To tie or not to tie...

[Fishin_Dan]

This is to do with using 2 hooks on a line... Now alot of people will snell the top hook onto the line, leave a long tag, then tie the bottom hook onto the end of the long tag.

My question is, do you need to snell (or other knot) the top hook onto the line at all? Is there any reason that you could not just run the line through the eyelet of the top hook and let it run free on the line? The bottom hook will stop the top hook from coming off the line, so it won't fall off obviously...

What are everyone's thoughts? Pro's/Con's???

[straddie]

Hi Dan

There is only downside with not tying the hook on as it really serves no purpose otherwise.

The second hook is usually the most important, it takes the weight of the bait for casting and holds it in position. If not tied down a pilly or cut bait will try to double itself up making it spin in the water. Retrieving will do a similar thing to a live bait trying to double it up.

If you get baited the loose hook will also rub against the knot of the fixed hook and if the last hook is broken or bitten off you lose both hooks.

Not being tied also has the disadvantage of not allowing pressure to be applied till it comes against the other hook which would probably result in a number of missed bites and lost hookups from poor setting.

The loose hook would also be a danger to you as it slid back up the line landing a fish that gives a head shake sending it up the line and coming back down on your hand as you grab the fish.

It would work if you had say a pre made wire trace and were allowing it sit on the swivel, however you would still have the problem of it wearing through the knot. A way around that would be to work some plastic tubing over the knot to protect it.

Have a look in the saltwater forum, chris aka gwh posted a few pics of a sliding tailor rig he uses that would be a lot more suitable than fishing a loose hook in my opinion.

[imnotoriginal]

I've found in thicker lines especially the pressure that the second hook exerts on the knot to the leading hook when it is forced down the end of the line significantly weakens the knot strength. If I were you I would snell or use a single hook and find a different way to bait up.
Joel