To Snell or Not to Snell | Palaniuk Texas Rigging Revisited

Wired2fish caught up with Brandon Palaniuk (wired2.fish/BMP-Fishing) to revisit his thoughts on using a snell knot versus the Palomar knot when Texas-rigging with straight-shanked flipping hooks. His position has shifted since our original To Snell or Not to Snell video, and he explains how to decide on the best knot based on individual fishing styles and situations.
TERMINAL TACKLE
• HOOK (punching w/ braid) - VMC Heavy Duty Flippin' Hook: wired2.fish/VMC-HD-FlippingHook
• HOOK (Palomar knot w/ fluoro) - VMC Flippin' Hook: wired2.fish/VMC-FlippingHook
• WEIGHT - VMC Tungsten Flip'n Weight: wired2.fish/VMC-TungstenFlipp...
Palaniuk has continually sought knowledge about snelling from some of the nation's best heavy cover anglers and has concluded that snelling leads to better hookups with braid and heavy tungsten IF you use the correct hook setting method. He explains how he's adjusted his hookset, now relying more on the rod and line to drive the hook home versus snap-setting.
On the other hand, Palaniuk chooses the Palomar knot when fishing with fluorocarbon. Due to line stretch, fast and hard hooksets are the norm to drive hooks home. In this situation, the freedom of movement afforded by the Palomar knot leads to more consistent hookups.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter, so please drop a note in the comments section.
ROD SETUP
• REEL - Daiwa Tatula Elite Pitch/Flip Casting Reel, 8.1:1: wired2.fish/DaiwaTatulaEliteF...
• Alpha Angler Mag-Hitter - 7'11" Mag-Heavy Flipping and Punching Bass Rod: wired2.fish/AlphaAnglerMag-Hi...
• LINE (braid) - Seaguar Smackdown Braided Line Stealth Gray, 65-pound: wired2.fish/SeaguarSmackdownS...
• LINE (fluorocarbon) - Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon Line, 20-pound: wired2.fish/SeaguarTatsu
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[@Charactermatters650]

THIS is why BP is my favorite Bass Guy - So talented, but humble and in a way that he strives to learn more all the time - even when it proves his old self wrong! Wise beyond his years.

[@jameselliott3186]

I love how i just watched your older videos on snelling and this one is recent

[@tunit8946]

Have wondered when to use a snell and when not to. Thanks for clearing that up.

[@hungrydad7537]

Just broke off 40 lb braid with 1oz tungsten tied with snell. Not pegged no bobber stop, 1 fish landed and about 70 cast made total. I like G man's double shindo.

[@davidbergewaytogo]

I've hurt myself quite often trying to make leaders with snelled hooks... ENOUGH. I now just tie a Uni knot to the hook eye. No more cursing/injuries.

[@bk9351]

Rumor has it the Bub Tosh held Brandon by the ankles on the top floor balcony until he promised to make this public service announcement. 😉

[@czykrepublic4323]

I flip a ton on my home lake and I use a palomar knot with the VMC ringed wide gap hook and had a great hook up percentage. I also use 40 lb braid and have never broke off on cover or a fish, only on pike bite offs.

[@makcatchem9614]

Well said sir

[@averageontarioanglers]

Great points 🔥 I need to adjust my hook set too 😬

[@stevencaldwell838]

I’ve been fishing fresh and saltwater now for around 40 years and only use one knot….. the good ole clinch/fisherman’s knot. Til this day I can not remember a time when my line broke off at the knot🎣

[@bubbaperry1024]

I’m a beginner fisherman, I’ve only fished about 30+ years. Pretty much my whole life I’ve tied one knot ( for every application). And you know what it has worked, wow. If you can’t catch fish because of your knot maybe you should learn how to tie. It’s easy to get caught up in all the pros selling skills. And I understand stand there trying to make a living. But in the short time I’ve been fishing I have discovered there are no rules in fishing, well other than you have to be in water just saying. Fishing conditions are ever changing and what you was using five minutes ago isn’t catching anything. I love this channel and don’t mean any disrespect. And Ill never be the level of fisherman you and the other PROs are. And really I feel your saying the same thing. God bless.

[@yeetsulfer4763]

your "has worked" and attempting to land more fish are vastly different. Im glad your one knot has worked for you but dont even say youve landed every single fish in that 30 years. Fishing recreationally there is still knowledge to be learned but whereas you lose fish occasionally and theres no stakes these guys are trying to optimize their processes cause losing fish is losing money.

[@bubbaperry1024]

@@yeetsulfer4763 I never said I landed every fish first off. And I tournament fished ten years an alright never won a big tournament always made the championship. I fished anglers choice and honey hole. So I do understand lost fish could be potentially lost money not every lost fish is money.

[@jdnotariano]

I have never used a snell knot, I don’t see it as a disadvantage but also not any real advantage. The hook 🪝 is shaped the way it is to hook the fish. A snell knot might work in your favor in one particular situation and it may work against you in another depending on the way the bait is oriented in the fishes mouth. I could be wrong, but I doubt it is very significant most of the time.

[@TripleAstyle1]

So essentially you asked Ish Monroe and he told you to snell. Agreed!

[@anthonycilladi3962]

I snell whenever I’m flipping over an oz. anything less I’ll do the Palomar

[@Obi1kenobi10]

When fishing weightless weed less worms I always snell. I seem to get better hookups. The rest of the time I use the "improved clinch knot ".

[@earlgarcia6106]

As if I typed this myself…

[@aremancing]

Good

[@yeetsulfer4763]

with the train of thought being that with a snappy hookset and a lotta weight it blows out of the fishes mouth then it doesnt matter if youre tying a clinch knot or a snell.

[@sawyermcmurphy8869]

I’ve battled this for years myself and came to the same conclusion about a year ago kinda on accident. Like you said the hook set makes the difference on the other hand with fluro I still prefer the regular ewg hooks.. as of now

[@yeetsulfer4763]

my brother in Christ you must not throw jigs then. or spinner baits. or buzz baits. almost anything with a jig head uses a straight shank. Oh. With fluro 😂 Said to myself "you're slow. better reread before I post." my bad

[@yjjustforme1]

I go palomar when I’m flipping with weights 1/2oz and under cause I’m not worried about their mouth being blown open by a weight that small and I feel like that straight shank hooks up great with that smaller weight and a palomar BUT any weight over that I always snell my knots and the hook set becomes more of a lean and set instead of jacking em like I do with the lighter weight flipping rigs.

[@thomasroach3965]

I always snell straight shank hooks even when not punching.

[@GeoFishing]

Double polymer always on everything, nothing's stronger

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

I never snell my straight shank hooks and I never have a problem with hookset

[@BK-zp8vl]

What do you think about using an EWG style vs the other two?

[@lonelydoggie]

What do you think it’s the best punching reel in today’s market?

[@timkelly633]

Other than the knot not being damaged by the weight I still don't understand why you'd snell braid? I get the point about moderating your hookset with braid, but that seems to be a different point to whether one knot is better than another. I don't like the way the bait kicks up when you're hopping it with a Snell knot, looks ugly to me.

[@danielmcnish6555]

2 names to learn from in pitching/flipping from the Masters, are Greg Hackney & Randal Tharp. These teach snell hooking & dissecting out pitching/flippin techniques as these 2 names are the Mount Rushmore of pitching/flipping. Never listen to guys who just want to be "different" and think they "know it all" . Fishing is simple & learn from knowledgeable top tier pros & Masters of their craft. Everyone else are "salesman" just their to sell you load of crap because that's all they can do & are told to do.

[@bigtimfish01]

If the hook has a welded eye I snell every time

[@huntyyoug]

It’s pretty much what you’re saying is snailing doesn’t matter

[@NathanBromley]

This again 😂

[@NathanBromley]

I’m glad he figured it out lol

[@machoman5928]

I still dont see the proof either way