Quality content. Straightforward examples and explanations with awesome and very helpful underwater shots. Love your videos

When they're biting almost anything works and when they're not, almost nothing works

There are so many myths in fishing and this is one of them. Swivels are great and there's no need to go without one. I even use steel leaders and I catch a bunch of different type of fish. I even use damaged or bent leaders and they catch fish. I use damaged lures that have lost their original action and I still catch a ton of fish. People think fishing is a high detail sport where every single thing matters. It doesn't.

Pretty much tend to use snaps/swivels 80% of the time. Mainly for convenience of the quick change & reducing twists. The thing I never understood about the ctritism of 'changing the look of the lure" is that no one ever seems to mention the 2-3 big treble hooks hanging below the body of a lure having any effect on a fish's interpretation of the presentation. If they'll hit on replica minnow bait like a Rapala with unatural things (hooks) hanging off their body I don't see how something smaller like a snap would discourage a strike. Just thinking out loud here, if anyone has an reason/opinion I'm open to thoughts. 👍

THANKS! I switched away from snap swivels many years ago because everyone said they effect the action of crankbaits negatively! After watching your video testing I'm going back. More casts, more fish! Thank you!

This past summer, I found it very convenient to change through multiple lures/hooks all day with one pre-tied Mustad Duo Snap (size 0). It is small enough to be inconspicuous yet plenty strong at 58 lbs rating. Ref MA028-BN

When I'm fishing saltwater in my kayak where I can only have two or three rods, the ability to adapt and change quickly is essential. I used to be totally against snap swivels but they have made my life so much easier and being able to adjust to different depths while trolling for grouper is absolutely incredible

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!

I'm delighted that your channel came up as a recommendation for me. Subscribed! Your underwater cinematography is particularly excellent. Your point about making things easier with kids is spot on. I find there's a lot of parental intervention needed no matter what; but less is obviously better than more. (I took my kids bank fishing yesterday, and between tying rigs for them, untangling bird's nests, unhooking fish, and getting hooks down from trees, I barely had a moment to drop my own line in!)

Great explanation. 95 percent of the videos on my channel I’m using snap swivels and I do a lot of squid fishing. Changing colours fast with small bite/feeding windows is essential not only with squid but with fish to see what colours sizes they are responding to. Nice work again on this video

Very well done videos. All I’ve seen have been excellent. Clear, concise, and very informative with great under water footage that shows how the bait is working.

Thank you for sharing this! We have been showing your video to help others understand proper usage of swivels :)

My grandad loved fishing snappers and tuna, he passed away when I was a kid, I never got to watch him reel one of those monsters in. I found his old tackle and it’s a bunch a new hooks, snaps, and swivels, it looks like that’s all he used. I never knew such an item existed. Very convenient, but I don’t always fish with a snap on, recently I’ve just been tying knots. I’m trying to notice a difference. Nice video 👍🏽

Good point on the straightening out drawback. Caught a 10lb pike while fishing for smaller species this summer on a setup that included a light snap swivel. Barely got it in the boat as the snap was almost completely pulled off. My knot was in perfect shape. I still use snap swivels all the time for convenience but only use heavier duty ones. The slight performance issues with some lures is worth it.

So glad I found your channel, as an adult learning to fish with not a lot of help your stuff is straight forward and to the point. This video made me feel better about using snap swivels. Which I did because like a kid, I get bored and want to try out all the lures I bought and probably don't need.

Well done video. This is a subject that is always debated and it's nice to see the action of the baits so clearly.

I was really excited to see this vid as I fish with a snap swivel and have always wondered if there was a difference. With the snap only all 3 lures seemed to flick back and forth a little slower than either of the other set ups. The straight tie and snap swivel set ups seemed to work about the same. It was certainly close enough to convince me to keep using the snap-swivels on everything but topwater. One thing I will mention, I've also often wondered if having that metal snap swivel somehow alerts/spooks the fish enough to hesitate and not bite. If it could be done in a somewhat scientific way, I would love to see a video that managed to compare the strike rate of fish on the same lure each set up in these different ways.

Underrated channel. Keep up the good work!

Glad you did this video. Recently lost the vision in my left eye and struggling with knots. The side by side demonstration you did shows me I'll be ok putting on a snap swivel before I leave the house and if something happens while I'm out I can tie a new one on in a shady area and be good to go. I cant do that with knots. Thank you.

Your video really makes sense when it comes to using top water lures. I never thought the weight wouls pull it down enough. Thanks for the insite..

Great video, I found it interesting that the snap/swivel made the lure action faster than the snap on its own. I figured the added weight of the swivel would slow down the lure.

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.

Thanks for the straightforward info. Can be overwhelming trying to figure out what’s relevant.

Hi NAT Thank you for the posting of this video. Appreciate your efforts and insights

Great quality underwater shots!

The snaps I like to use are the paperclip shaped and you don't have to unclip it. Very nice for older ones with arthritis that can't tie knots anymore or fiddle with a tiny snap to unhook it. You just maneuver the eye of the bait around they bend and it comes off. I caught a 34" redfish on them and no failure and I used a 3/8oz Rebbel pop r without it hindering the functionality of the bait.

Helpful video! I've been moving back towards swivels, especially when I'm expecting aggressive or reaction strikes vs. finesse fishing.

I have a child who’s interested in fishing. Using a snap swivel for his set up is a great idea. Thank you for the idea!

Thank you for that demonstration, it was quite informative! IMO, after watching this, it would seem that swivels or snap swivels are good to go in every situation but with the floating lure, it seemed to swim somewhat more "nose-down" with the swivel than without.

It definitely looks like the lures move differently, with the snap swivel looking closer to the direct tie than the snap alone, which looked to slow down the action of the lure quite a bit. Really interesting stuff, thanks so much for sharing!

Quality content! I really like ur flow of thoughts and demonstration. keep up the excellent work. 👍🏻

Thank you! I had no idea what these were! Great knowledge and tips!

Thanks, Nat. I used snap swivels as a kid, but moved away from them as I got older. I think they do affect the motion of most lures. But thank you for doing some experiments and for your clarifying explanation and especially for your underwater video shots. 🎣😎👍🏼

nice view, very informative! happy fishing!

I always wondered about the action when using a snap or swivel your underwater video was. 👍 great.

Good video. Very helpful. As a general rule I will use snaps for crank baits. But never for soft plastics or top water lures. But this just confirms that they are great for crank baits. Thank you for posting this.

I use a snap swivel for everything! I even use it to tie my leader to my main line. It's easy and I don't have line twists. I use a loop knot at the start end of leader to connect to snap swivel that's tied to end of main line. 👍

Thank you for a nicely done video on a subject useful to fishermen. Here, you have allowed a good forum for discussion. Where I fish (Mid-Atlantic region, USA), I find few fishermen who use snaps without swivels. Most tie a lure on directly, but use a snap swivel if they're using an in-line spinner, such as a Mepps or Roostertail, or a spoon. I feel using a swivel in this manner does no harm, but does nothing to prevent line twist. For prevention of line twist, the coefficient of friction in the swivel would have to be lower than the line's resistance to twisting, which I believe is impossible. Therefore, I almost always use a snap for quick lure changes (I use Kahara #0), but no swivel. If I'm fishing with a twisty lure, such as a Mepps or Dare Devil, I just accept that I'm gonna get a twisted line and will have to deal with it later. If you think a swivel will prevent the twist, I think you're fooling yourself. I like the underwater shots and you are wise to let the viewers draw their own conclusions. I didn't detect a significant difference in the action of the lures shown.

Very informative video...I never really used any of these when using lures and I probably should start...thanks for the video and the explanations

great video!!! i've been using them for yrs. based on ur comments and examples... i'll keep usimg them 👍

The other day I thought I'd try the snap swivel, my buddy said it was a bad idea that the fish would see it (pretty clear water) but I insisted saying that I'd use the torpedo and keep the snap swivel out of the water. I know its against protocol, but I was the only one who caught that day. lol. After watching this video, I'll probably be a little more selective. Thanks!! (update after finishing, I won't use snap again in these cases. That thing really stands out in the video!

yah I’ve had the snap straighten out on me but I still prefer the straight wire snaps because they are easier. And yes sometimes they do mess up the lure action but that is when you cut them off and then tie them back on, later on.

Excellent vid with very useful info. I used snap swivels for a along time then went to direct tie sometimes but questioned the extra time, line use and general bother with the extra effort to change out lures. Your vid convinced me I’m going back to the convenience & ease of snap swivel use without sacrificing performance & effectiveness.

omg dude all your videos and tests are so good holy crap

I’ve used an ultralight snap for my lures for years . Very convenient, as for cons , who knows. Maybe fish see the snap 🤷‍♂️I’ve not witnessed this. Great video, Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

I just found your channel. The lure video was recommended. Great content!! I got a lot out of the swivel video, too, as I use swivels on the majority of poles. Would you possibly do a video on the different types of hooks/sizes? Maybe one on sinkers, too?

A snap is a great replacement for the split ring that comes on many lures. It still allows for freedom of movement for the lure , but eliminates the problem of the line getting caught and possibly damaged in the coils of the ring. I also will often use a snap swivel when using an in line spinner. It helps reduce and or eliminate line twist.

saw this on my recommended fees and thought I would take a peek. great presentation and the underwater video was great. I have all my life since I can remember used barrel swivel snaps. I have had no issues with loosing fish or not catching any b cause "it made my lures not run proper". I have used them in top water and caught massive 8-12 pound bass. bottom fishing and caught 20-30 pound catfish. I have even caught crappie, trout, bluegill and perch all without issue. I can not use bait cast reels so I have stuck with spin casters and everyone knows how you can get line twists from using them, however by using a barrell snap swivel I have no line twist and can easily change between top water and use crank baits or even plastic lures on bottom or just a weight and hook for bottom bait fishing. I would say it's more a matter of preference then it is anything else. oh and one other thing....just because someone uses barrell snap swivels doesn't nessa rally mean they can't fish.....my cousin is a fishing guide and stays up the night before he goes fishing rigging up about 10 poles with different baits/lures and places them in the bow of his boat, I in the other hand use these barrell snap swivels and take 3 poles, medium heavy, light duty, ultra lite, and as the fish bites change from top to bottom or in between I have out fished him and his arsenal of poles everytime we go out. he informed me that in most fishing tournaments they are not allowed to use swivels, snaps or barrell snap swivels so I think that is where the "myth of use" may have derived from. cast'em, hook'em, fight'em, catch'em.

One fix to keep the integrity of the snap swivel is to separate them. Use a barrel swivel to connect the main line to the leader then put a proper weight snap to the lure. You get the function of the swivel to negate line twist and the snap for quick change. Works great.

Tactical angler power clips are the way to go in the surf for sure. So simple a child can use. yet brutally strong and wont open given the design.

Thanks for the study here, very interesting. I try to tie a leader to my lurers and use a snap swivel on my line. That gives me the best of both worlds, I can make quick changes and still get the natural lure action. The down side is storing lures with a bunch of leaders and the prep time.

Excellent video!!! If you use the rapala knot which makes a loop at the end of the knot it allows a lot more freedome of movement of the lure than tying tight to lure.

I personally love snap connections. I am a kayak fisher and that are fast and easy.I only use jigs and have caught huge fish and no problem at all with the extremely unlikely "straightening out" .In fact I've never heard of this but I don't think anyone uses straight clips anymore.

Swivels are essential for closed face/spincast reels too. If you fish with kids using one of these reels, they help greatly with line twist. I think all spin reels are prone to line twist, but with spincast reels, the twisted line can tie a knot in itself around the reel, and because of the closed design it is a pain to clear.

Great video. I recently started using tactical clips for some techniques and love em.

You earned my subscription and like due to quick concise thoughtful information!!! I had this same Thought while I was fishing two weeks ago in the kelp beds with a spoon

Worth mentioning that Kevin VanDam said that he usually uses a snap on his crankbaits, but not a snap-swivel. He, of course, is a bass fisherman, so it maybe doesn't apply to other types of fish. Also, just imo in cases where a snap might affect the action of the lure, keep in mind that predatory fish are often most attracted to erratic baits, since looks injured.

Really appreciate this video. It's something I've always wondered. I've never been the best at tying on lures and always like the convenience of using snaps even though it seems like the "pros" look down on them. Messing up the action of the lure was always the biggest complaint I've heard and from your tests I see minimal to no noticeable change in the action. You did a good job explaining the pros and cons and the showing clear video of the action.

Thanks for the info, it's greatly appreciated.

Your underwater footage is great comparing the snaps with the direct tied lures. I'll be subscribing and checking out your other videos!

I bought some small barrel swivel with safety snaps today so I can interchange lures in 10 seconds instead of 10 minutes. And the fact that I even searched for and watched this actually make me feel like I know what I'm doing. 🤣😀

Great video, this is my take: when you have 20 rods pre rigged on the boat you don't need the snap, in my case I only use 6 rods (4 baitcasters & 2 spinning) so snaps are a must for quick change and they work wonders...maybe someday I won't need them lol.

VeryniceVideo.Ihave been thru thisanddecidecase to case when atthe water. Thanks for sharing this video.🐟🎣🍀Tight lines out there and stay healthy

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.

I tie swivel with Braid on one side And appropriate length fc leader on other side Loop Knot on lure When the fc shortens after 3-4 loop Knots I take a new Fluorocarbon line and carry on the game

Norman Speed Clips have always been my go to…. Never have broke one or lost a fish from it. Easily changes and allows the lure to move freely and doesn’t weight the lure down.

As a kayak angler, snap swivels are a great convenience when juggling lures, paddling, casting and weather. However, check them as you go to notice opening or bends before it fails when hooked up with a beast.

Snaps never mattered to the fish for me as long as the pond was prosperous.

I just make sure my snap is more than double the lb test of the line, so 8lb test, minimum of a 20lb snap. Never had an issue with a snap bending out, definitely worth it instead of retying every lure change.

Ive always used snaps to hold my weights when cat fishing using a Carolina rig. I always assumed the barrel weight would disrupt the action of my cranks glad to see it won't

I really like simple Snaps for my light River-setup where I allmost only present small (4-8gram) Jigspinner/Spinmad's/Tailspinner. I fell in love with these things, as they have a very favourable weight distribution and they do not drill your line at all, which is why the Snap is perfectly fine with them and the setup looks clean and minimalistic. No idea if the fish really care, but I do, lol.

I've used snap swivels my entire life, until recently when I started using soft plastic baits, but anytime I use hard baits I use snap swivels, or just swivels as I referred to them. I've never had a problem catching fish of an species with a swivel attached to the lure. And I've always wondered why rapalas have a split ring on the eyelet, if not to attach a snap or at least an actual swivel, which I use when water is real clear.

I believe in no snap swivel due to action and weight restrictions but i live next to a lake dominated by snake northerns, so i use them anyways. Especially for spinnerbaits. I never got comfortable tying mono to fluoro leader

Thank you for this video. I have about a thousand different lures and have felt stupid and guilty for wanting to quickly switch them. I’m a guy returning to fishing after fifty years. It’s all new to me.

Great video, thank you . I use snaps swivels.

It really doesn't look like the swivels did much to the action of the bait. I will say for some baits like the flicker shad that the swivel stuck out visually, which may make a difference in clear water with finicky fish. There is definitely pros and cons to consider with them. I don't mind shortening my leader over time because retying knots is good especially after catching fish, hitting rocks, or getting snagged. I do agree that with frequent bait changing that they are really great to have and I always run a barrel swivel with inline spinners. Another tool in the box that's great for some situations but not others. I would never consider using a snap for a jig or single hook swimbait like a mimic minnow. I think those finesse presentations would be hampered greatly by the swivel, not to mention impact fall rate which is one of the most critical components of effective jigging. Very cool video. Might consider using snaps with crankbaits if I'm trying to dial in on a specific crankbait style or color, and then direct tie once I'm confident on what the fish want.

I have heard the argument that the snaps and snap swivels would not look right to the fish. How do they justify that argument when that fish looking lure has 3 huge treble hooks hanging from it?

Just wanted to add your awesome thanks for the video always appreciate it

I’ve used snap swivels my entire life and have never had one straighten out on me. Granted I am mainly a lake angler fishing for bass, trout, bluegill and catfish. I have hooked some 10+ lbs catfish using Eagle Claw snap swivels and haven’t had an issue with snap failure. Thanks for the video! It was very interesting to watch and does give people a great topic to discuss and think about!

It's not a simple answer. -Specific lure requires it to avoid line-twist. -They are terrible in water with debris. -They can improve lure-action, but the opposite can happen too.

I'm still undecided but your video helps a lot. Thanks much. 👈🏽👍🏽

Nice , concise video. It was strange to here the same music I recently used in one of my own videos.

For cranking I like using the Bill Normans Speed clips. They come in 2 sizes, normal will cover small and medium chrankbaits and jerkbaits. Magnum will cover bigger stuff. They are small and strong. I have never lost a fish or biat while using them for 30 + years. They can be a bit harder to open if you have weak fingers but they will not open up like a snap if you bounce a bait off of hard objects.

Yep, I only remove them for top water. However big or multi-sectional (more than 2) swimbaits the action could be affected, I need to get some more time with them to decide. Great vid, subbed.

Lures that I use frequently, I’ll tie a mono leader to with a loop at the other end to attach to a swivel snap. I tend to use braided line so having the snap swivel saves a lot of headaches when it comes to tying in.

Wow that was such a difference in the flicker shad thx

Thank u for this Video!!! 🔥🔥💪🏾

Thank you for sharing this video, fish on

I like to use them, it just makes fishing so much easier. my biggest problem with them though is that they are big and way more visible that just a line, especially on those crank baits

I’ve used barrel swivels all my life. I enjoy the convenience of changing lures quickly

Fantastic video! In my experience snap swivels do occasionally affect how true crank baits and spinnerbaits run. Its a great tool though especially with younger anglers.

Very Nice - Thanks! 😎👍

Although it doesn't determine whether or not you should use one, it does appear that the snap and then the snap swivel mutes or slows down the crankbaits wobble a small amount. Depending upon what the fish are looking for this could help or hurt the effectiveness of the crankbait. They are convenient for sure. Having done a good bit of trolling with crankbaits the swivel does keep line twist down. That being said if you don't want to mute the action of the bait, you can always tie a swivel several feet ahead of the lure, attach a leader in direct tie to the lure.

I have allways used a leader with snaps an swivels... when I use lures, for fast change. Only go straight when using live bait, thanks for the video!

Excellent video!

Love the VMC Crank snap….if I need a swivel I run it up the line not connected to the snap. Have had days were a buddy was using my hot crank and he could not catch a thing and I was killing it with my back up crank, same exact crank only to have a look at his connect which was a Snap Swivel. Huge difference that day. On your direct tie, would have liked to see a loop knot added to the mix.

Nice. The action looks similar and good to me. I used Mustad Fastach clips.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks great video. Wow, a channel with good info instead of just watching someone catching fish. Awesome A couple more cons. You get lazy using a swivel and don’t change your knots and frayed leader. For me, on long casts the weight of the swivel will allow the line to tangle with the first hook. I still use clips with lighter line when fishing clear streams because you have to try a lot lures to find one that works well with your target fish. Thanks

Having lost some manual dexterity, due to a stroke, tying and retying knots is difficult, at times. Snaps make life so much easier and allow me to carry on enjoying fishing.