Anyone use snap swivels?

[Up North2]

Ok so the eyes are getting a little old or maybe my arms have gotten shorter. But I can't see well enough to tie the knots in the 3lb line on my crappie rigs anymore. Especially in the fish house shadows. So it's a pain to switch lures. Thinking I might put snap swivels on my lines to work around this problem.

Anyone use them and have you noticed a difference in how the fish react to the extra hardware? This might be a silly question but it's become a real hassle.

[cavalierowner]

I'm starting to have the same trouble, so I'll be interested in what others say. The interior of my portable is white, so it helps somewhat, but the day is coming... I have thought about pre-tying jigs on a length of line, like a Lindy rig, but I haven't figured out how to store them without the line getting tangled.

[dan z]

I use a product called fas~snaps there pretty tough and I have even used them with jerk airs during the open water. There are other companies that make them also. And they come is different sizes to fit the need of big and small baits.

[centralmnguy]

What i do is tie a small barrel swivel to my main line and then have a bunch of my favorite jigs i tie up at home with a foot long leader and snap swivel on other end. I just wrap all my rigs around a piece of styrofoam and its easy to switch them when i want a different jig and it help avoid line twist with a swivel

[fivebucks]

I bought cheater glasses for my old eyes.

[Northlander]

When panfishing I would just use the smallest speed clip or crosslock snap you can find. For bigger fish I use a swivel about 16" above a cross lock snap. Makes changing out lures quick and easy.

[Deitz Dittrich]

all are great ideas above. Im not a fan of snaps or the like, if you are using 2-3 lb test you are doing it to be subtle/stealth. Whats the point of a big ugly snap, might as well go up to heavier lb test you can see.

If using mono, try hooking up a black light in your porty, they are FANTASTIC for charging glow baits, plus they will make your line almost glow and easier to see.

[ammoman16]

I use a product called fas~snaps

+1

[PEATMOSS]

I bought cheater glasses for my old eyes.

This. I have a pair of 2.0 cheaters in my tackle box every time I go fishing. You can buy a 3-pak of these at Target or other such places for around $10.

[Chad Holst]

Great topic. Aaron Stevens Always used fast snap, or a similar product. I never liked the extra "stuff" on the line and always shy'ed away from them. I say that in the past tense, because i now use fast snaps ALWAYS.

Like one of the posters above, i thought it would hinderthe bite. It does not. I have never had a drop off in fish quality using one, and we fish...a wee bit. I have experiments alot with them. Infact, i would say that i now have a better chance to catch fish, as im more apt to change to another jig color or size, when i know it only take a second to switch them out.

Also, realize that the snaps are NOT swivels. They are much thinner and weigh almost nothing. I started using the ones that come with my slender spoons. I dont think i have ever bought any, as there really is no reason to take one off, unless you break. I simply took each out of the slender spoon packages when i opened them. so if you buy 20 slender spoons for the year, you will be set for a very long time with that many fast snaps.

[Big A]

I have used these products my entire life. Love Love LOVE them.

Never an issue. Work great and have had tons of success.

Seems silly not to use them in my opinion...

[PurpleFloyd]

I use a product called fas~snaps there pretty tough and I have even used them with jerk airs during the open water. There are other companies that make them also. And they come is different sizes to fit the need of big and small baits.

Same here. My eyes started to go south 2 years ago and i tried the cheater thing but kept leaving them, breaking them etc. Switched to fast snaps on all my lighter tackle and swivel snaps on the heavier stuff plus I got glasses with progressive bifocals. Much better now.

[PurpleFloyd]

all are great ideas above. Im not a fan of snaps or the like, if you are using 2-3 lb test you are doing it to be subtle/stealth. Whats the point of a big ugly snap, might as well go up to heavier lb test you can see.

Not disagreeing with that but then again if you are worrying about tipping off the fish that something might be suspicious you have to know that if that barbed hook sticking out of the rear end of the jig, the top of the minnows head, or the pair of trebles hanging off that chubby darter doesn't do it I think you are going to be OK with a fas snap.

The one point that might be a factor is if they inhibit the action of the jig, but in some ways you may get a more free swinging action with the snap because there is no hard contact.

All I know is I would rather use the snaps and be able to change a jig than to not have one and play the blind man version of thread the needle when I want to be fishing.

[motley man]

As above stated, I tie at home my hooks and jigs on couple feet of line and wrap on something so all I do is use snap swivel to change. Also cuts down on line twist.

[amateurfishing]

What i do is tie a small barrel swivel to my main line and then have a bunch of my favorite jigs i tie up at home with a foot long leader and snap swivel on other end. I just wrap all my rigs around a piece of styrofoam and its easy to switch them when i want a different jig and it help avoid line twist with a swivel

THIS is pure evil genius, how does it work in light bite situations?

others have made me lean towards fas snaps couple years ago and they do work nice BUT them little buggers r so tiny I lose 5 to every one I get tied on with my big fingers and horrible eyes that I can never see the holes to get the line through. yes I also have cheater glasses in my ice suit, boat, tackle box, and everywhere else, but those fas snaps are tiny and not cheap either. the above idea sounds much easier if it works on light bites.

[walleye44]

I use fast snaps all the time. I used to never use anything, but time. These small snaps are so nice to use.

[fishnowworknever]

Started using the quick snaps a couple years ago, they are on all of my open and hard water setups now...

[centralmnguy]

amateurfishing...put a spring bobber on to help detect a lite bite. I don't do much panfishing anymore but fishing for eyes or lakers & if your out deeper a swivel really helps with line twisting. Another thing I would like to point out is if your using jigging raps or any flutter spoons the guys that make them recommend you use a snap swivel to get more action out of your lure instead of direct tie.

[PEATMOSS]

What knot are you guys using on these snaps?

[Up North2]

Thanks for the info gents, this seems to be a great forum. So I started to look into these Fas Snaps and was all set to buy until I read this review on Amazon. Anyone have the same experience as this guy?

Quote:

I purchased the No Knot Fas_Snap in three different sizes - medium, large, and extra large. The medium was too small for anything in my tackle box. I could not get it to snap on to even the smallest crappie tackle. I could get the medium to snap on some stuff but it took a lot of work. I had to use pliers to hold the fas-snap. I slipped a few times and hooked my self and bled a little. It was quicker, easier, and less painfully to tie on the tackle. The extra large was easy to snap on and off. However, I lost two lures using the extra large. The fas-snap came off when the lures hit the water. I stopped using the extra large when I lost the second lure. I ended up putting them all in the trash.

[bigbad401]

I use the Fas_Snap on all my ice and open water rods. I love them. Never a problem with them. I use the medium on most rods. I do have some small for a couple ice fishing rods. Like I said, no issues with any. I do quite a bit of walleye fishing in the summer.

[amateurfishing]

Thanks for the info gents, this seems to be a great forum. So I started to look into these Fas Snaps and was all set to buy until I read this review on Amazon. Anyone have the same experience as this guy?

yes, I do have those same issues, 1)they are very tiny 2)my huge fingers can never seem to pick them up or hold them decently to tie on 3) my bad eyes have a heck of a time getting them tied on then trying to add lure to it but do admit they work really well despite all of my personal issues. keep in mind they are barely the size of a pencil tip, I could easily lay out 10 or so flat & side by side on my thumb nail. they are tiny! and I have had where if using a micro jig or such the lure attachment is only designed for direct tie on that the fast snap is too thick for jig. But honestly b4 you go this route I would look into centralmnguys idea first

[amateurfishing]

amateurfishing...put a spring bobber on to help detect a lite bite. I don't do much panfishing anymore but fishing for eyes or lakers & if your out deeper a swivel really helps with line twisting. Another thing I would like to point out is if your using jigging raps or any flutter spoons the guys that make them recommend you use a snap swivel to get more action out of your lure instead of direct tie.

thx but I absolutely hate those

[Up North2]

yes, I do have those same issues, 1)they are very tiny 2)my huge fingers can never seem to pick them up or hold them decently to tie on 3) my bad eyes have a heck of a time getting them tied on then trying to add lure to it but do admit they work really well despite all of my personal issues. keep in mind they are barely the size of a pencil tip, I could easily lay out 10 or so flat & side by side on my thumb nail. they are tiny! and I have had where if using a micro jig or such the lure attachment is only designed for direct tie on that the fast snap is too thick for jig. But honestly b4 you go this route I would look into centralmnguys idea first

Some other reviews I have read seem to agree with you. I don't know that I would have any better lucky dealing with these tiny things than tying a knot. It's not like I'm blind and I use cheaters but I just spend way too much time getting the knot done up. Not to mention I will fish longer than I really want with a lure that's not working because I dread the frustration of knot tying.

Centralmnguys method may be worth a try but I'd have an awful lot of lures rigged up that way and wrapped around styro foam making my tackle boxes pretty useless.

[hawgchaser]

I've used them for at least a decade with no complaint. I have medium sized hands and "fight" to tie them on, too. Since I fish mainly with PP, I may only have to make a couple ties per season. As far as getting lures on and off, I've learned to move the lure to the opening and pull on the bottom of snap with needle nose to remove the lure. To get lures on, I just give a little tug on the line. Works for me and, as mentioned, I'm much more eager to change lures than I was before I started using them.