Use of Rio Fly Clips

[SpokaneDude]

I am a BIG fan of Rio Fly Clips; my question is:  Is there any reason I couldn't use them with all my soft baits, and especially Chatterbaits?

[NorcalBassin]

Biggest risk would be the clip pulling out on a decent sized fish. I could see using them on light line with light drag applications, but the tackle you'd typically use with a chatterbait such as a jackhammer combined with a big fish would stress that clip.

[SpokaneDude]

I forgot to mention, that I would use size 3 (large) clips.

[garroyo130]

Those clips are useful for tiny flies where tying is a pain and the knot ultimately doesnt get terribly stressed by the fish. Even if you use them for bass fishing, you should be retying fairly often which defeats the purpose of the clip. 

 

That said, I do use norman speed clips and retie as needed. Benefit to me is ease in changing baits. 

[flyfisher]

Fly clips are plenty strong enough but I am not sure on the weight but i know the twist clips in the smallest size are over 20lb and the largest are over 50

[Fallser]

My fingers are getting more arthritic every year.  I saw fly clips and thought they'd be the answer.  My local Orvis shop didn't carry them.  When I got home, I was thinking what else could I use and came across some mini-articulated shanks that I brought for some reason.  I took them with me on my Pocono trip and they worked.  They were a bit heavy for some of my panfish flies, but it was a lot easier to change flies.  I discovered the twist clips and ordered a pack of them to take with me when I went to Ontario.  They ran me $6.99 for 10 of them.  I was going through one of my dark-side catalogs looking for some swivels I needed to make wire leaders and Lindy rigs for the trip.  I came across "American Made Drop Shot Clips" which were the spitting image of the Rio Fly Clips.  The difference was 25 of them cost me $1.93 and they were a bit bigger than the Fly Clips I'd brought.  They worked for both flies, jigs and lures.   This year I ordered another pack of the smallest ones and a pack of one of the larger ones(3/4 inch long).  The bigger ones were a little more expensive, $2.75 for 25.  Plan to use them with lures or large flies.

  I do like the twist clips better than the clips. 

[txchaser]

Chatterbait can get knocked out of a clip like that. Please don't ask me how I know, at least twice. Plus it'll catch grass, wood, pretty much everything. 

 

The diameter of the clip wire will materially affect the strength of your knot on flouro. Larger diameter is better.

 

After at least 12 brands of trial and error, the paperclip-style clips are the clear winner. Tactical angler micro for smaller applications, rated to 25lbs. And p-line for heavier applications. Sometimes I even use the p-line on frogs when I'm trying to figure out what they want. They'll take full-body frog hooksets on braid with no issue. 

 

P-line looks like this. Get the size 1, the others are giant. And even that one is often too big, hence the recommendation for the TA micro further down. These are great on squarebills, larger mid and deep divers, frogs, rattletraps, chatterbaits, etc. IMO once you figure out the chatterbait color and weight you need you should probably just tie it on. And on the cranks, just cut the split ring off when it has one. 

 

 

Tactical angler sizing. Get the 25lb. They weight about what most split rings weigh and work great on small cranks, jerkbaits, small hooks (although really should tie those).

 

[SpokaneDude]

Thanks everybody... just the information I was looking for... gave me several ideas which I am going to try.  I appreciate your time and insight.

 

SpokaneDude