Snaps And Swivels

[Marquis Cooper]

Anyone use Snaps and Swivels? I bank fish and as you guys know i switch bait a lot. I thought about using snaps and swivels. Good idea? 

 

 

 

[SirSnookalot]

Snap/swivels, no.

A snap is fine, without is fine too, whatever your choice is.

[HoosierHawgs]

I don't use them because I don't change that often. If you want to change up without relying then yes. It will save you money on line. Just buy quality snaps so you don't lose fish.

[John G]

I use Bill Norman Speed Clips for hardbaits. 

[Smokinal]

i like tying direct. i find snaps/swivels catch too much grass. i also like my plastics to appear as natural as possible. i do use a snap on my crankbait rod but not on anything else. once you make up your mind that you are going to tie direct, you realize it only takes a second to retie and you lose a whole 3 inches of your line.

[doyle8218]

I use Bill Norman and Molix Hyper Snaps for some hard baits and Jika Rjgs.

[WIGuide]

There's nothing wrong with doing it. Be sure to use decent ones though, the cheap ones at wallie world will fall apart. I don't use them much anymore, but I used to use them all the time. I'd pick up some BPS fast lock ones with a ball bearing swivel attached. If you get a different brand, look for ones with that style of design to prevent them from falling/pulling apart.

[jitterbug127]

I use snaps but not swivels

[Felix77]

I want to like the idea.  I have used all different kinds and I have always resulted in going back to tying for each change.  You would be surprised how fast you can tie a knot after enough practice.  I also bank fish a lot.

[Fishes in trees]

Snaps with a ball bearing swivel on in-line spinners, like a Mepps.  Other than that, not so much.

 

I have a few jigging spoons and heavy blade baits.  I don't fish them very often.  I do have ball bearing swivels attached to them via a split ring.  Back when I was fishing BFL's as a co-angler, some guy in a tackle shop told me it was a good idea.

 

Cranks - not so much, I find it easier just to re-tie.   

[Raul]

I use snaps, swivels and snap & swivel combination or direct tie depending upon the bait I´m throwing.

 

Now if you are going to try any of them as an excuse for not tying knots and forget about checking the condition of your line on a regular basis then the absolute worst thing you can do is precisely that.

[MCS]

Hardbaits yes, plastics no. Bill Norman speed clips are good, or plain snaps....skip the swivels. 

[kcdinkerz]

I use then for spoons and. Inline spinners. If they were more weedless I would use them for other things to. But doing that makes ya lazy, might forget how to tie knots lol

[Insanity]

I use kvd brand its just faster. And less line wasted. I've had to put backing line on reels before so I no those 3 or 4 inches add up fast.

I read an article once that said if your going to use a snap. Remove the split ring. Or the two together would effect the action of the bait.

It makes sense how ever I never do it.

[MainelyBASS]

Hardly ever for me, but if I do its just a snap. I personally don't want to add another chance of a failure to happen if I dont need to. When tying straight, only the knot is between you and landing a fish. With a snap, the knot could fail, and the snap could fail. Funny/not so funny story about a snap failing at the wrong time-- I was striper fishing and the guy next to me hooks up with a near 50" fish but needs to climb down rocks to land it. He asks me to hold the rod once he has the fish worn out and I oblige. At this point the fish is belly up crashing into the rocks and he hands me the rod. Mid way through his climb to the bottom, the fish rolls over and makes a short run, in the process straighten's out the snap and off he goes. Not only did I lose the fish, but he had a $30 lure hanging out of his mouth as well. I would never second guess this mans approach as he is a well know striper master, so as he told me, that was the first time that it has ever happened to him.

[BassAddict'18]

If you are in a situation where you either dont want to eat up your line changing lures a lot or you want to quickly change baits on the spot and dont have that many rods at hand then a snap swivel can be a great thing. If you are lucky enough to have 4-5 rods on hand then you shouldnt run into that problem and can just tie your baits straight on with no worries.

[primetime]

If using Fluorocarbon leader I use a Invisiswivel as I trust the improved clinch knot better than tying direct to braid. I use snaps but when I do I only use the best quality, Spro and Worth are my favs...

[SirSnookalot]

Have seen a few posts about inexpensive snap/swivels breaking or opening.  If it does happen, IMO rare, what causes failure is probably due more to user error rather than quality.  Like every component of the chain having the drag set properly takes the pressure off, nothing should break.  From my observation experienced fishermen don't use them any way, it's the the fisherman that's fishing for smaller fish and gets smashed by one much larger and doesn't know how to handle it, locks the drag and something has to give.  The advantage of using better quality is not the issue of strength, but spin.  A barrel swivel with snap or not doesn't spin too much, the crane slightly better, power swivels are decent and BB tops the list.  I've recently changed to D.A.M. BB, work every bit as well as my Sampos, better price.

 

I use a #2 swivel rated at 40# with a duolock attached, the reason I use this size is the smaller the swivel the better control over line twist.  I only use this set up for barracuda fishing, nothing else.  I land these fish not based on the quality of each individual component, but in knowing how to do it.  I'm not the only one, we have slew of people doing exactly what I'm doing and they land them too.  

[bassman201]

I don't like using either. Using them can affect the actoin of your lure as well as get caught up in the grass and weeds. It doesn't take all to long to retie and it can actually help because there is less chance of fraying or weaking your line.

[Marquis Cooper]

You guys make great points. I think i'll give it a try just for the sake of trying it. Snaps but no swivels Is what I get from the comments. I do not have a problem tying the line on directly, was just looking for a faster way to get it done. Ultimately I may just continue to tie on direct.

[J Francho]

I use snaps and/or swivels, but NEVER snap-swivels.

[WPCfishing]

I have never used them. I like knowing the only thing between me and the bait is line. I also like the feedback from tying directly to my baits.

I wouldn't even consider using a swivel or snap.

[Raul]

I do use snap-swivel combination, specifically for in-line spinners and for spoons, those things twist the line with gusto.

 

If you are going to purchase snaps, swivels and snap-swivels ..... for crying out loud, purchase good quality ones !

[Jolly Green]

I use a swivel with 18" - 24'' of fluoro leader tied direct to my flukes. If I'm using a snap, it's a Duo-Lock snap at the end of a wire leader with a BB swivel, nice for combing a lipless crank or inline spinner through pike-infested waters.

[the reel ess]

Never again will I use a snap or swivel unless I KNOW there are no big fish where I am, like a creek. I had a snap straighten out on me with the largest fish so far this season. I should have tied it on, but I really didn't think the fish would be killing my presentation because they hadn't been biting well. I was experimenting.