Spinnerbait rigging

[Buffdaddy54]

Is it ok to rig a spinnerbait with a snap or is it better to tie on direct?

[riverbasser]

Always direct for me and I believe most on here will say the same.  The two just don't work well together

[heavyduty]

I use a snap for 99% of all my fishing. For spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, I install a skirt band over the "R" bend loop so the snap stays in the loop and doesn't run up and down the wire. 

[Scott F]

If you use spinner baits with the closed loop, you can use a snap. If you use the "R" bend style, The snap will ride up and hang up on the blades, so you'll want to tie direct on those. Some guys are able to close off the R bend with line or rubber bands so they can use a leader. But I haven't found a method I like so I use spinner baits that have the closed loop. 

[burrows]

You can but grass and junk will get caught up on the snap kinda defeats the purpose of a somewhat weedless lure, also it will move out of position with most R bend spinnerbaits but if you must! tie the R bend with some braid and a dab of super glue.

[J.Vincent]

Definitely Tie direct to the Spinnerbait with a good solid knot (Palomar or Trilene Knot work well for me and they are simple and effective). If you want freedom to change baits on the fly, then maybe consider using Norman Speed Clips. Its basicly an enhanced Split ring designed mostly for crankbait fishing, but could be used with any closed eyelet lures where you would typically have a split ring (though it wont work with R bend Spinnerbaits). I have found The Norman Speed clip has a smaller profile and will catch less underwater debris than regular Snaps. 

[Catt]

At 67 yrs old I can still tie any lure on with a Palomar knot in under 20 seconds!

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@Catt:  Oh, yeah? Well, at 69 I can name that tune in 19 notes. So there!  Besides, if you aren’t using a snap, you are depriving yourself of one of bass fishing’s most annoying mistakes - forgetting to check your line for wear and fray. When you tie on a lure directly, you are almost guaranteed to remove frayed line; when you use a snap - if you are like me - you tend to forget to check your line and the next thing you know ... there goes ten bucks worth of lure hanging from the lip of a nice bass that broke you off at the kayak.  (Oh, and give me 17-pound fluorocarbon and a breeze and I’ll provide you with a couple of minutes of entertainment while I wrestle with that sucker.) Still, I’m with you. I tie directly.

[Catt]

The reasoning for using a snap is quick lure changing 

 

How long does it take y'all to cut off & retie?

 

Besides I've seen too many snaps open under pressure!

[YoTone]

I use those speed clips but only when im bank fishing with one set up. I use a wacky o ring to keep the clip from sliding from the spinner or buzzbait.

[tander]

Always tie direct, never used a snap on anything.

[J Francho]

I tie direct, it's really easy to tie an improved clinch knot by just looping the line through, and spinning the bait five times, finishing the knot.

[georgeyew]

I use a snap with my spinnerbaits (in fact with all my baits). I have mainly closed looped wires for my spinnerbaits. For the R bend wires, I do use the small dental rubber bands or wire ties to close off the R bend.

[MN Fisher]

I use snaps with everything. Having only one eye (lost one to cancer), tying knots every time I want to change lures is an exercise in frustration. So it's a need, not a preference.

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I use snaps with everything. Having only one eye (lost one to cancer), tying knots every time I want to change lures is an exercise in frustration. So it's a need, not a preference.

I'm going to try and make a quick video showing how I tie them.  Maybe it will help.  My vision stinks, and you don't need too much close vision to tie it.  It's mostly by feel.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

I'm going to try and make a quick video showing how I tie them.  Maybe it will help.  My vision stinks, and you don't need too much close vision to tie it.  It's mostly by feel.

Well the remaining eye is 20/20 corrected, so vision is great. It's the lose of depth perception that makes putting the tag end through small loops (Trilene knot for example) a hassle.

[J Francho]

Man, same issue.  Astigmatism in my left eye messes with depth perception.  Readers help, or just my regular prescription glasses too.

[burrows]

Tie direct on everything with the exemption of square bills.

[scaleface]

I cut and retie often anyway so , for me , there is no advantage to using a snap   . That might change soon . I had retina tears in both eyes last year and now they tell me i have cataracts . I'm going back to retina specialist on wed .  I see sparks in my peripheral  vision as a result  of the tears but they seem to be getting worse . 

[burrows]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

At 67 yrs old I can still tie any lure on with a Palomar knot in under 20 seconds!

Well I’m 99 and half years old and I tie direct in under 17.5 seconds! 

[rosshilk]

I don't personally ever use snaps. I do know with some techniques it is known to be a potential benefit. The only time using a snap makes sense to me would be a jerkbait. Some say it helps Jerkbaits move to their full potential. I suggest you find a knot you can make very easily and leave the snaps at home. I am honestly a bit snobby about it. If I see a snap on your line I assume you aren't a great fisherman.

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, rosshilk said:

If I see a snap on your line I assume you aren't a great fisherman.

I cut split rings off my crankbaits, and use a snap.  Probably around 2/3 of my cranks have snaps on them already, so it's pretty likely that I'm retying on a bait change anyway.  It prevents issues with either knot or the loop in the bait getting fouled up with the slot in the split ring.

 

1 minute ago, rosshilk said:

Some say it helps Jerkbaits move to their full potential.

A snap can alter the nose up/down attitude of a suspending bait.  I don't recommend altering this bait, unless it's for an intentional purpose.

[rosshilk]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I cut split rings off my crankbaits, and use a snap.  Probably around 2/3 of my cranks have snaps on them already, so it's pretty likely that I'm retying on a bait change anyway.  It prevents issues with either knot or the loop in the bait getting fouled up with the slot in the split ring.

 

A snap can alter the nose up/down attitude of a suspending bait.  I don't recommend altering this bait, unless it's for an intentional purpose.

With your crankbaits you're not adding an extra unnecessary ring though. You've experienced problems and adjusted. That makes sense I've just not had the same issue. I definitely view what you're doing differently then adding an extra snap swivel to the crankbaits original split ring.  

[Bankbeater]

I use to tie directly on, but over the past couple of years I have started to use a snap.  I put a split ring over the R to close off the bend.

[Buffdaddy54]

4 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I use to tie directly on, but over the past couple of years I have started to use a snap.  I put a split ring over the R to close off the bend.

Can you show me a picture?