swivels and crankbaits

[pointer]

I have not been bass fishing for that long and i just wanted some opinions on using snapswivels w/ crankbaits?  Is it a good idea?  It sure seems to be a lot easier.    

[powerman970]

I personally don't use a snap swivel with crankbaits but I have if I am fishing out of someone elses boat and an limited on the number of rods I can carry.  I usually keep 3 rods in the locker with shallow, medium and deep cranks tied on and ready.  I may be wrong but it seems to me that a snap swivel may effect the action of the lure.  The main reason I don't use them is because I don't trust their strength.  Call it paranoia, but it is a confidence issue for me.

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use snap swivels. Their just something else that could go wrong.

[jrhennecke]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use snap swivels. Their just something else that could go wrong.

X2

[Dean]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use snap swivels. Their just something else that could go wrong.

X2

x3, swivels are just one more thing to lose.

[Matt Jungblut]

i use norman speed clips

i have this little problem when fishing cranks

i never leave 1 on for very long

always switching tell i find the 1 color and model they really really want

[foul hooked]

I just read KVD's book and he says use them. Enhances the action. He has over 2.6 million reasons to back up his claim.

[HesterIsGod]

I don't know I am kind of on the fence on this issue. I do not use them now but I might in the future.

Pros: It is supposed to enhance vibration of the lure, many pro's use it, and it makes switching cranks and lipless cranks easy.

Cons: May break or come unhinged, I do not have enough confidence in them yet, may effect balance of crankbait?

[alger319]

I don't know I am kind of on the fence on this issue. I do not use them now but I might in the future.

Pros: It is supposed to enhance vibration of the lure, many pro's use it, and it makes switching cranks and lipless cranks easy.

Cons: May break or come unhinged, I do not have enough confidence in them yet, may effect balance of crankbait?

this is my stand also..

[bmadd]

I think what KVD and most pros use are just the snaps, not the snap swivels that pointer originally asked about. Many people use snaps and swear by them. Some people say the bait can catch on the bend and it ruin the action. I think that using just the snap would be fine. I do not recommend using a snap with a barrel swivel. I do believe that could hinder your action as well as fail.

[Gone_Phishin]

I always tie directly to the line with one exception: an annual spring walleye trip with my buddies.  On this trip we do a lot of night fishing, as the wallyes come up on the shallow main bar on the lake.  Casting jerkbaits is the ticket.  

On this particular trip I'm pretty well in the bag by 10pm, but we catch fish until the wee hours...this is where the snap-swivel is nice.  Drunk+night=swivel.  

I used to be sketchy about using them, thinking they'd repel the fish.  On the contrary, I caught my PR walleye on a Husky Jerk attached to a snap-swivel on a lake not know for 'eyes over 5 lbs.

[RichardE]

I have used the snaps ( not swivels) for a couple of years on CBs and had not had a problem. I have caught 5- 7 pound fish with no problems. When I am trying to find a bite they are very handy.

I think one reason they are effective is that we generally don't horse in a fish with a CB so allowing the rod to work the fish absorbs the pressure a fish applies.

The snaps are like anything else, you have to check them to make sure the are rigth, check and re-tie as you would normally do etc.

I can smoke my buddies who don't use them ( or had not before we fished) when changing baits etc.

I guess it is like anything else, give em a try, catch a bunch of fish and put them to the test and let us know how it goes.

I'm sold.

[tyrius.]

Snaps/speed clips are good.  If you don't want to use snaps then you should tie a Rapala knot.

Swivels are not.  The swivel adds no value and just adds weight to the front of the lure.

[fishizzle]

To me swivels catch less fish and they are for those who can't tie a Palomar

[tyrius.]

To me swivels catch less fish and they are for those who can't tie a Palomar

A palomar knot tied directly to the crankbait will INHIBIT the action of the crankbait.  It will have less wobble coming through the water because the crankbait has to move the line through the water.  When using a snap or a Rapala knot the crankbait can wiggle without having to move the line.  The eye of the crankbait will move back and forth within the snap or within the loop of the Rapala knot.

[Chris at Tech]

I use clips for all treble hook plugs -- crank, jerks, lipless cranks, topwaters.

Makes my life easier, and I still catch fish.  And most importantly, no lost lures or broken clips.  I think the line will break well before the clip would.

[Hookemdown.]

I used to tie a triline knot directly to the split ring.  I said I would never use snaps, but I'm telling you this a year later and currently using snaps.  It's one of the best changes I've ever done.

[Handy]

I use a snap swivel because for me it prevents line twist and I change lures allot. But I do retie the snap swivel about every other time I go fishing. I know allot of guys say they fail allot but in all my years fishing I have only had it happen once and I caught a small northern with it open. I didn't realize it until I went to cast back out. I will say that when that happened I was using a different kind of snap. Now I use cross lock types, have yet to have one fail.

Paul

[Josey Wales]

Ive found little tiny snap ons you can get in the fly fishing section that work fairly well...

Personally I just use a brass knot tyer and go with a rapala knot and a dab of superglue... takes about 30 sec...

[Bassnbrett101]

snaps work great, some crankbaits come with snaps on them already like luhr jenson speed traps.  never ever use snap swivels! they may decrease line twist but they will alter the action of your baits and they are just another thing that can break when you hook a big fish

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Norman speed clips are what i use swivels on a CB no way i seen fast moving CB,s spin with a swivel( actully it was me when i was younger)

[detroit1]

What kind of crank causes line twist? That would be some special one there- folks!    (maybe during the cast) Oh, and Josey Wales- while you re-tie i re-snapped and caught 2 nice ones.... 8-)

[Micro]

I use Norman Speed Clips.  Unless the crank is tiny, I clip the Speed Clip directly the a the split ring.  If its a tiny crank, then I tie a palomar knot to the split ring.  

[Stringjam]

If you're talking crankbaits - either tie directly to a SPLIT RING or use a SNAP.  

As mentioned earlier.....tying directly to the line-tie will kill the action.  

[MALTESE FALCON]

For crankbaits and jerkbaits I use Duolock Snaps. I made the change about five years ago, it just saves time.

Falcon