Are clips worth using

[Gregorym38]

Are speed clips worth using? I want to be avle to switch lures quickly without having to retie every time, is a speedclip worth it? I use lures ranging from a whopper plopper to paddletails, would the clip take away the action of the lure?

[PhishLI]

12 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Are speed clips worth using?

The vast majority of the fish I've caught over the past several years came on baits clipped to either a #1 or #2 VMC Touch-Lok snap. I purposefully choose single hooks that will allow the clasp to fit through the hook's eye. Check your plastic lines as usual, then retie. I've had clips tied to straight braid for months at a time.

 

12 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

would the clip take away the action of the lure?

With all the ways you can modify the action of a lure by retrieve rate, etc, who's to say what the right action actually is? I've had enough great days to conclude that I'll take my chances with clips. The convenience and speed of not retying, especially while wading/fishing in the dark, is something I won't give up.

[Bluebasser86]

There's been several topics on this and it seems there's a pretty mixed group that support them, some that are very against them, and some that are indifferent. 

 

I'm in the group that supports them, for certain baits. I've removed the split rings on a majority of my treble hooked baits, instead opting to use a small snap. This allows me to change baits quickly without changing the weight (action/balance), of the bait in a measurable amount. I don't do it because I'm lazy, it's efficient and I have 100% caught fish I wouldn't have if I wasn't using a snap because I'll change a bait for just a few casts that I wouldn't have if I had to retie instead. I still retie just as often, if not more, and I've never had a snap open on me. 

 

I would not use snaps for much other than treble hooked baits like jerkbaits, lipless and lipped crankbaits, and a select few topwaters though. They work fine with some other baits, just a personal preference. 

[dodgeguy]

I use Norman speed clips a lot with straight braid. I have no problems catching fish with them. They don't catch a lot of weeds and are really small. They also break at about 26 lbs of pull. That means if I'm stuck deep with my braid and have to break off I can wrap my braid around a dowel and break off if needed. I've never lost a lure with one. I fish a lot with jigheads and use them also. All my spinnerbaits are closed loops so I use them with them. I take the snap rings off hard baits and use the speed clip directly.I fished a tournament last week as a co angler in a team tournament and caught more fish than my flouro fishing partner. Having clips means less rods needed.

[TnRiver46]

I can cut and tie a knot light years faster than I can open and close a clip 

[PhishLI]

4 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

it's efficient and I have 100% caught fish I wouldn't have if I wasn't using a snap because I'll change a bait for just a few casts that I wouldn't have if I had to retie instead.

I know for a fact that while wading out on flats, and  being been able to quickly clip on a follow up bait, I've caught just-missed fish or followers because of the speed of clipping on instead of retying.

10 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I can cut and tie a knot light years faster than I can open and close a clip 

Then you're a knot tying madman! I can't cut off a bait and re-tie in 3 seconds. Too old, I reckon.

 

Don't ban me, Bro!

[Gregorym38]

 

42 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

The vast majority of the fish I've caught over the past several years came on baits clipped to either a #1 or #2 VMC Touch-Lok snap. I purposefully choose single hooks that will allow the clasp to fit through the hook's eye. Check your plastic lines as usual, then retie. I've had clips tied to straight braid for months at a time.

 

With all the ways you can modify the action of a lure by retrieve rate, etc, who's to say what the right action actually is? I've had enough great days to conclude that I'll take my chances with clips. The convenience and speed of not retying, especially while wading/fishing in the dark, is something I won't give up.

Do you tie it to just that end clip or you use the barrel swivel connected to that? I know i have seen eagle claw packs of them with the swivels

[TnRiver46]

38 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I know for a fact that while wading out on flats, and  being been able to quickly clip on a follow up bait, I've caught just-missed fish or followers because of the speed of clipping on instead of retying.

Then you're a knot tying madman! I can't cut off a bait and re-tie in 3 seconds. Too old, I reckon.

 

Don't ban me, Bro!

I’m a fly fishing instructor, knots are like breathing. Last clip I tried to open I had to watch 4 YouTube tutorials and I finally just threw it into the water  and tied a clinch knot 

 

I do put round split rings on silver buddies and spoons because the lure itself will cut through the line. I tired the clips and got sick of not being able to open or close them in the cold 

[PhishLI]

9 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Do you tie it to just that end clip or you use the barrel swivel connected to that?

Direct to the clip. No swivel.

 

These are my favorite. Nothing sticks out to snag weeds.

 

 

[dodgeguy]

10 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Direct to the clip. No swivel.

 

These are my favorite. Nothing sticks out to snag weeds.

 

 

I've used those also. They work well. They are very strong. I thing the speed clips catch less grass.. either one makes me happy.

[flyfisher]

I use clips for any bait that has a split ring tie in point that i then remove.  Saves time when adjusting for depth with crankbaits or colors.

[WRB]

I always tie direct to worm hooks, jigs, big swimbaits.

Prefer removing split rings and using Owner Hyper Weld Speed clips. Like the light weight wire short length design and ease of opening or closing the clip when changing lures.

Have no use for Norman speed clips PIA to remove a lure.

I retie often because of using small diameter line and possibility of big bass every cast.

Also don’t like using loop knots with small diameter line, too weak.

Tom

[king fisher]

    I have a friend that uses big brass snap swivels on every lure he throws.  I was fishing with him one day, and we were both fishing small floating Rapala's.  I was tying a loop knot on mine while he simply used his giant snap swivel.  Of course I couldn't help telling him that the large swivel would ruin the action.  He laughed and said it had worked for years, and I was always reading to many fishing articles in magazines and listening to experts that try to make fishing harder than it needs to be.

        Every time he landed a nice bass he reminded me the bass was not supposed to hit a lure with such hampered action.  We fished with a variety of lures that day, and he used the same snap swivel on every lure.  He not only caught the most bass, to make matters worse at the end of the day he landed the biggest bass cut the swivel off and asked if I wanted to borrow it, in order to catch a big stupid bass that likes lures with no action.

       I still wont use snap swivels on anything but inline spinners, and rarely use snaps by themselves.  I just can't do it.  My friend still uses giant snap swivels, and still catches the biggest bass.  The one thing I have changed is I never say anything negative about his gear or the way he fishes.  It may be hard at times to keep my mouth shut, but it is better than eating crow.  

[ScottW]

I’ve been using the Dr. Fish clips from Amazon. $6 for a pack of 100 #2s. They’ve worked great so far for me. My eyes are too bad even with glasses to tie knots repeatedly.

 

[Bankbeater]

For bottom contact baits I tie direct to the hook, but for all moving baits I use a snap.  I use a little of everything.  I can't really say I like one brand better than the other.

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

He not only caught the most bass, to make matters worse at the end of the day he landed the biggest bass cut the swivel off and asked if I wanted to borrow it, in order to catch a big stupid bass that likes lures with no action.

LOL

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

The one thing I have changed is I never say anything negative about his gear or the way he fishes. 

Smart. You'd just bring down some bad juju on yourself.

[txchaser]

I use snaps on most moving baits with trebles, and anywhere a loop knot would be a good choice. I just cut the split ring off. IMO loop knots are scary on flouro.

 

HOWEVER, after buying at least 20 different styles and brands trying to find the right ones, it's down to two, and they are both paper-clip style. They can't pop open and the physics of how it's built make it almost impossible to bend open - not enough leverage. Owner makes some good non-paper-clip ones but they are too long/large and aren't an upgrade anyway. 

 

I'll even use them on frogs, and a full body frog hookset won't bend the p-line ones at all. 

 

Bigger diameter wire makes for stronger knots on flouro. 

If you aren't diligent about retying, it'll cost you, but that's not the snap, that is on you. 

 

p-line for heavier/bigger presentations, size 1
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/P-Line_Technical_Snap/descpage-TPBB.html

 

 

tactical anglers for most presentations including crankbaits - get the micro in 25lb. 

https://www.amazon.com/TACTICAL-ANGLERS-Power-Clips/dp/B07QX94G98?th=1&psc=1

[GreenPig]

Yes. Decoy Egg Snaps on big hard swimbaits and VMC's on standard size hard baits. 

NOTE - Snaps do not eliminate the need to retie occasionally. 

[Koz]

I use VMC Touch-Lok snaps for most baits except soft plastics on hooks and jigs.

 

On my kayak, all my rod holders are behind me either molded into the kayak or on my crate. so when I have to tie on I have to turn the rod around and lay it on the bow or stand it up and pinch it between my knees.

 

I suppose it would be easier if I added a rod holder to the track next to my seat, but that would make things a bit crowded when bringing in a fish. On one side I already have a 7" Humminbird mounted on top of CellBlok and I always fear banging into it while bringing in a fish. I'm already trying to de-clutter and drop the weight I carry on my kayak.

[QED]

I use VMC Black Nickel DuoLock snaps (no swivels) in size 00 for most hardbaits, jigs, and closed loop spinnerbaits (all less than 1/4 oz). The snaps are rated at 20 lbs whereas the line I use with them is in the 2 - 8 lb test range, so the snaps are not the weak link in the chain. The snaps are quite a bit lighter than the split rings that they replace.  That and the added convenience - plus the fact that they don't have any practical downsides - makes it an easy choice for me.  YMMV.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I always prefer to tie direct then to use speed clips.  Honestly I dont think there are any detrimental effects action wise other then very light baits.  

The speed clip style, like the TA and Spro are the most efficient and effective as far as changing baits out and losing plugs to a duo lock that has opened up.  I can cut retie and trim pretty fast, but once you get the hang of using the TA clips its faster then retying.  Even though its easier and quicker I only use the clips when I'm throwing plugs or metal in the surf and even then I don't use them all the time.  

If I were going to go with a FW snap, it would be the Spro Prime snaps for sure.  Theyre expensive, but if you want to go with a snap that is fast, easy and nearly guaranteed not to cost you any baits they are the best bet.

[txchaser]

7 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

If I were going to go with a FW snap, it would be the Spro Prime snaps for sure.

This is the spro prime snap. I use these on bigger swimbaits sometimes. What size are you using for regular size bass baits?

[Woody B]

On 10/27/2022 at 2:47 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I can cut and tie a knot light years faster than I can open and close a clip 

 

Me too.  I'm not saying some people can't change a lure with a clip quicker than I can cut and tie.  I'm just saying I can cut and tie quicker than I can change a clip.   I've got a million clips that were my Dad's and Grandpa's.   I remove the split rings and use them on some cranks.   I just leave the clip on the lure though.   

[Spy]

I made the switch simply because my fingers aren't as dexterous after a lifetime of labor and the eyes aren't as clear either. Gamakatsu G-Finesse Tournament Fast Snaps are the direction I went as they're a speed clip with no need to open anything yet seem impossible to let a lure slip out due to design.