Is it OK to ALWAYS use swivels?

[lgorbatyw]

I find that swivels, in addition to helping keep your line from twisting, make it easier to change bait/lures, and thus try a bunch of different things with greater ease. <br /><br />One 'expert' said that the swivel makes the lure/bait look more un-natural, to the point of greatly reducing any chance of catching picky fish.<br /><br />Please confirm/deny?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Is it OK to ALWAYS use swivels?

around here, swivels are put under scrutiny. the use of swivels are good with carolina rigging, and heavy lines(14+lb) i started using a thing called a 'speed clip' by friends, and it is not really a swivel, but lets you clip on diff lures without retying line. i think what you should consider is the clarity/depth of water your bait will be spending time in, speed of retrieve, fishing pressure, type of fish. some fish could care less if you tied a flag on the line, as long as they find something edible on the end, others are very shy of any 'outside' intrusion. such as the diff in fishing for farm-raised catfish vs wild trout.<br />i don't normally use swivels, except for spoon fishing( a lure that might twist). i'd use a ballbearing swivel then. also maybe- considering earlier options, when using a spinning combo to throw a crankbait.<br />HTH (hope this helps)

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Is it OK to ALWAYS use swivels?

I have a swivel on the end of every rod I own(along with a small clear glass bead above the swivel, to protect the rod top).<br /><br />BUT, I also tie a 3 to 5 ft clear leader (of appropriate diameter) to lures, so that there is a long break between the swivel and the lure.<br /><br />Best of both worlds that way.<br /><br />I very rarely get skunked, so it works for me anyway....

 

[JB]

Re: Is it OK to ALWAYS use swivels?

Howdy, Igor.<br />I use the speed clips mentioned Ebbtide a lot. They are very small and don't change the weight balance of light crankbaits. I use them only for panfish, catfish and bass, though.<br /><br />For toothy fish I use the smallest Sampo ball bearing swivel with crosslock snap that matches the test of my line. I will also use a braided titanium or steel leader of about 6" tied to a 2 or 3ft shock leader of 50-65lb superline for pike and musky.<br /><br />I recommend that you avoid cheap, safety pin style snaps. I lost a couple of big fish when those @#$%^ things opened on me.<br /><br />All of the above are the result of heartbreaking losses of big fish.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[rpeeples]

Re: Is it OK to ALWAYS use swivels?

About the only time I use swivels is when fishing for catfish. The reason is that I prebait a lot of hooks then when I catch a catfish I don't worry about removing the hook, just unsnap the swivel, replace the hook, resnap, and you are ready to go again.<br />