Swivels Who Uses Them

[KHOOKS]

I've been away from fishing for a long time. When my dad and I fished I used swivels so I could change out baits easier. I still find my self wanting to tie on a swivel on everything other than my t-rig's. I mostly use the smaller ones for smaller lures and bigger one for bigger baits like spooks/spinner baits/ and crankbaits. Now that I'm back into fishing I was wondering if using a swivels may change the way the lure aacts in the water. On topwater plugs and frogs The onl thing I see is the extra weight weighing them down some mostly on hollow body frogs. So my ? is when do you guys use swivels veruses tieing direct to a bait or the split ring on the bait.

 

[Violinguy]

I direct tie everything except hooks for live bait, which I almost never use.  I read years ago that swivels can affect the presentation of crankbaits and some other lures.  Also the presentation is visually not as natural; again what I read.  Therefore, I never used them.  Now for the kids, they are indispensable.  If they suddenly tell me they want to stop using live bait and switch to xyz lure, piece 'o cake.

[HardcoreBassin]

I direct tie pretty much everything.  I use a swivel on fluke soft baits.  I'll usually put a swivel about 1.5ft-2ft above the hook.  IMO it serves 2 purposes for a fluke minnow, #1 it stops your line from twisting in the event that the fluke gets fouled and starts to spin while reeling it in. #2, I think it actually helps with the action of a fluke or soft jerkbait.  It adds a bit of weight so the fluke will dive (slowly mind you) in a nose first position.

 

It sounds crazy but if you ora family member or friend have a pool, do some experimenting to see how different baits react to different swivels and swivel sizes.  You might be able to teach all of us a thing or 2.

 

- Dale

[KHOOKS]

Not likely to teach anyone anything soon. I havn't fished for a long time for bass anyway. My dad and I fished a good bit back in the 80's. We lived the GA and fish Lake Lanier a good bit. Can't name the area we fish but it was something ( ???? Creek) we got there off of 985 in the Gainsville area I think. I can remember it was hard fishing on that lake. We have family in Alabama and fish the alabama river around the Selma area when we would come home. I caught more bass on the river than Lake Lanier. Most my bass I've caught have been on a T-rigged plastic worm. Have landed a few here recently on a white spinnerbait with one willowleaf blade and one coloardo blade.

[ChrisD46]

Barrel swivel on Flukes & C - Rigs ...Also ok for kids - let's them experiment with different lures easier

[tcbass]

I use a swivel snap on all my rods but that's because I'm lazy and hate tying new knots and wasting time too. Especially when I switch so often.

[CDobber]

I am also a snap swivel guy for everything but t-rig, and lately chose not to use one trout/stream fishing as they are spooky and was getting tired of losing fish that my buddy got, even though everything else was the same.  Last time out, he still won 1-0.  

 

I don't really know if it has been a detriment or not to my overall success or the action on any of my lures for bass though....I usually only get an hour or two and am not going to rely on one lure during that time, I want as much time with the lure in the water as possible.  I try to keep them on the small/medium side for sizing, and prefer black to gold.

[Eddie-NoVA]

ive used snap swivels on some of my rods but discovered the bill norman speed clips and have switched. I can't count the number of times the snap opened on big fish.

[B@ssCrzy]

Snaps yes, snap swivels no.  For cranks and trebel baits I will use a snap, but for everything else it is direct tie to the lure.  Swivels look so unnatural that unless it is a fast moving bait I would not recommend it. 

[NJBasstard]

I rarely use swivels & on the rare occasion I do it's on fast moving treble hook baits. I've had to many break on me to feel comfortable using them so I tie direct 95% of the time. For things like frogs I use 40-50lb braid and tie with a palomar knot which I trust more than any swivel clip.

[bassguytom]

The only time I use a swivel is when drop shotting. I don't use them often after I discovered the VMC spin shot hook.

[einscodek]

I use swivels.. no line twist problems for me

[ColdSVT]

I direct tie everything

Now when i throw a c rig i do use a barrel swivel lol...but thats the only time

[SirSnookalot]

I use them all the time for leader connectors, lures will always get a loopknot.

[Shockwave]

I use them for all treble baits as well but t-rigs and c-rigs and such get directly tied. 

[NDH Fishing]

I have been told to NOT use them cause they scare fish off, especially the big ones who have gotten older and smarter. BUT, if you are fishing with a bunch of friends who dont know how to fish and youre almost like the leader cause you have to change all of their baits, then it saves TIME and LINE.

[bassboy107]

I use them all the time for leader connectors, lures will always get a loopknot.

do you use a snap swivel or barrel swivel for your leaders?

[Catch and Grease]

I use swivels on spoons and inline spinners.

[SirSnookalot]

do you use a snap swivel or barrel swivel for your leaders

 

I do use a duolock with ball bearing swivel but has nothing to do with freshwater fishing.  I never use a snap swivel or barrel swivel.  Even the Walmart barrel swivels are fine for leader connectors but there is virtual no rotation to them in when in the water.  They do need to be changed as they will corrode and weaken but out of the package they're plenty strong, I have friends using them for kingfish.  A crane swivel is next on the list, more rotation than a barrel but still basically a leader connector.  I buy most of mine by the piece at my tackle shop for about .16 per.  Then there are power swivels, they are pretty good and offer a lot of strength in a very compact size.  Last is a ball bearing swivel, which are the best of the bunch.  I buy spro and sampo but not really convinced they are any better than an off brand, some of the larger sizes come with welded rings not split rings.

 

At times I may use a duolock with spoons but I don't like any more hardware than that, reason for me that extra inch sometimes can save a cut off from a toothy fish.  Most spoons I use wobble back and forth, since there is no 360 degree rotation I don't see the need for a swivel.  Spoons like a Clark, J-spoon and Drone spoons turn over a lot, swivels may help reduce line twist but I wouldn't use anything but ball bearing.

[Slade House]

I don't use swivels on any rigs i fish.  Seriously how long does it take to tie a palomar knot anyway?  for C-rigging i use carolina keepers and those seem to work fine.  and if you're tying leader use an alberto knot.  swivels are for Alabama rigs that's it 

[mayer74]

I direct tie all my lures but use swivels on Carolina Rig (?) when attaching the leader. Just the way I was taught. Weight, bead,swivel, leader, hook, then bait. Never on a lure. Should we not be using them at all?