | 95% |
| On Fluorocarbon | 95% | 92% |
| On Braid | 90% | 98% |
| Tying Time | 45 sec | 30 sec |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Best For | Bait fishing — perfect hook alignment | Universal — strongest knot for braid; excellent on all lines |
| Video Tutorial |
Use the Snell Knot when:
- You're fishing live or cut bait on a circle hook (yellowtail, tuna, halibut, snapper)
- You need inline pull for clean hook penetration on a soft strike
- You're rigging gangions or multi-hook bait setups
- Local regulations require circle hooks (most West Coast tuna fisheries)
Use the Palomar Knot when:
- You're fishing lures, jigs, plugs, or hardbaits
- You're tying to a swivel or snap swivel
- You want the simplest, fastest reliable knot for any line type
- You're new to fishing and want one knot that works for 90% of situations
The Verdict
These knots solve different problems. Use a Snell whenever you're fishing live bait on circle hooks — the inline pull is what makes circle hooks set in the corner of the jaw. Use a Palomar for everything else (lures, jigs, swivels) because it's the strongest universal terminal connection. Most anglers need both in their toolkit.
Snell Knot Tutorial
Palomar Knot Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but the hook will pull at an angle to the line and often pivot out of the fish's mouth on the strike. Circle hooks are designed to roll into the jaw corner via inline pull — a Snell delivers that, a Palomar doesn't.
Comparable when tied correctly — both achieve 95-100% line strength. The strength difference is far less important than the geometry difference: Snell for inline pull, Palomar for everything else.
If you're putting bait on a hook, Snell. If you're tying to a lure, jig, or swivel, Palomar.