I've been trying out a Snell Knot this year on my flipping stick. I have 65lb braid tied up to a Trokar 4/0 straight shank. I use it for flipping heavy cover (obviously) and yes, the Snell Knot is tied correctly. The problem is, I have been having a bunch of fish get off right at the boat. I use a Palomar Knot on all my other rigs and don't have that problem. I know the obvious answer is to just tie a Palomar Knot, but has anyone else had this problem when using a Snell Knot?

I use a snell knot as well, but don't have this issue.

Thanks for the feedback man. I like the Knot and how it is supposed to work...boils down to user error I guess.

I just started using the snell knot on the same set up and I cant say that the hook up is any better than it was with a Palomar knot. The snell knot definitely does not go through the brush as good as the Palomar because of the angle it puts the hook. I will try it for a little while longer but if I dont see a significant difference I will go back to the Palomar just because it is a lot quicker to tie.

The snell knot has to be tied correctly and from the RIGHT direction. Check out this clip by Darren Gallaher and see if your technique matches up. If it does then switch to the Palomar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFTIC0gpSY8

Do you use Trokars on everything else?

They were horrible for me...losing fish.

Are you pegging the weight?

You know what, I only use the Trokar for that Snell Knot. Every other hook I use is VMC or Gamakatsu. It never once crossed my mind to connect it to the Trokar hook. I am going to try some other straight shank hooks and see if that is the problem.

I am indeed.

Thanks for the video Bigron, that's exactly how I have been rigging it.

Are you feeding the line through the hook eye in the correct direction? If so, it will kick the hook point up. If backwards...it will actually pull out the hook.

Oh....feed the line through the eye from the hook point side. When the hook slams into the weight, it will force the hook in the correct direction.

Try not pegging the weight, or pegging it maybe an inch above the weight so it has some room to move. The key is for the weight to hit the hook and flip it up. Also get rid of the trokar hook. My favorite is the straight shank reaction innovation, or a gamakatsu.

just switch to the Palomar.. you'll get more bites, and it's a stronger knot

Most likely what's happening is your tearing a big hole in the bass mouth and then they get some slack from a heads hake or jump. All I use is trokar for everything minus treble hooks. My heavy flipping setup is 65 braid snelled to a 3/0-5/0 Big Nasty flipping hook with a pegged tungsten at a minimum of 1/2oz and I very very rarely lose fish. But I also learned to not jack them lIke I'm boat flipping them on hookset. That was my problem before was setting way to hard with no give. Changed my ways and started boating more fish. Dunno if would work for you but could possibly give it a shot. If it don't then your not out much if you were losing them already.

If the line is breaking, switch knots. If the fish is shaking it, switch hooks.