Do you secure your cranks with snap clips? What to do with the split rings?

[Ray K]

As the title says, how many of you use snap clips to tie on crank baits and if you do, what do you do with the split rings the lure comes with?  See the poll and comments welcome.

[scaleface]

I dont use them often and when I do its because they came with the lure .

I dont use snaps to avoid tying knots . The line should be snipped and retied often anyways .

[Goose52]

I typically only use snaps with crankbaits. When doing so, I connect the snap to the split ring. I leave the split ring on the bait since occasionally I might still direct tie to that bait.

I normally use a snap on crankbaits as I will often be working different depths as I'm working around the lake and might make only 5 or 10 casts at one depth before exploring another depth. This photo shows the cranks that ended up in my tackle tray one day - depths from 1 ft to 14 foot or so:

Some will say that if you DO use a snap that you must remove the split ring - otherwise there is too much hardware on the front of the bait that will impede the action of the bait or will alert the fish. I haven't found that to be the case as this photo shows - that is a snap on the split ring...

 

YMMV

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

I typically only use snaps with crankbaits. When doing so, I connect the snap to the split ring. I leave the split ring on the bait since occasionally I might still direct tie to that bait.

I normally use a snap on crankbaits as I will often be working different depths as I'm working around the lake and might make only 5 or 10 casts at one depth before exploring another depth. This photo shows the cranks that ended up in my tackle tray one day - depths from 1 ft to 14 foot or so:

Some will say that if you DO use a snap that you must remove the split ring - otherwise there is too much hardware on the front of the bait that will impede the action of the bait or will alert the fish. I haven't found that to be the case as this photo shows - that is a snap on the split ring...

 

YMMV

Nice Bait line up.

I Tie Direct  to the split ring with most every bait. (and prefer the oval models)

When using a clip I'll go to the ring if there is one and to the bait directly if there is not.

Spoons of any kind have a ball bearing swivel in there somewhere.  Either right at the bait or up the line a foot or two.

A-Jay

 

[scaleface]

5 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

 

 

YMMV

Man , thats a small Wiggle Wart .

[TheRodFather]

Great question, I have been wondering this myself.   I have been using the Norman clips onto the snap ring.  I understand that the less clips/swivels etc are on the bait the better it looks to the fish, but honestly how can we say that fish wouldn't bite if there is a swivel, when people catch fish on chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, all those baits have wires and swivels and all kinds of things that look unnatural.

Not to mention the treble hooks hanging off the bottom of everything, and the huge clear plastic nose hanging of the front of a crankbait, I have a hard time believing that a small snap would make much difference. 

I'm certainly no pro though.

[Catt]

[TheRodFather]

35 minutes ago, Catt said:

That's a good solution for letting the lure have the action it wants, but doesn't solve the issue of re-tying when trying to figure out what the fish want.  

For now, I am a bank fisherman and only carry 3 rods at any given time, so I usually carry three rods, to cover top, middle and bottom of the water column.   The rod that covers the middle has to throw lipless cranks, cranks, jerkbaits, swimbaits, and everything else that I might need to try to bet bites.  So for me, if I can reduce the amount of tying without significantly lowering my chances (with a small clip) of a bite, I'll take it.

TRF

[Outdoor Zack]

4 hours ago, scaleface said:

I dont use them often and when I do its because they came with the lure .

I dont use snaps to avoid tying knots . The line should be snipped and retied often anyways .

This

[Jeff H]

4 hours ago, Goose52 said:

I typically only use snaps with crankbaits. When doing so, I connect the snap to the split ring. I leave the split ring on the bait since occasionally I might still direct tie to that bait.

I normally use a snap on crankbaits as I will often be working different depths as I'm working around the lake and might make only 5 or 10 casts at one depth before exploring another depth. This photo shows the cranks that ended up in my tackle tray one day - depths from 1 ft to 14 foot or so:

Some will say that if you DO use a snap that you must remove the split ring - otherwise there is too much hardware on the front of the bait that will impede the action of the bait or will alert the fish. I haven't found that to be the case as this photo shows - that is a snap on the split ring...

 

YMMV

I'm same.

[Angry John]

I use the owner welded clips and take off the split ring at the front.  I do leave them on jerkbaits and may change the size to help tune the bait.  I like them to suspend with a little down angle and this is a great way to tune for that IMO.

[WRB]

Stopped using loop knots on deep diving crankbaits because the line wears and breaks at the lure eye. Rapalas minnows and light weight jerk baits the loop knot is golden.

I use snaps like Owner #2  Welded or Crosslock Hyper direct to the lure eye and remove split rings.

Tom

[fishwizzard]

I am just getting into fishing small jerkbaits and am thinking of giving snaps a try.  I only carry a single rod when fishing on foot and find that I am always seeing a great deep hole when I have a shallow/floating lure on or a nice shallow weedline when I have a deep/sinking one tied on.  I would love any suggestion from you snap guys on which ones you prefer.  

[BASS302]

I've been using Norman Speed clips on my valuable lures, and duolock snaps  on my less valuable lures.  I remove the split rings but I don't know if that actually makes any difference.  Someone should do a scientific test.  And yes, I do retie but probably not often enough.

Valuable lures = 1) Expensive lures, 2) Lures that have a good history of catching fish, or 3) Lures that you can't buy anymore

I have some Mustad Fastach snaps that I willl try out next year.

[CybrSlydr]

Never occurred to me to remove the split rings - I've always just hooked the snap onto the ring.

[papajoe222]

I just recently started using duolock snaps with my cranks for the same reason Goose does, but I've been removing the split ring on the baits.
 Not that I'm lazy (truth be told, I am), but I don't have bi-focal sunglasses and retying requires removing them. I constantly check my line and knots. My only regret is that I didn't use them in my tourney days as I likely wasted 20-30min. over the course of a day, cutting off and tying on different cranks.

[Ohio Archer]

I've started using these Mustad Fastach Clips on the end of my fluorocarbon leaders.  Easier to use than the heavy locking clips needed for throwing big baits.  I tie directly to the split ring on smaller lures to keep the action from being deadened.

http://mustad-fishing.com/am/product/ultrapoint-fastach-clip-ftc/

["hamma"]

I use berkley crosslock snaps for cranks and jerkbaits, and I remove any splitrings, and save them for treble hook replacements. I've found this snap to be the strongest many years ago and have stuck with it since.

 Cranks and jerkbaits need that freedom of movement a split ring, snap, or loop knot provides, so the lure tracks and runs correctly

 Sometimes I will use the loop knot for jerkbaits, like during the colder water seasons

 I check my line periodically anyways, and will re-tie to the snap when need be, can be a slight trick to tie a polamar knot on a big jerkbait or crank that has a snap attached to it, but i'm used to it and dont see it as a issue. sometimes I will remove the snap to re-tie to it so the large lure doesnt hinder, 

[Scarborough817]

i always just tie direct but now i'm rethinking that i might need to be using a snap instead

[SWVABass]

I rarely use snaps, I have had them bend out before. But if I do I tgo to the split ring, maybe it's just me but I'd rather tie to the bait and a palomar knot doesn't take long to tie. Works great for me.

[Bankbeater]

I leave the split ring on.  This time of year I use a duo lock snap, but in warmer weather I tie directly to the split ring.

[tholmes]

I almost never use snaps on crankbaits. I tie to the split ring. If I need to change lures, well, it's probably time to re-tie anyway.

Tom

[J Francho]

Around half my cranks have Duo Locs already on them.  I cut the split rings off when I get them. A Duo Loc lets me use a strong Palomar knot.