Swivels = Less Fish??

[InLikeFinz]

Just curious what you guys think about using swivels to attach crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and such. Would a Bass pass up a bait because of the swivel? I wondering because I have a white buck tail jig tied on one right now and the swivel stands out something fierce! HaHa. Your thoughts?

[GonzoFishing]

IMO, the less hardware you use, the better. I tie knots for all my lures as well as for my leaders. Dont really know how much it would affect the bite though.

[InLikeFinz]

Yeah, I prefer to knot straight to the lure as well. I'm trying to cut down on some line twist and speed up my lure changes on my spinning rod. Some people think the swivels aren't a major factor but I would hate to think there's a 5+ down there passing up my bait!

-jason

[avid]

I don't use swivels but I do use snaps.

Funny because I used to love to tie different knots,  palomer for hooks, trilene for spinnerbaits, loop knot for jerk baits etc.  

But then the fun of that passed, I got lazy, and use a berkley #3 cross lok snap for all crankbaits, topwaters, and jerk baits.  There is no drop off in catch rate.

Note of caution, by adding a snap or a swivel you are adding another failure point.  I find the Berkley snaps to be very strong, but after repeated opening and closing they will break, so change often.

[WRB]

Swivels are used for the Carolina rig, inline spinners and structure spoons for the majority of most bass fishermen to prevent line twist.

Don't confuse a swivel clip combination with a swivel or a clip used separately.

Speed clips designed for crankbaits work OK, the Berkley cross-lock clip is also the one I like. Black color premium clips and or swivels help to reduce glare and are strong. Stay away from inexpensive brass swivel clip combinations for bass fishing.

Tie the line directly to single hook rigs; worm hooks, jigs, spinnerbaits etc. Some light weight lures like jerk baits and the original Rapala work best with the line tied direct.

WRB

[RoLo]

I've practically phased swivels completely out of my angling arsenal.

They're only needed to prevent line-twist and nothing I use causes line-twist (Johnson spoons do not rotate).

Even with saltwater slip-sinker rigs (called C-rigs in freshwater), I never used a swivel.

Instead, I would join two snaps back-to-back using a split-ring.

In this manner I was able to change the leader or the slip-sinker without cutting and retying.

I do occasionally use a plain snap though, and like Avid, I also prefer the Berkley Cross-Lok,

but I like a black No.1 (30 lbs), and never noticed any perceptible loss in bass response

Roger

[Tin]

I will use a swivel about 2 feet above my drop-shot bait in waters that you can see bottom in 20 feet or more and I have never noticed a decline. If anything, there is a lot less line twist and mess.

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[InLikeFinz]

Thanks for the input guys. I do appreciate it. Right now I think I'm using some small Spro swivels. They have a 60 or 70 lb rating or so it says on the package. I learned the hard way with cheaper swivels on a c rig once. HaHa.

[LCpointerKILLA]

Thanks for the input guys. I do appreciate it. Right now I think I'm using some small Spro swivels. They have a 60 or 70 lb rating or so it says on the package. I learned the hard way with cheaper swivels on a c rig once. HaHa.

Im not sure what you mean by swivel attached to a lure, but if you are talking about a snap attached to your lure, it makes little to no difference, and it might make your lure's action better.

[tyrius.]

the swivel stands out something fierce

The hook doesn't stand out?

On a crankbait what do you think stands out more a snap or two treble hooks?

I don't use swivels, but I do use snaps for cranks and topwaters.

[lineman711]

I personally don't like using swivels, for some weird reason I feel more confident without them.  That being said, my father, who routinely outfishes me 9/10 times, almost always uses them.  Also, this years best smallmouth came from a lure that was attached by a swivel.  

So....Swivels = Less Fish???  I'd say no.

[InLikeFinz]

Looks like it's a matter of personal preference indeed! Thanks!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Looks like it's a matter of personal preference indeed! Thanks!

Yes and no.  

I'll only use a swivel when soaking a chunk bait in tide or heavy current.  (salt water)

Anyone I see using them in freshwater, I try top educate. (bass fishing anyway, sure they have their uses cat fishing, chunking, etc, but on a lure???  no)

[SirSnookalot]

Freshwater I use a duolock, which does not affect anything except more ease to switch lures, never a snap/swivel.

Saltwater I always tie my lure on, I trust my knot more than than a duolock.  Lures and spoons I use a loopknot(something that everysaltwater guide I have been with has used) and for jigs I use a cinch knot.

[inkslinger]

I had always use a swivel/clip 35 years ago , I just started fishing again using the swivel/clip on my 9yr son's Zebco 33 combo w/10lb line,

We had cought a 14inch Bass ,Pickerel ,Blue Gills and just the other day I cought a 5lb Bass with a rubber worm, I had use Popers ,Frogs, and rubber worms with a swivel and wonder if it would be better to tie a knot strait to the lures.  On my new Zebco Delta combo coming in tomorrow I'm going to try doing without the swivel clip on my fishing pole and try using  single hook rigs; worm hooks, jigs, spinner baits etc .    

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I use snaps Normans to be exact .but swivels on the other hand dont worry me if i had to use um think of them this way it looks like ur lure is chasing something

[bigbill]

I use the better ball bearing swivels and thru the many years with crankbaits i see a better side to side movement with the ball bearing swivels.  I try to stay with the smallest ball bearing swivels that my fingers can operate.

I stuck using swivels anyway because i have a hard time trying knots in the dark.   Plus it takes too long when changing baits.

[PondHunter]

Water clarity figures in heavily here I would think. I fish on some pretty clear lakes, and I used to use snaps and swivels because it took too long to change baits. When I left all that stuff off, I didnt need to change baits because I finally started to catch alot more fish.

[Eddie Munster]

I don't like using them, especially on lures with a specific action like crankbaits. Not sure that they will wobble as intended with a snap or swivel.

[Sam]

Swivels for twisting baits, like Rooster Tails and Mepps jigs.

Snaps without swivels for all others.