Should I use clips?

[Jake51823]

Hey all, I’ve recently started noticing my buddies using clips on all their lures. One of them swears by it and he removes all split rings on every lure and attached the clip to the loop on the lure. He also stated that it makes the action better on some lures. 
 

I’ve always tied my line on to the split rings. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this? Is it proven to be effective? 

[garroyo130]

I use them because it makes swapping lures easier. I've never bought into the whole gives the lure more action thing.

[new2BC4bass]

Like to know the answer myself.  I've always used whatever came with the lure.  Not a huge fan of split rings as it makes it harder for me to get line tied where I think it should be.  But...what do I know? 

[TheWitness33]

I buy snap swivels & snip the swivel off. It's basically a metal Rapala knot if you will. And makes swapping easier without wasting line. 

[Jake51823]

What brand or type do you guys use also I would love to know. 

18 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

I use them because it makes swapping lures easier. I've never bought into the whole gives the lure more action thing.

So do you take split rings off and use snaps right to the lure as well? 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have used the Spro Prime snap mini, the VMC touch lok, the Tactical Anglers and the Owner Hyper Weld.

 

I like the Owner Hyper Welds the best.

[throttleplate]

vmc touch lock for me

 

[Jake51823]

I just have many questions about it. Like are they also good to use on soft swim baits too that have that metal loop on the lure?

[jbsoonerfan]

You can use them on any lure as long as the eye isn't too small for the clip to attach to. I only use them for cranks, lipless, jerkbaits and swimbaits/A-rigs.

[Junger]

I like Mustad Fastach's. They require a slight rotation of the lure and some lures that have a lip such as a crankbait or wakebait won't fit, so I use TA Power Clips in those situations.

[waymont]

I gave up on all snaps unless I'm using 8lb or less line. Under 8lb line I will use cross locks for small cranks. The worst snaps I've used were the VMC cross lock snaps.

[Happybeerbuzz]

I use duo lock style snaps on lures.  I remove the split rings except when the eye on the lure is awkward to use a snap on like when they are recessed into the bill.  

[Bluebasser86]

I just started doing this last fall and wish I'd done it sooner. Removed all the split rings from my baits and using small snaps. Thought I'd get lazy and not retie as often but it hasn't been an issue. Plus I've caught fish I wouldn't have because I was able to try a different bait or color for a few cast that I wouldn't have if I had to completely retie. 

[Dens228]

I only use snaps on crankbaits.   Those are the lures I change out the most while fishing and it's just easier for me.  

[bulldog1935]

I will add, just this Feb, I lost my first fish and lure from the TA clip.  

But redfish have crushers in the back of their throat, which may have contributed.  Aside from that, released 20 of them this day, all about this size, and kept 2 slot fish for dinner.  

 

adding, I remove split rings from plugs even if, on small plugs, I have to clip them with angled cutters.  

On spinning tackle, I always use a micro swivel - there are different ways to do it, but I most often use titanium-wire micro traces.  

[galyonj]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I just started doing this last fall and wish I'd done it sooner. Removed all the split rings from my baits and using small snaps. Thought I'd get lazy and not retie as often but it hasn't been an issue. Plus I've caught fish I wouldn't have because I was able to try a different bait or color for a few cast that I wouldn't have if I had to completely retie. 

 

I've been doing this for a while with hard plastic lures -- even jerkbaits and hard topwaters. Never lost a fish.

 

I feel like it's a more efficient use of my time on the water, because my ADHD kicks into overdrive with hard plastics, and I do a lot of lure switching. Snaps mean I spend more time putting lures in front of the fish.

 

However, I only use snaps on treble-hook lures. They might do just fine, but I'm not gonna use a snap with finesse soft plastics (I like how they fall just fine tied directly), and I'm 100% not gonna use a snap on a lure with a heavier hook that requires a more aggressive hookset.

[Jake51823]

I hate having to change lures because of how long it takes for me to tie the line on. Duolocks.
 

My buddy uses them on all lures and I’ve seen him set the hook with clips pretty hard and has had no problems. 

[Tennessee Boy]

The great thing about using them is you don't have to retie as often.

 

The bad thing is you don't retie as often.

[jbsoonerfan]

16 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

The great thing about using them is you don't have to retie as often.

 

The bad thing is you don't retie as often.

This......my advice is to check your line as often as you would without the snap and still retie as needed. You should always retie when you feel a nick or an abnormality anyway, the snap just makes switching lures easier.

[Bankc]

I bought a bunch of different snaps last year.  I wanted figure out for myself which ones I liked.  My conclusion is that different snaps work better for different style lures.  None are best in all situations.  I was hoping to narrow it down to just one or maybe two, but it looks like that's not gonna happen.  

 

Also, I usually leave the split rings on.  Often I'll just hook the snap into it, or bypass it and hook the snap next to it.  It doesn't seem to matter much, and I often skip the snap and just tie directly on.  If you want to fully commit to the snaps, then taking the split rings off would be a good idea, as they can get in the way.  

[PhishLI]

I'm using VMC Touch Lok snaps for just about everything except light fluoro leader baits, Wacky or Neko rigs, Bitsy Bugs, and drop shots. Even big single hook Beast Hook baits get clipped. Frogs too. I've never broken one jacking a fish or tearing a bait from a snag.

 

However, they do have a cycle life. Metal fatigue will set in eventually, especially if you've bent them out a number of times in order get them clipped onto certain smaller billed baits. I try to avoid doing that, but after I have a few times they get retired. Obviously they save line, but they're a huge time saver too. Also I haven't dropped my spectacles into the drink once while wading since I started using them. I need my readers for tying a knot at night, or in low light, but not for these. They're worth their weight in gold, IMO.

[padon]

for crankbaits i like the norman speed clip. kind of a unique design. i really like them so far.

[Bird]

The snaps come in handy when you don't want to carry a dedicated rod for everything you plan on throwing on a particular day.

I'll jump back and forth from a spinnerbait to a WP or buzzbait using same rod and they are much more efficient than the old swivels. 

 

My lakes are gin clear so really only use them on moving baits and though I haven't tried but wouldn't they cause nose dive on suspending Jerkbaits? Idk

[jbsoonerfan]

1 minute ago, Bird said:

My lakes are gin clear so really only use them on moving baits and though I haven't tried but wouldn't they cause nose dive on suspending Jerkbaits? Idk

The tactical angler clips definitely cause a jerkbait to be more nose down, not sure it matters all that much, but that is one reason I like the Owners better.

[PhishLI]

14 minutes ago, Bird said:

My lakes are gin clear so really only use them on moving baits and though I haven't tried but wouldn't they cause nose dive on suspending Jerkbaits? Idk

I doubt the #1 Touch-Lok weighs much more than a split ring. It's light. Its rated to 68lbs.