Snelling hooks, especially circle hooks, can demand more dexterity than most people can manage. Holding the bitter end, the shank of the hook and the first part of the loop with one hand can be frustrating, and circle hooks add the challenge of the very sharp and curved point into the mix. A simple solution is to use a fly-tying vise as a third hand. Inexpensive vises are available for around $25 and some even come with an extra set of jaws that will hold larger hooks. I’ve even found that using the vise makes my snelling operation a bit quicker.
Robert W. Guiry, Floral Park, New York
