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Should you use snap swivels with fishing lures? Underwater lure test



Are snap swivels good for fishing? Snaps and snap swivels have been used by fishermen for decades. Some love them, others hate them. They allow you to quickly change lures, but have some negative effects too. We review the pros and cons of using snaps and snap swivels, and test their effects on lure action and appearance underwater by using several crankbaits.

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#snapswivel
#fishingbasics
#bassfishing

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33 Comments

  1. If you are using lures or live baits that are moving steady through the water, then snap swivels, even wire leaders are not a problem. Casting and cranking in or trolling. But if your techniques involve slow moving rigs or bottom fishing with worms, shrimps, crabs, etc, and saltwater species, then I have found the fish are picky with snaps, wire leaders, etc. In those cases, I go braid to flouro direct, no snaps or swivels. Also depends on target species. If going for bluegills, hell, I see them biting the silver swivel itself as much as the bait.

  2. When youre using snap with cranks, get rid of split ring. Producers keep those for people not using snaps, mostly not in europe(where its very common).
    So simply:
    line to crank – use ring between;
    snap to crank – get rid of the ring as it will affect the work of the lure.
    I got this knowledge from Salmo owner, who was designing lures for years.

  3. I use approximately a foot or more of leader tied to the lure with a swivel at the other end. Then the snap on the line is easily attached to lure or baits without affecting its action.

  4. I don't think I got a choice. I'm gonna try a small barrel swivel 6 to 8 inches above a leader to a snap and see how it goes. Just started throwing crankbait and jerkbaits and I get line twist so bad it gives me tangles in the reel and then I waste a bunch of line. 😢 Hope it works out cause I caught some fish on them today!

  5. Use fluorocarbon line (or 8 foot leader) and get good at tying right to the lure. Use a snap if you're going to want to switch up lures a lot. And use snap swivels with all spinners and most spoons.

  6. I prefer a snap with a swivel when I'm on the boat for changing quick

    When I'm dock fishing I'll use just a snap

    If I'm catfishing though line straight on the hook

  7. Oooooh ive been using them differently. Ive been pre-setting a bunch of different leaders, and attaching a snap swivel to my main line. Then i attach a leader with a perfection loop knot to the snap swivel so if i get caught on something i can break off down by the leader quickly with a new rig. I havent broken line while having a fish on ever as of now, but i do get caught on the occasion branch, log, preverbal tire at the bottom of a lake every now and again and it helps. Not sure if it messes with anything presentation-wise given that my swivel is about 5-10 inches from the actual bait/lure but my rigs are fast to change out, and im still catching fish every time i head to the pond. Still, its good to know i wasnt necessarily using them the “right” way I suppose. Oops.

  8. I realize that this video has some time on it, but as a new fisherman, with a young son, we’re both kinda learning together. This video answered a lot of questions that I had about using “helpful” devices to make our fishing experience easier and better. I’ve been told a few times that it really hurts your chances of catching fish, but as a newer fisherman, I don’t want to spend half the day cutting the line and rebooking up another line (again and again).
    You have a new subscriber, sir. Thank you for this info!

  9. I will use a snap swivel in pretty much every situation. I switch my baits very often depending on what I feel like using, what the fish are biting, what I’m fishing for, what the location permits, etc. one issue that I get with snap swivels is that certain rigging setups aren’t meant to be done with a snap swivel on (like a drop shot rig) but other then stuff like that I love snap swivels.

  10. I’ve been on the fence about whether I should continue to use them, but honestly I think I’ll keep em. I saw little to no discernible difference in the action of the lures. Currently I’m running swivel snaps but I think after the mention of additional lure weight I’m going to be moving towards strictly using snaps alone. It’s only other thing I’ve noticed is that they tend to grab a bit more scum and debris than a simple knot, but that’s a small price to pay for keeping your leader long.

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