Snap swivel or direct tie on glide baits?

[walt-14]

Buddy and I are on the hunt for a spring giant here in Iowa in the coming months (hopefully).  These -20 degree days has me thinking its going to be June before we have open water.  Neither of us has what I would call "targeted" strictly giants on our local lakes/ponds at ice out.  Hoping that throwing some bigger baits will land one of us a lunker.  I plan on throwing my 168 S Waver but am wondering if I should use a snap swivel or directly tie?  I've seen a lot of guys use a snap swivel.  Does anyone have a preference on brand and does using a snap swivel really help the action a ton? Or is it more of a convenience thing when switching out baits?  Thanks in advance.

[Hammer 4]

I tie direct on my S Waver 168, but on some glide baits, they do come with a snap, in that case, I retain the snap and tie to it.

[suzuki2903]

Decoy egg snaps are convenient and aid with action ! 

[Shimano_1]

I always put a split ring on my glide baits and tie to it. Seems like it gets a little more action from it.

[Captain Phil]

I am not a fan of adding snaps, swivels or split rings to artificial baits. The only possible exception is when I'm fishing where toothy critters can cut my line, then I may use a wire leader.  If a lure would benefit from a snap or split ring, it would already have one.  Using line too big for the lure can dampen it's action.  This is a common problem when using a heavy mono leader in salt water fishing.  The "loop knot" was created so the lure can swing freely on the line.   Using hardware to connect lures to your line can cost you fish.  It can throw the lure out of balance, reduce the action or break at the snap.   Some people must use snaps if they are physically impaired.  If you are physically able, use a loop knot.

[GreenPig]

Decoy snap on all my hard swimbaits. Direct tie on soft baits.

[Revival]

4 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Decoy snap on all my hard swimbaits. Direct tie on soft baits.

What sizes do you guys like?  And you are referring to the Decoy egg snaps correct?

[Bluebasser86]

I use a Decoy Egg Snap on most of glide baits. I believe they're a #4.

[GreenPig]

11 hours ago, Revival said:

What sizes do you guys like?  And you are referring to the Decoy egg snaps correct?

Yes the Decoy egg snap. I use #3,4, and 5.

[the reel ess]

I use Tactical Anglers clips on everything I want to be able to change out quickly. That's pretty much all treble baits. I haven't had a problem with any fish bending them yet. They're rated from 50-175 lb. I'm in the kayak so versatility is key.

[moguy1973]

17 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I am not a fan of adding snaps, swivels or split rings to artificial baits. The only possible exception is when I'm fishing where toothy critters can cut my line, then I may use a wire leader.  If a lure would benefit from a snap or split ring, it would already have one.  Using line too big for the lure can dampen it's action.  This is a common problem when using a heavy mono leader in salt water fishing.  The "loop knot" was created so the lure can swing freely on the line.   Using hardware to connect lures to your line can cost you fish.  It can throw the lure out of balance, reduce the action or break at the snap.   Some people must use snaps if they are physically impaired.  If you are physically able, use a loop knot.

Been fishing for almost 50 years and have used snaps for most of them and have only lost one fish due to a snap breaking, and it was on a foul hooked grass carp.  As long as you use the proper sized snap for the fish you are fishing for there is no problem using snaps.  Your line will break before the snap will.  Think about it, just about every single hard bait has split rings that hold the hooks on. You don't see that hardware breaking left and right.

[Born 2 fish]

Glide baits I use a Decoy snap. But for Swimming baits like the bullshads I tie direct to the bait

[Captain Phil]

4 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Been fishing for almost 50 years and have used snaps for most of them and have only lost one fish due to a snap breaking, and it was on a foul hooked grass carp. 

 

In offshore fishing, we use heavy duty snaps to facilitate leader changes.  The leaders are made of heavy mono 8-12 feet long or more. Ball bearing snaps are tied on using specialized double line knots like the "Bimini Twist ".  I have seen very few snap failures even with large ocean fish.   My concern with breakage in bass fishing is even less. 

 

Back when I was actively guiding, many of my regular customers were northern anglers who had retired to Florida and were having trouble catching Florida bass.   A large majority of those fisherman would show up with wire leaders and/or snaps tied to the end of their line.  The first thing I would do is cut them off and show them how to tie proper knots.  It's not that you can't catch fish with a lure attached to the line by a snap swivel, you can.  Not using one will increase your success rate substantially.  This is why tournament professionals tie their line directly to the lure.  This is also why they carry so many rods as it keeps them from wasting time retying.  

[Revival]

8 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Yes the Decoy egg snap. I use #3,4, and 5.

What size would you use for like the 168s?  What determines what size you use?

[MickD]

What determines the size for me is its pound test.  Don't buy unless you know its strength.

I should mention that I have not often used a snap swivel.  Snaps, yes, snap swivels no.  

[Revival]

This is the size/lb reference for the Decoy snaps.

 

 

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, Revival said:

What size would you use for like the 168s?  What determines what size you use?

#3 on a 168. Lure size and line strength.