Random Question As We Approach First Ice

[Team_Ice_Heave]

How many people use swivels above their jigs on ice compared to those who do not?

I always find myself angered in the middle of a bite when I get bit off, can't find my swivels and watch my jig run the Daytona 500 in my hole. It just makes me curious as to how many people DON'T use swivels and deal with this problem everytime out? I know a lot of people I fish with don't, and the simplest things can really damper a day of fishing. So who here uses them, who doesn't, and have you found any ways around this when you need your jig down there and can't find the right box?

Maybe a little random, but I'm stuck day dreaming of carhartts and heaters.

[CSP88]

I use a swivel 99.999% of the time.

Chad

[Eric Wettschreck]

I normally use small swivel snaps.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

dont use em sometimes i will use one with like a five foot leader but never to attach directly to the lure. this would throw off the action and the fish would see it ruducing your bites. I normally just tie direct same as in the summer...

My 2 Cents

Ryan

[slipperybob]

I like using swivels because I use Fireline Crystal for the most part. 4# or 6# then I've got 3# mono as the lead line. I don't like the line twist associated with mono but like it for it's clear presentation. Fireline itself is less prone to twisting, but will still twist. Besides, I like pretying my lures and sometimes the same lures when bites are hot and you have to line change and retye, it keeps fresh line that doesn't continously get shorter on the reel spool.

[Loogie]

I don't like to use them when the fish and being finicky. When I'm using a little ice jig, I want it to be little. When the fish are smacking at anything that moves, then I have used swivels.

[Shack]

I would say in thelast 10 plus years of ice fishing, I have never used a swivel.

I tie knot right to lure and thats it. I can see how it might save a lure, but I like as little of a presentation as possible. Most for crappies. Perch, more the bling, more the ching.

[eyewarrior]

Cross locks only for me on pimps, jigging raps & JB weasels etc. They allow me to change quickly w/o retying.

[Shack]

Not to offend anyone, but I used a swivel when I was young on a summer rig. It consisted of a hook/jig, swivel, split shot and then clip on bobber.

This (to me) was a prehistoric set up. Something I learned from.

I tie a hundred knots before I would ever use a swivel.

IMO!

[Shack]

I will go one step further!

Look at the image of Matt in the upper right hand corner. Look at all the images of top of this screen. You would behard pressed to find a swivel in any of them.

Not to say a swivel is a no no, but its rare I would ever use them ice fishing.

[Ryan_V]

I use a small product called a "fast snap" similar to a swivel, but extremely small, your jig just snaps on. it's basically invisible and does not affect the lure presentation. I'm in the market for another package, thanks for reminding me, i'll have to add it to the st paul show list!!

[brittlab]

I haven't tried a swivel yet but may rig up a few rods with swivels for this season

[harvey lee]

I will use cross locks if I'm using a swimming lure for say walleyes like a Chubby Darter or another type swimmer. It really helps with keeping out the line twist.

All my panfish are caught with nothing other than line and the jig.

[Jim Hudson]

I dont use snap swivels, but I do use small barrel swivels to prevent line twist on some of my rod and reels combos, these combos are the ones that continually have jigging spoons on them. A cross lock snap is then used to attach the terminal end to the lure.

[CSP88]

Quote:

---

I will go one step further!

Look at the image of Matt in the upper right hand corner. Look at all the images of top of this screen. You would behard pressed to find a swivel in any of them.

Not to say a swivel is a no no, but its rare I would ever use them ice fishing.

---

The reason you may not see one in Matt's or the other pictures is they may be using a barrel swivel 16-18" up from the jig. This takes most of the line twist out which can help dramatically since fish don't often bite a spinning jig. Using a swivel is far from prehistoric.

Chad

[looneyducer]

An 8 or 10 barrel swivel 12-18" above a medium fast-snap is a killer outfit for any of that 1/8 -1/4 oz stuff (most of what I run). It takes some of the twist out and allows you to switch out lures fairly fast. I use a whole snap swivel for anything bigger than that, and tie direct to anything smaller.

[BIG DS]

On a tip up yes. Otherwise, a small snap hook to help aid in changing lures or usually nothing at all.

[rockman]

I have used those fast snaps for tying on Jigging Raps, and Nilsmaster Jiggers/Shads.It does enhance the action a bit, giving 'swimming' lures more swing with the lure action . Otherwise,everything else I tie directly to the line.Substantial line twist may need a swivel up the line,it just depends.

[GatorBait]

Is everyone using snap hooks on baits made for fish other than pannies? I've found especially for small jigs and pan lures that using just your regular knot helps with presentation. I say this because I'm able to get better hook sets with horizontal jigs, as I take the line and bend it (if u will) towards the jig, causing the knot to rest more toward the inside of the eye rather than on top of it. I've used the snap hooks with pan jigs but have found I've lost more hook sets due to the play that is in them. Food for thought I guess.

[Team_Ice_Heave]

Whether Panfishing or using a 1/4 oz plus Jigging Spoon for 'Eyes I almost always use a small barrel swivel between 12 and 18 in. up to prevent any chance of it spinning. I'm actually suprised to see how many don't! Very interesting.

[JigginIsLife]

Have never used a swivel through the ice unless there are alot of hammer handles in the area, hate to loose good lures to a dumb little northern.

[Blainebob]

In my opinion,a small barrel swivel 12-18" above your lure is the way to go.Went to this for the first time last year and dont think I'd go without one now.Eliminates all the annoying line twist.

[Surface Tension]

I use barrel swivels with a leader on most my jigging rods to keep the line twist out. It also makes that link from a braid to mono leader. There are times I don't want a swivel, thats on a dead stick or when I'm after panfish. One: I normal don't use the type lures for pannies that'll rotate. Two: crappies and gills will go after your swivel. That observation has gotten me to down size for pannies.

Cross locks and the quick snap family I'll use on my Lake Trout rods. These lures are larger so the locks aren't as noticeable. I also change lures a lot when jigging Lake Trout, the snaps are fast and my leader length isn't getting shortened.

I never use a snap swivel next to a lure. I use them on the main line in the summer. My crawler/leech/worm harnesses are ties with a barrel swivel. Makes for a quick change and having two cheap barrel swivels will ensure no line twist.

[hanson]

Small Barrel Swivel 12-18" (ball bearing if possible) up the line is a great way to reduce line twist, and as mentioned, a convenient way to tie on a floro or mono leader to superline.

With small panfish jigs, or any jigs IMO, you need to tie direct. Horizontal lures rely on having the knot positioned correctly on the eyelet and you couldn't accomplish that with a snap swivel or a crosslock snap.

Now with jigging spoons and swimbaits, a very small crosslock snap is a great way to switch up colors quickly. The action of the lure is not affected that much and even improves with swimbaits. I run a crosslock on my open water cranks to make switching colors and baits easy and quick, same thing for hard water when fishing spoons.

IMO, snap swivels should be thrown away. Separate the snap swivel into the 2 components- the swivel and the crosslock snap. The swivel is used to eliminate line twist and the snap is used to quickly change out jigging spoons.