Using snaps for bass fishing

[Glenn]

Seems we often get questions here along the lines of, "When is the right time to use a snap or a snap swivel for bass fishing? Or should I tie my fishing lure directly to my fishing line?"  So I made this video to help answer those questions.

 

Hope it helps!

 

 

[A-Jay]

Nicely Done.

A-Jay 

 

[Captain Phil]

Good video.  Many northern anglers who move to Florida struggle to catch our bass.  When they ask for help, I often find them attaching their lures with snap swivels.  I believe this is because they are used to using leaders to prevent cutoffs from pike?  Nothing destroys the action of a bait like a heavy snap swivel.  The loop knot is a very easy knot to learn.  Some older anglers tell me they need a snap because their fingers don't work like they used to.  If you are going to use hardware to attach your lure, use the smallest snap you can find.   

 

 

[Mike L]

I’ll use a snap from time to time usually when on a hard bait bite which isn’t too often. 
Can’t remember the last time I used a snap swivel. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Deleted account]

Two snaps and no twist...

[crypt]

I will use Speed clips after I take off the snap ring.

[Bankbeater]

I like snaps for moving baits.  They're also handy when you are wearing gloves in 40 degree weather and can't tie a knot.

[Gkitz]

What size snap do you use for cranks? Top water?

[QED]

24 minutes ago, Gkitz said:

What size snap do you use for cranks? Top water?

 

You should use the smallest snaps that meet or exceed your line test specs.  VMC publishes the lb test specs for their duolock snaps. I use 00 black nickel snaps because I usually fish with 4 -6 lb test mono.

[Jer1983]

Why don't people use a fastach clip. Can get them pretty tiny and the lures do not come off. I don't use them for everything but it helps to keep lures in the water.

[Koz]

If I had a boat and 10+ rods I wouldn't use snaps because I would have baits already tied on when I hit the water. But fishing from a kayak, I bring 2 or 3 rods and it's much easier to use VMC Touch-Loc snaps to change baits then have to maneuver the rod while sitting on a narrow kayak and tying on new baits.

 

When I bank fish, I would walk or bike and usually limit myself to one or two rods so it was easier to use the Touch Loc snaps than retying again and again and again.

 

But the exception was baits like jigs and any soft plastics. For those I would ditch the snap and tie directly.

[gunsinger]

I use Norman Speed Clips for Cranks/jerkbaits/lipless 

[schplurg]

Great vid, Glenn! 

 

I use snaps for cranks, jerks and topwater. Last weekend I had one T-rig rod and two snap rods  

[Bluebasser86]

I use snaps a lot for treble hooked baits. 

 

Snap-swivels on the other hand, those are only for baits that cause lots of line twist like spoons. 

[tander]

I use to be totally against clips until I tried some different ones. I ended up using the Tatical Anglers brand in 50 lb test. I know that sounds like overkill but the next ones small were too small. These have worked out great. I do retire after every trip and when I am fishing if I need to. I think I catch more fish because now I don't mind changing because it is so easy. I have heard some anglers say they can tie just as fast. Well if you can change lures in 6 seconds I guess you can, yes I timed it. I only use these snaps on cranks, jerks, and top water.

[J Francho]

I am a long time snap user.  Round, oval, egg shape - it doesn't matter.  I cut them all off my molded baits with linesman pliers.  I have no use for them, so I'm not fiddling with split ring pliers (see my thoughts on these, lol) and saving the rings.  I then put snaps on the bait.  More than 2/3 of my baits already have the snaps on them.  This gets me out of the habit of not retying frequently.

 

A note on snap-swivels: these were NEVER intended for attaching any terminal rig or bait to your line.  They are for being able to change out weights on trolling rigs, but have been appropriated by anglers looking for a shortcut.  Normally you'd slide the swivel to the main line, above a swivel and leader and attach a sinker to the snap.  Changing depth was a simple matter of swapping out the sinker without having to retie.  No application for bass fishing here.  

 

If you have a bait that naturally twists like an inline spinner or spoon, attach a swivel to the lure's split ring, and then tie on a snap or tie direct to the swivel.  Like this:

 

[ThrowinPlugs]

I use TA Micro clips for hard baits like cranks, poppers, lupless cranks etc all the time. No issues.

[TnRiver46]

On 9/6/2021 at 1:16 PM, BassWhole! said:

Two snaps and no twist...

“Hated it!!!”

On 9/6/2021 at 3:40 PM, Bankbeater said:

I like snaps for moving baits.  They're also handy when you are wearing gloves in 40 degree weather and can't tie a knot.

I have a harder time opening/closing the snap than tying a knot. Especially when it’s snowing 

[scaleface]

I dont remember the last time I used a snap . I'll use a barrel swivel occasionally to prevent line twist on something like a Little George . As far as quickly changing lures I just retie .  A snap swivel , I dont think I even have one in my bass boxes, I do carry them in my catfish box .

[Kev-mo]

22 hours ago, J Francho said:

I am a long time snap user.  Round, oval, egg shape - it doesn't matter.  I cut them all off my molded baits with linesman pliers.  I have no use for them, so I'm not fiddling with split ring pliers (see my thoughts on these, lol) and saving the rings.  I then put snaps on the bait.  More than 2/3 of my baits already have the snaps on them.  This gets me out of the habit of not retying frequently.

 

A note on snap-swivels: these were NEVER intended for attaching any terminal rig or bait to your line.  They are for being able to change out weights on trolling rigs, but have been appropriated by anglers looking for a shortcut.  Normally you'd slide the swivel to the main line, above a swivel and leader and attach a sinker to the snap.  Changing depth was a simple matter of swapping out the sinker without having to retie.  No application for bass fishing here.  

 

If you have a bait that naturally twists like an inline spinner or spoon, attach a swivel to the lure's split ring, and then tie on a snap or tie direct to the swivel.  Like this:

 

I need to do this myself. What swivels and sizes do you like? I imagine it depends a little on lure size.

[J Francho]

I really don't know the sizes, I just eyeball it. I generally grab Spro swivels because they're decent and haven't let me down. 

[the reel ess]

I like Tactical Anglers clips for treble lures, especially topwaters. Small, strong and don't seem to affect action.

[Rich12]

On 9/6/2021 at 4:35 PM, Jer1983 said:

Why don't people use a fastach clip. Can get them pretty tiny and the lures do not come off. I don't use them for everything but it helps to keep lures in the water.

Mostly because I have had the straighten out or break on really big fish.  Also have had them shaken loose when grandma shakes her head out of the water with a hard bait attatched.

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, Rich12 said:

Mostly because I have had the straighten out or break on really big fish.  Also have had them shaken loose when grandma shakes her head out of the water with a hard bait attatched.

Is it a specific issue to the fastach clips?

[txchaser]

P-Line Technical Snap - Tackle Warehouse

 

The smallest size of these work great on frogs and chatterbaits, and a full-body frog hookset on braid won't bend them even a little bit. They are pretty big for most other presentations though. 

 

One thing I learned the hard way is that a snap that has really thin wire diameter doesn't play well with flouro at all. After going through at least ten different snaps, I finally found what I was looking for. The tactical anglers micro-size clips seem perfect for crankbaits, and they are small but use decent diameter wire to make the paperclip.