newbie sliding snell frustration - other options?

I spent a couple hours trying to tie a sliding snell with limited success, even using my fly tying vice.  I managed two rigs that were only barely passable in my opinion and I wasn't really confident that what I'd tied wouldn't be a weak point.  This got me thinking of trying some other sliding options.  Feel free to tell me that these are really bad ideas.   I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel and probably should just practice more.  I was thinking of replacing the separate line that attaches the main line to the sliding hook with something else.  Small heat shrink tubing came to mind, or small rubber bands, or I could get out the fly tying gear and whip finish some thread.  Any thoughts?  It seems after examining the sliding snell that the mechanism for holding the main line to the sliding hook is irrelevant once you hook a fish on it.  The hook is going to slide down to the bottom hook and stop because the main line goes through the eye of the sliding hook.  OK, let the "you're crazy" comments fly.  I can take it!

The snell is basic knot stuff and I think you should take the time to practice till you get it.
Did you try looking at "youtube" videos and "animated knots".
If you hookup with someone to show you its pretty simple stuff.
Try this one

The Knot Guide app for iPhone is worth all 199 pennies.

Yeah, that one's tricky until it clicks. Its just tricky figuring out the wraps... Pinch the eye of the hook, the end of your "loop", and the main line between our left thumb and index finger, then put your right index AND middle fingers through the loop, you can hold the whole thing in tension by spreading your index and middle fingers apart. Then it's as easy as directing the wraps with your right fingers. The line against your index wraps around the shank/main line while the line against your middle finger passes around the outside of the "J". That make sense? The key for me was figuring out how to keep everything under tension using TWO fingers through the loop, rather than tryin to actually grab and wind.

The video posted here is one of the best I've seen yet. I like the sliding snell and use it for halibut fishing all the time. However, there have been times I just feel like taking an easier route... tying on the water with cold fingers and choppy seas can be challenging. I've tied a normal snell, leaving an extra long tag end, and simply hard tied a treble to the tag end with a palomar. I don't concern myself with placing the hooks perfectly at both ends of the bait. In fact, I prefer to have the trailing hook placed more central on the bait. The fish I've caught using this technique don't seem to be mocking me when I pull them out of the water. Then again, I'm not privileged to see their critiques of my work as they inspect my bait. Maybe I'm just culling the slow-witted out of the schools. Don't care. Stupid fish taste just as good as the smart ones.

Practice, practice, practice and I'm sure you'll get it very soon. Good luck.

I'm terrible at knots but that makes it all the more satisfying when you get one down. Like AlexB said, it can be tricky until it "clicks." Also a big fan of the video tutorials, and I try to tie extra leaders on land before hitting the water. I can't do it in wind & swell, and if I've taken Scopalamine that day, forget it!

http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/

I do it like in the video, without doing the first part on the hook.  That way there is no bend of the main line while passing thru the snell.

yeah I'm an impatient bastard!  It was probably my trembling hands at 10pm the night before a fishing trip frantically trying to rig up.  I was definitely tying knots, just not the ones I wanted.  Typically I do a regular snell with a long tag end and hard tie another hook there but I liked the sliding setup better.  I'll keep at it.  Thanks all!

The Snell that Shimmy posted is the way I tie mine from many years of Back bouncing roe on the Smith.
If you want a quickie for tying on the water the rubber band Snell works fine I use a Uni on the bottom hook.
If you want a cleaner look just use Magic thread.

I love the magic thread idea after all its only a guide to hold the hook in place till your hooked up!!!!Thanks that's much quicker and can be done with cold hands

probably sacrilege to say so, but I am not a fan of sliding snells.  Seems like they alway mess with the mainline, little nicks and cuts.  I generally hard tie both hooks in place and just space them based on the type of bait I will be using.  I usually use a palomar knot for the bottom hook then this easy snell for the top hook.    It is easy to do and I have caught seabass, halibut and lings with it. http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/fishingknots/snell_fishing_knots.html

I love the sliding snell for my WSB and Halibut rigs.  I find the trick with the second hook is; once you have wrapped the hook and passed the Tag end back through the loop, ONLY tighten it with the Main line end.  Then you get that nice Pop and the knot tightens and the tag line straightens out. 

I might try the slider again.  I used to use it, but it created a pinch (I guess) and my leaders kept breaking there.  I like the version in this video.

Now, I hard tie the top snell, and just tie a variety of lengths to accomodate differ ent size baits.

Allen

after about 2 hours watching the video i finally got it down. thanks for saving me some serious money buying premade leaders.