Snap swivels

[MOPanfisher]

OK when i was a kid I was taught to tie everything direct, occasionally over the years I have dabbled with snap swivels, mostly to eliminateine twist with crankbaits when trolling or in line spinners like Mepps.  Is there a time and place to use snap swivels? Such as not with a split ring on the lure or only with a split ring?   I bought some today thinking using them when burning rattle traps for white bass or my beloved Mepps spinners.

[Al Agnew]

1 hour ago, MOPanfisher said:

OK when i was a kid I was taught to tie everything direct, occasionally over the years I have dabbled with snap swivels, mostly to eliminateine twist with crankbaits when trolling or in line spinners like Mepps.  Is there a time and place to use snap swivels? Such as not with a split ring on the lure or only with a split ring?   I bought some today thinking using them when burning rattle traps for white bass or my beloved Mepps spinners.

Personally I only use snap swivels when I absolutely need to, and since I don't fish in-line spinners at all, and don't troll, I never have to worry about line twist.  So I really can't give you much advice...but I DO use snaps (without the swivel) almost 100% of the time using hard baits, whether it be walk the dog topwaters, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits (I make of modify spinnerbaits so that they all have closed eyes; the R bends that many have to tie your line to won't work with snaps).  It really doesn't matter much whether the lure already has a split ring to tie to...I usually leave the split ring on and snap directly to it.  There are a bunch of reasons why I do this; for one thing, the snap helps the action on some lures (especially crankbaits and walking topwaters if they don't already have a split ring to tie to), second it makes tying the only knot I ever use, the palomar, a whole lot easier tying it to a snap instead of directly to a big treble hook lure, third I can switch lures quickly.  Only drawback is that I sometimes fail to retie after several hours of heavy use.

[fishinwrench]

Use swivels for Carolina rigs, flutter spoons, and that's about it.  Never use a Snap Swivel. 

A little trick for inline spinners:    If you bend the wire 45° just behind the line tie, you won't get line twist when retrieving or swinging through current..... because the wire shaft will not rotate.   

[Gavin]

I never use any snaps or snap swivels, but many have success,  and like them. I tie a loop knot, or tie tight to the hook. I keep it really simple, I'm on vacation if I get to fish.

[MOPanfisher]

9 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Use swivels for Carolina rigs, flutter spoons, and that's about it.  Never use a Snap Swivel. 

A little trick for inline spinners:    If you bend the wire 45° just behind the line tie, you won't get line twist when retrieving or swinging through current..... because the wire shaft will not rotate.   

Thanks FW I will try that.  I don't use my old meeps as much anymore but the amount of twist can be annoying.  

Overall I seldom would have need for a snap swivels, just the aforementioned in lines and the occasional trolling foray.

[DADAKOTA]

•  

Used a Signa Keel from the Marlynn Lure Company ahead of our rooster tails on spinning tackle when trolling.  Seemed to eliminate the line twist.  The instructions that came with the keels says, "Signa Keel - A permanent attachment for underwater spinning lures.  Attach split ring on keel to front of lure.  Snap line into front hole in keel.  No swivel necessary."

[Flysmallie]

13 hours ago, MOPanfisher said:

 my beloved Mepps spinners.

Okay we can be friends. I love my Mepps. I solved the issue by only using braid. 

[MOPanfisher]

37 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Okay we can be friends. I love my Mepps. I solved the issue by only using braid. 

LOL. I grew up wade fishing little creeks.  All I would carry for lures was a couple Mepps and a few beetle spin type spinners, nothing more than a #2 or #3 off set spinner and a jig with whatever color I wanted that day.  I once had a plan to become rich by selling squirrel tails to Mepps, I thi k every kid had that plan back then.  

I use braid on everything but I also use a mono leader haven't had much luck with the braid lasting through rocks and sticks.  Now usually use a #5 for that slower thump thump some days white bass just can't help but attack it even if they don't want too.

[Quillback]

Used to build my own spinners when I fished for steelhead, I would go through 4 or 5 a day easily wade fishing rocky rivers, I could build a #5 with silver plated parts for about 75 cents.  I would put a small barrel swivel in the loop at the line tie.  Didn't totally eliminate twist but it sure helped.  Sure would be nice if the spinner manufacturers put barrel swivels on them.

I don't make them anymore as I don't fish them hardly at all, but they are easy to make.  

[fishinwrench]

54 minutes ago, Quillback said:

  I would put a small barrel swivel in the loop at the line tie.  Didn't totally eliminate twist but it sure helped.  Sure would be nice if the spinner manufacturers put barrel swivels on them.

Honestly THIS is all you have to do to eliminate line twist.