to snell or not to snell

[Bad_Bubby]

About a month I ago I bought a bulk pack of gamakatsu octopus hooks on the advice they were the best hook for big live baits and light line. Not sure whether I should use a uni knot or snell knot. Just wondering how many people snell hooks with reversed eyes ???. I am thinking that it might make a difference to hookup rates by tieing a knot directly to the eye rather than to to the shank of the hook. Is the reversed eye there to improve hookup rates or is it to prevent running sinkers from causing the hook to 'ride up'. Also being offset, as most reversed eyed hooks are, does that make any difference in the decision ???.

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

uni for a single i reckon, if its not tightened down it allows free movement of the bait & is less likely to cut by teeth action on the shank

aside from pulling in line with the shank, the advanvantage of the snell knot is it takes pressure off the line in the knot - because of the wraps the entire knot tends to absorb it rather than a point on the knot

i use reverse eyed hooks for the top hook in a twin hook snelled livie rig or for slab baits (the hold the slab up better over the eye

light leaders are inappropriate to snell on those hooks unless you use an "improved" snell as the join of the hook at the eye can pinch & cut the line

chris