Swivels or straight tie

[biggriff34]

This is just a question I thought of, I wanted to know what every one else thought about.

[Mike Cork]

I didn't vote because I really do both. When it comes to spinner baits, buzz baits and weightless plastic aplications I like to tie straight to the line, but when it comes to hard baits (top water and cranks) I use a snap. The problem is that I like different rods for different aplications, but some rods work for both and that is where I will try to used the snap.

[Jared LeBlue]

I agree with Mike. It depends on the type of bait. I will use a swivel on diving crankbaits and some top water baits. I find that swivels helds the action of some baits and hurts the action of others.

[BIG PAPA]

Like rattle and Mike I cannot answer the question swivel or no swivel because I do it both ways. All plastics and jigs are tied to the line, most other lures I use a snap, really do not use real swivels. If I only had 2 rods I would have a snap on one and use the other for plastics.
papa

[Kal-Kevin]

Sorry I have to go along with the others on this one I do both, with and with out, for the same resons mike does

[bass1cpr]

     I had to vote no swivel. A swivel is fine for someone that is just begining and not very good at tying knots yet, and making a lot of lure changes size and color trying to figure things out. I agree with the others that there is no place for a swivel tying on a worm or Jig. I even remove the split ring form my crankbaits and tie them on with a loop knot. Just my personel preference.
     The only type of lures that I can think of that need a swivel would be an inline spinner, and that is only to help keep line twist down to a minimum. Oh and a jigging spoon. JMHO.

[Fishaholic]

bass1cpr...we're on the same page...I keep tellin em to ask you how to tie that loop knot!

[sweendog67]

This is a biggie for me also. I want the presentation to be as natural as it can be so I will forego a swivel. Other times I may be changing lures alot to see what my buddies are hitting on and all that tying gets to be a pain in the but. If the fish are aggressive and I am having no problem getting hits than the swivel stays. It helps with line twist which can really be a pain in the neck. Now if I go "carolina" I never use a swivel. I feel it will pull that bait down and give it a yicky look. Well that's what I do anyway. Sweendog67.. P.S. This site and forum is great. I have allready produced fish from the tricks, tactics, and techniques I have learned here.

[Fishaholic]

This site and forum is great. I have allready produced fish from the tricks, tactics, and techniques I have learned here.

That's what we like to hear

[silversalmon]

I will use a swivel 90% of the time due to the twisting action of the salmon lure and the braided line.

[Mike Cork]

Definately if you have a bait that is designed to twist in order to get the proper action, a swivel is required or you will spend a lot of time fighting your line

[luremaster]

I have been making lures for a bunch of years. I can't speak for other lure makers but all my lures are designed to be used without a swivel or snap. Using a snap or swivel interferes with the action of the lures mostly the hard baits, crank baits and poppers. The cranks come with a split ring on them and thats what should be used.The only lure I use a swivel on is a plastic worm. Sometimes I use a swivel between the weight and hook.

[Mike Cork]

Now is an interesting idea, a swivel between the weight and hook. Basically I do that with a carolina rig, but I wonder what I could come up with on a texas rig. You could rig a soft plastic to do all kinds of crazy things and the swivel would prevent line twist

[luremaster]

If you put a little bend in the worm it comes thru the water kind if funny. Discovered this by mis rigging a worm and it twisted my line really bad. Watched it in the water and added a swivel because I liked the way it worked.

[Ouachita]

I quit using snap swivels years ago because they are usually a little off-center too much to actually spin under a load they are towing. They work fine in the air while trying to do a Rapala knot...see how it spins! I tied them on and still got line twist. Instead, if I'm using an in-line spinner or other walleye lure prone to twisting, I'll tie on a high quality stainless steel ball bearing swivel ahead of those or a Texas-rigged worm power fishing them, or on a Carolina rig, using knots to attach the lure, very loose or very tight. Those high quality swivels always turn until they pull apart from getting snagged on a stump. Choice of knot is determined by type of lure and how much freedom it needs to move properly. Snaps can surprise you, coming open just when you need a secure hold. I suspect a lot of my premature openings were not noticing it just wasn't properly fastened, but the potential for a serious fish loss is simply there and not worth keeping. When I find a problem I tend not to keep it around.

If knot tying is a bother, that's going to cost you a lot of good fishing in a lifetime. I sit at the TV tying knots, trying to learn without using the eyes. Back in my earlier years I learned to roll cigarettes one-handed while holding a cane fishing pole, and figure I can learn other new tricks now. (If you don't smoke, don't start; if you do, quit) Knot tying is a better habit than playing with the remote channel changer.    Start with a Palomar without looking. You probably know how easy that one is while looking. It's the easiest and is 100%r strength-wise for a tight-against-the-hook-eye knot.

With practice you'll get a knot tied in 10 seconds or less, even at night if you've trained yourself to do it without looking. It takes an investment of time. I don't recommend learning while driving to work. 

Now consider this. How much abuse do you suppose the knot you do have holding a snap swivel can take? It ought to be retied after every catch anyway, so why bother with it when a loose or tight hook eye/lip eye knot is probably more precise for the presentation. How many times have you really needed a bead or slip sinker ahead of that snap swivel, but declined because of the knot tying issue? When I have a fresh cut line end and a lure eye waiting for it, I also have access to options not possible with a snap swivel remaining in the way.

Jim

[blake711]

I was raised that snaps belong on britches not on a fishing pole.   when I was a kid  I would use them sometimes but my dad told me if I wanted to catch more fish learn to tie good knots and do it fast.  Well I retire often now as I can't stand the thought of loosing a nice fish do to what I consider lazyness.   

As for swivels I only use them for Carolina Rigging don't have a need for them anywhere else..

[Ouachita]

I use snap swivels!     I confess....

I attach them to spinnerbait blades for quick modifications in the boat. When I get an order in I immediately put the snap swivels on them then add them to my spinnerbait repair tray. I highly recommend converting spinnerbaits that way right off the shelf, NEVER, EVER fishing them as is. Put a split ring on the line eye end of a round headed ball bearing snap swivel and run that through the blade eye. The snap end of the swivel clips to the upper arm bend or the clevis on a tandem spinnerbait. Then, when I want a smaller blade barely over the hook I can make it so quickly, removing the blade trailing behind the hook to make it more compact and more weedless. I do that to cure short-strikes, too. Now every blade on every spinnerbait is interchangeable. If I want a spinnerbait to go deeper quicker, I'll leave one willow blade on it, probably on the clevis. If I want a particular color and style spinnerbait to float shallow I'll put larger blades, maybe Colorados or Indianas, to keep it up nearer the surface to roll over hydrilla fields with only 6" of water above the mess. OH, so many possibilities!

Jim

[luremaster]

Must agree with Quachita on much of his post for sure about the knot tying. I don't agree about the swivels tho I have never got action I liked with a ball bearing swivel they mostly just lock up with moss and such. Would much rather use crane swivels.

[Ouachita]

I don't hesitate to thread on beads if I think they will help deflect trash or ride over branches. They help protect the knots from abrasion, too. The ball bearing swivels I use will even turn in the wind, made very well, expensive, but worth the cost to prevent line twist. Line twist deserves investigation to correct the cause, as usually that means the lure isn't swimming right anyway. I can't imagine getting away without at least one near the sinker of a Carolina rig, holding the leader running to the worm hook.

Again, what advantage is any snap type swivel attached to a lure when the knot will weaken and fail whether on a snap swivel or directly on a lure and really ought to be retied about as often either way? I used the snap swivels for years and had many snap and swivel failures, the wire stretching out, popping loose, the swivel breaking in half, or getting enough silt inside it to prevent it from spinning. quality ball bearings don't fill up with silt and I've never had one break. I lose them from knot failure, the reason I retie often no matter what setup I'm using. I DON'T want to lose a $1 swivel AND the whole rig below it. Re-rigging is expensive fishing and time consuming compared to maintaining a knot or two (3 in a Carolina rig). I'm often amazed to discover a new slice in a turn of a knot less than 5 minutes old! I run a fingernail over the knot to detect those line breaking faults caused by rocks, fish teeth, and an occasional brush with the edge of the boat.

Jim

[bass1cpr]

     Ball bearing swivels are much better than crane swivels. It's all I use on Carolina rigs. Crane swivels are cheaply made an lock up faster than ballbearing swivels. Other wise you'd see them on every spinnerbait on the market. You have to pick the wright size of ball bearing swivel for the intended application. They also make them with solid rings so that the only way to attach them is to tie them on. This is the best one for the Carolina rig.
    Ball bearing swivels with split rings a good to use on Jigging spoons.

[jim]

If you put a little bend in the worm it comes thru the water kind if funny. Discovered this by mis rigging a worm and it twisted my line really bad. Watched it in the water and added a swivel because I liked the way it worked.

  What you're refering to is a swimming worm. The worm spins 360 so the swivel is vital. this is a killer bait ><///'>

[Ouachita]

I agree about the round split ring not being a good choice there as in the spinning the line can easily get caught against the wire end and begin slipping around and off the ring. The wire end can also damage the knot. I use oval split rings instead, and butt rings to attach spinner blades to a swivel.

Jim

[OHbassaholic]

My only use for swivels is when I have trick worms on spinning gear.  It is almost an absolute must unless you carry extra spools with you. (which is what I do when wading for smallies in rivers)
As far as swivels otherwise, I don't feel the need when using a baitcaster.  Any other plastics on spinning reels, I don't like swivels or snaps due to them picking up junk when fishing on the bottom.

[bassshad1]

The only time I use a swivel is with in line spinners.I do use  snaps on crankbaits buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. I tie directly to jigs and worms. bassshad1