Who Uses A Snap To Connect Your Crankbait

[Big Stick Joe]

Thank you NWBasslover and DaveP. I did catch a small carp on a crankbait that i swapped out the split ring for the snap. Other than that, i didn't notice any time of differents.

[SudburyBasser]

I use snaps on virtually every class of lure so yes to the answer. I haven't noticed any difference and I still seem to catch them on crankbaits.

[bassin is addicting]

i do

[shootermcbob]

I use them as well. I don't think it hurts the action of any of my lures, and it saves a lot of line from not having to constantly cut one lure off, re-tie, fish awhile, cut another lure off, re-tie, repeat.

[NWBasslover]

To the split ring.

 

Actually, the manufacturers all say that if you attach your snaps to a split ring you hurt the action. The bait becomes to 'floppy' and doesn't have the right support for the action. I have tested most of my cranks in the pool with and without splits and snaps and I have to say, they are right.

[Dave P]

Actually, the manufacturers all say that if you attach your snaps to a split ring you hurt the action. The bait becomes to 'floppy' and doesn't have the right support for the action. I have tested most of my cranks in the pool with and without splits and snaps and I have to say, they are right.

 

Not saying that "all of the manufacturers say" isn't correct, but I've never seen any such thing myself. Nor have I noticed any difference on any bait over about 1/2 oz and definitely not on any bait like a 3-6 XDs or any other "deep diver" cranks unless it's something with a very narrow bill. I haven't notice any difference between round split rings and the oval shaped ones. I don't like snaps as much on small Bagley's and other light squarebills. I don't generally use the light ones. All mine are 1/2 oz on up. I don't use them on lipless because I think there's a vibration difference and I do feel they dampen the action a little.

 

From Kevin VanDam’s Bass Strategies Revised Edition. Page 100.

“Snaps:  There are anglers who advocate tying all lures direct, but I’m not one of them.  I use snaps on most of my crankbaits, spoons and sub-surface lures, although I tie topwaters, jigs and soft plastics to the line. Anglers claim that snaps will break or come undone, but I’ve never experienced any of those problems.  I use a snap because it allows me to change baits quickly, and more importantly, I think it enhances lure action. Now, I don’t use snap ‘swivels’ because they add too much weight to the front of the lure and they stifle lure action.  I use Berkley Cross-Lok snaps in 75-pound strength for most of my hardbait attachments.  I’ve never had a problem with them, although I do change often.  The wire clasp will lose its strength if you open and close it often, so I don’t take any chances.”

 

I don't use the 75lb one's either. I use the smallest lightest cross locks that I can find. Maybe that makes a difference, I don't know. Their breaking strength is still higher than my line, so I don't worry about it at all. I use them for a few trips and toss them. I realize KVD doesn't directly address the split ring issue but it does leave no doubt that the man himself uses snaps.

[Derek Garner]

i used to use them all the time, recently when fishing with a buddy of mine, he lost a good fish on a swimbait that was using a snap... NEVER AGAIN haha

[Jell0b0y]

I always use Norman speed clips

x2. I started using them this year and love them. Haven't seen a big difference with or without so its a plus for me to quickly swap lures without a retie

[Mike L]

I always use Norman speed clips

 

Ditto...

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Preytorien]

I've always used snaps just because they're easy to swap out lures. Pretty much everything's been said in this thread, but like I posted in another thread

......an old timer once told me that with all the blades, clackers, rattles, and whirls our lures make, he's pretty certain a fish won't look at that "contraption" barrelling through the water and politely refuse to bite because I have a tiny little snap on my line. 

[Hogsticker]

I tried to use some dual locks on my cranks, but most of my lures that had that nice tight wobble ended up getting more of a wide wobble to them. I was killing bass on red eye shad tying to the split ring, but when I used the dual locks that tight wiggle was gone and didn't catch one bass. Ended up putting all of my split rings back on and ditched the dual locks.

You should leave the split ring on, and attach the snap to that. It won't make a rattle bait "vibe" any less.

[NWBasslover]

Not saying that "all of the manufacturers say" isn't correct, but I've never seen any such thing myself. Nor have I noticed any difference on any bait over about 1/2 oz and definitely not on any bait like a 3-6 XDs or any other "deep diver" cranks unless it's something with a very narrow bill. I haven't notice any difference between round split rings and the oval shaped ones. I don't like snaps as much on small Bagley's and other light squarebills. I don't generally use the light ones. All mine are 1/2 oz on up. I don't use them on lipless because I think there's a vibration difference and I do feel they dampen the action a little.

 

From Kevin VanDam’s Bass Strategies Revised Edition. Page 100.

“Snaps:  There are anglers who advocate tying all lures direct, but I’m not one of them.  I use snaps on most of my crankbaits, spoons and sub-surface lures, although I tie topwaters, jigs and soft plastics to the line. Anglers claim that snaps will break or come undone, but I’ve never experienced any of those problems.  I use a snap because it allows me to change baits quickly, and more importantly, I think it enhances lure action. Now, I don’t use snap ‘swivels’ because they add too much weight to the front of the lure and they stifle lure action.  I use Berkley Cross-Lok snaps in 75-pound strength for most of my hardbait attachments.  I’ve never had a problem with them, although I do change often.  The wire clasp will lose its strength if you open and close it often, so I don’t take any chances.”

 

I don't use the 75lb one's either. I use the smallest lightest cross locks that I can find. Maybe that makes a difference, I don't know. Their breaking strength is still higher than my line, so I don't worry about it at all. I use them for a few trips and toss them. I realize KVD doesn't directly address the split ring issue but it does leave no doubt that the man himself uses snaps.

 

Correct. I wasn't saying not to use snaps. I use them and a lot of the pros do also. I was saying that if you leave the split ring on and attach your snap to the split ring instead of directly to the bait I have seen performance issues. Granted, I have a shallow pool that I test my lures in, only 4' deep, so I do have to amend my earlier statement to say "shallow baits".

[Dave P]

Correct. I wasn't saying not to use snaps. I use them and a lot of the pros do also. I was saying that if you leave the split ring on and attach your snap to the split ring instead of directly to the bait I have seen performance issues. Granted, I have a shallow pool that I test my lures in, only 4' deep, so I do have to amend my earlier statement to say "shallow baits".

Cheers!

[alexczarn]

I've always used snaps for all my hard baits.