About that egg knot.

plumbertom · Oct 11, 2014

I gotta tell ya, lookin' at that knot,
https://www.google.com/search?q=how....271938j1j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
it looks pretty complicated.
Any reason a Uni-snell knot,
http://www.proknot.com/html/uni_snell.html
tightened a bit down the hook shank wouldn't do the same job as well and quicker/easier?

Socaaron · Oct 11, 2014

I don't tie the uni knot so I can't really speak to that but watch some youtube videos and the egg loop knot(theres some good ones) and then tie up a batch of leaders. It's really a pretty easy knot once you tie it a few times, the first couple you may need to rewind the video and double check you're doing it right but after you get it down a couple times it's goes much quicker and easier.

radiation · Oct 11, 2014

I learned my egg loop knot from Steelhead Stalkers site and I love it. Once you do it a couple times, you can whip them out pretty quick. I can sit in front of the tv and get about 30-40 done during a 30 minute sit-com. Here is the link: http://www.steelheadstalkers.com/knot_egg-loop.htm

plumbertom · Oct 12, 2014

Okay, I watched that Steelhead stalkers video a couple times and it does look a bit simpler than It appears on the drawings.
I think I could do it just fine after a couple of tries. I'm usually a pretty quick study with knots once I see them done.
But I still think the uni-snell would do the same job. Although the egg knot claims 100% line strength and the uni-snell only 95%.
I'll give the egg knott a few tries on my practice hook (a 6/0 hook mounted on a clamp and base) and see how I think it will be.

bagold53 · Oct 12, 2014

If you need the loop for eggs the egg knot give that extra room that the snell knot does not. I could see using either but I would guess that the snell might have more chance of cutting the egg group in half when casted. the egg loop gives you a little more give.

Also I dont like learning knots from images. Videos help in a lot of different aspects on how to move the string to get the desired loop or placement.

JeannaJigs · Oct 13, 2014

If you're fishing eggs, prawns or shrimp, the egg loop is necessary. It's pretty easy once you do it a few times. I tie mine all up when I hike in to my fishing spot in the dark and have nothing to do until it's legal to fish.

plumbertom · Oct 13, 2014

bagold53 said:
If you need the loop for eggs the egg knot give that extra room that the snell knot does not. I could see using either but I would guess that the snell might have more chance of cutting the egg group in half when casted. the egg loop gives you a little more give.

As far as I can tell tying the Uni-snell and just tightening it 1/8-1/4'' from the eyelet would give the same "extra room". You can tighten it any distance down the shank of the hook from the eyelet you want.

plumbertom · Oct 13, 2014

JeannaJigs said:
If you're fishing eggs, prawns or shrimp, the egg loop is necessary. It's pretty easy once you do it a few times. I tie mine all up when I hike in to my fishing spot in the dark and have nothing to do until it's legal to fish.

Not trying to be argumentative, I'm just an old fart that already has a few knots in his head. My fingers also know those knots pretty well. Mainly I was wondering if there was any particular edge to egg knot over the snell knot tied slightly down the shank. Far as I can see the only advantage is maybe a %5 gain in knot strength.

troutmasta · Oct 13, 2014

plumbertom said:
Not trying to be argumentative, I'm just an old fart that already has a few knots in his head. My fingers also know those knots pretty well. Mainly I was wondering if there was any particular edge to egg knot over the snell knot tied slightly down the shank. Far as I can see the only advantage is maybe a %5 gain in knot strength.

Its a must.
The difference is the egg loop tied properly holds the main line a good bit down the hook shank as oppose to right against the eye of the hook, with the line wrapped against the shank of the hook up to the eye increases the width of the hook shank distributing pressure and keeping your eggs/prawns from ripping off when you cast. Also with the tag pointing down to the bend in the hook the loop never gets 'knotted' up and is always easy to reuse.
Its a clutch knot, Im sure on principal you could fish with out but if you can tie a uni knot you can tie a stinkin old egg loop.

RunWithSasquatch · Oct 13, 2014

plumbertom-

I happen to use both, the proper egg loop, and a snell knot for fishing eggs. And honestly, I dont tell much of a difference. By the time I get done with my snell knot, with 7-8 wraps around the shank, it holds tight enough to the hook that it takes a good amount of effort to slide down the shank away from the eye. I usually leave it about an 1/8th of an inch from the eye.

That allows just enough room that I can then push my leader back through the eye allowing a loop to form, which I then lasso around my bait.

And I agree that a snell is faster, and maybe "easier."

Dead fish cannot tell the difference what knot you used.

plumbertom · Oct 14, 2014

This Animation makes it seem much easier to tie.
http://www.animatedknots.com/eggloo...rsity.jpg&Website=www.steelheaduniversity.com
I think I'll give it a few tries on my practice hook to see.

DonF · Nov 18, 2022

I use the egg loop to keep chicken liver in the hook casting for catfish. Never tried to tie the first one but learned to tie it on a barbed hook. Simply tie it on below the barb and tighten it below the barb, bard holds it. Hooks without a barb I tie on a snell long knot enough to get a decent loop. Then start over and tie another snell knot below it, works fine!

DonF · Jan 3, 2023

plumbertom said:
Not trying to be argumentative, I'm just an old fart that already has a few knots in his head. My fingers also know those knots pretty well. Mainly I was wondering if there was any particular edge to egg knot over the snell knot tied slightly down the shank. Far as I can see the only advantage is maybe a %5 gain in knot strength.

When I learned the egg loop it was on a salmon egg hook. Down the shank was a small barb and the guy teaching me tied it below that and that kept the knot down there. haven't found hooks like that for cats so took a circle hook and tied on a long snell just below the eyelet and the egg loop snell ust below it. Might mrntion I discovered tying the snell at the start I found it easiest by going through the eyelet backward first befor winding around the shank.