Snap Swivels

[Craigums]

Does anybody use these anymore other than me? I think they are great for changing baits quickly. And I dont seem to catch any fewer fish with them on or off unless im panfishing

[Fluker]

Only on crankbaits, and I was just convinced to do that late last year. Just "doesn't look right" on plastics to me. Does it hurt anything? I can't say.

[Central Bassman]

NEVER... It just one more thing that could go wrong or bust when you have a big fish on. I never use them unless im fishing for sunnys

[Duffman]

Never, had a guy in my boat lose a nice fish a couple weeks ago, I thought it busted off, but he showed me that the snap bent on him. I laughed and said "that'll learn ya".

Tie directly, and retie often. I retied the same worm hook four times last time out, check it after every fish. It's a habit I've forced myself into the last couple of years, and I believe it has resulted in fewer lost fish.

[lookincalifornia]

duffman, oh yea!

check your line often when fishing rocks, docks, and other hard cover. always after a good fish. sometimes the line may not be knicked up but be streched out near the knot. heavy mono can be rough on the teeth, so i would suggest carrying some nail clippers. it really doesn't take much longer than re-snapping a swivle. only a matter of a second or two. i do most of my fishing from shore with one rod, so i know how big of a pain it can be changing all the time, but i say do it. i think swivles also snag more weeds, unless you are useing a very small one. and in that case, it's likely too small to handle a big bass. the only thing i use is a snap and that is on my trout rod. and that spinning rod is on the way out in favor of a fly rod

[Daze Off]

I use snap swivels for cranks and some topwaters even after losing a nice 4# bass in last year's state TOC on a topwater. Pulled the snap straight. Not sure why I was doing it but I was fishing the topwater with braid and I think the lack of stretch put too much strain on the snap. At least the fish coughed up the Zara after a few minutes and I got it back....

I can't see well enough to tie a bunch of knots all the time and my hands have a bit of a tremor on top of that so I would rather lose a fish now and then instead of spending a lot of time tying. I guess I would feel differently if I was fishing for lots of ching....but that is not the case.

Getting old stinks....but it is distinctly better than the alternative...

Daze Off

[slipperybob]

I'm lazy, so I use them...

If I'm really after a trophy kind of a fish, then I don't use it. I don't like that rare occasion that the snap becomes unhooked...

[EBass]

I use the snap part on my crankbait rod. I can change way faster than retying. Plus it's easier to tie on a snap then a crankbait with the trebles hooking on to everything. But I do remove the "O" ring that the crankbaits come with.

I've lost a fish to a snap before, but I've lost a fish that ripped out a treble hook from the lure to. I've lost fish that had no trebles or snaps. Chit happens - just need to replace said snap with it begins to wear down.

That my .02 but I don't fish tournies for $$ - just for fun

[BassAkwards]

No snaps here. I have virtually eliminated them from my tackle box. I like the versitility of being able to tie different knots with regards to lure and what line I'm using.

[ocf1]

I dont use snaps because of the break off issues and it doesnt give that good of sensitivity when weightless fishing.

[lotsofish]

I use snaps for crankbaits because I like to switch colors/depths/etc a lot until I find something that works. I don't use the swivel snaps though, they completely wreck the crankbaits action. Gander sells some plain snaps without the swivel under their store brand name that I use. They are a bit more heavy duty than the standard swivel snaps I think. Instead of the little clasp you normally hook the snap into, the piece has a bend and it wraps around. Even if it gets a little straightened out from a big fish, I think it would still stay snapped most of the time.

[bucketmouth64]

I used to use swivels all the time. I've used the cheap ones and expensive ones. The past few years I have lost some big fish because the swivel came apart. Now I tie everything. I switch lures as often as the next guy and it doesn't bother me to cut and tie. By tying you also cut off potential bad line that you might overlook if using a swivel.

[Central Bassman]

Quote:

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Now I tie everything. I switch lures as often as the next guy and it doesn't bother me to cut and tie. By tying you also cut off potential bad line that you might overlook if using a swivel.

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Couldnt have said it better myself