using clips

[sean0920]

i have a fish and ski boat so there is not alot of room for rod storage. i usually take just 5 poles.  one of my setups is for cranking. on this setup i usually use a little clip so that i can change between a crank, jerkbait, or spinnerbait without having to take extra poles.  so far i havent seen where the clip has taken away from the presentation and was just wondering if anybody else does the same.  i wrap line around the spinnerbait so that the clip wont slide down to one side.

thanks

[roadwarrior]

I've been experimenting with clips and don't notice any

problems with hard baits. However, I still direct tie single

hooks, especially jigs and soft plastics.

8-)

[xxmurrxx]

I recently stopped using clips just to force me to not change lures every 10 seconds.

I cant say for sure it caught me more fish but i do feel the action better through my rod with the line attached directly to my lure.

[jack1]

I lost two really nice bass, possibly my PB.  Clips were totally straightened and it took two incidents for me to learn.  Ever since those two incidents, I've been tying directly onto my lures and hooks.  I will never use clips again.

[sean0920]

thanks guys. yeah warrior i would never use them on single hooks, just for cranks and jerks.  you take the split ring off?

[roadwarrior]

Nope.

[J Francho]

I lost two really nice bass, possibly my PB.  Clips were totally straightened and it took two incidents for me to learn.  Ever since those two incidents, I've been tying directly onto my lures and hooks.  I will never use clips again.

I'm wondering whether you were using braid with a heavy rod, and what bait you were using.  For treble hook baits, #3 Duo-Locs are as strong, if not stronger than any split ring.  They also allow you to easily tie a Palomar connection, which is a very strong knot.  Sometimes its the wrong "mixture" of gear that causes the issue, not opne individual piece of tackle.  Could have been too light a clip, or a bad run.  Same thing can happen with split rings.

[Crestliner2008]

I've used clips for years with no problems encountered when using crankbaits or hard jerks. However I do remove the split ring  . The less hardware the better!

[Uncle Leo]

I also use clips for crankbaits and minnow baits. I never had a problem with them. With some lures they appear to enhance the action. IE side to side wobble.

[CWB]

I recently stopped using clips just to force me to not change lures every 10 seconds.

That's exactly why I use them on my cranks. If I go 10 minutes without a bite, I'm probably going to make a change. Use a quality brand like sampo or duo-lock or you could have them opened up or straightened out like FS01. Have landed several large muskies and pike deep cranking using 12 lb. test and # 2 duo-lock. No problems yet.

[fishinfiend]

I love to use clips. I have not had any of them break or slip. My line snaps before the clip breaks.

[djmax22]

I thought clips are designed to collapse upon themselves rather than open up or straighten out. I use clips for all my cranking and have never had a problem.

[Shad_Master]

This is a hijack - I just picked up some Norman Speed Clips last night at BPS and was surprised to read on the package that they recommend snapping directly onto the eye and removing the split ring all together - is this how you do it?  I have never used these things before but plan to give 'em a try when the water turns soft around here.

[FD.]

I use clip for all hard baits and topwaters.  I have NEVER had one fail.  I bought a package of 50lb clips about 2 years ago and love them.  The action on my cranks seems better and I can change in seconds.

[Wayne P.]

Shad_Master, the Norman Speed Clips are very difficult to attach and disconnect to lures with cold fingers. I don't remove split rings on baits to use them though.

[fathom]

i use the crossloks...and attach it to the split ring.

i cannot remember the time i've lost a treble fish because of this.

[SkilletSizeBass.]

I use swivel snaps on my hardbaits and if anything it seems to add a little action. Its easier for me to use them w/o wearing my glasses to see to re-tie my line.

I direct tie any plastics, but, the bad part is, I throw most my plastics on  my spinning outfit, which is where line twist is worst, worms...etc..on a spinning reel. This is where I have more problems.

[mudkart]

I lost two really nice bass, possibly my PB. Clips were totally straightened and it took two incidents for me to learn. Ever since those two incidents, I've been tying directly onto my lures and hooks. I will never use clips again.

I'm wondering whether you were using braid with a heavy rod, and what bait you were using. For treble hook baits, #3 Duo-Locs are as strong, if not stronger than any split ring. They also allow you to easily tie a Palomar connection, which is a very strong knot. Sometimes its the wrong "mixture" of gear that causes the issue, not opne individual piece of tackle. Could have been too light a clip, or a bad run. Same thing can happen with split rings.

X2 on the Duo Locs and a Palomar. I've pulled snagged logs out of the water that weigh more than any fish that could reasonably be caught with this combination.  Sometimes the Duo Loc will bend a bit, but I haven't had it fail.  More often the line will fail before the Duo Loc.

[J Francho]

Let me add, I remove the split rings from the baits.  The reason is that at the split, the ring often gets caught at an off angle, causing the bait to run foul.  If you know this is happening by the feel of the bait, a simple shake of the rod tip usually fixes the issue.  Snaps don't 100% solve the issue, but go a long way towards it.

Some baits, like LC baits, have an oval split ring, which eliminates this issue.  I remove those as well for consistency.  I've heard some say that the split ring installed by the manufacturer is part of the lure design.  maybe, but why so much variability?  

I just picked up four Pointer 100s, and two had smaller than usual oval split rings - even smaller than what was installed on a Pointer 78.  The difference in action must nominal, and really I'm splitting hairs, but it seems to me they use what is on hand, in some cases.

I feel confident in the consistency using #3 Duo-Locs on all my hardbaits, and I know what to expect from them when I fish them this way.  I think that's more important than any subtle difference in the action.

"Knot Wars" should do a test of different split rings and snaps.  It would be interesting.  One tiny tip: pay attention to any weak split rings one the line tie, if you go that route.  They are same rings that connect your hooks to the bait

[tyrius.]

I lost two really nice bass, possibly my PB. Clips were totally straightened and it took two incidents for me to learn. Ever since those two incidents, I've been tying directly onto my lures and hooks. I will never use clips again.

What kind of clips were you using?

When I went salmon fishing on Lake MI the charter guide used clips a lot.  If you can catch kings without straightening them then you'll be able to catch a bass without straightening one.

Buy quality high test clips (at least higher than your line rating) and you won't have any issues.

Don't use swivels snaps though.