Question: What do you think is the best snap swivel?

[Another Grand]

Constantly trying to eliminate any weak link in terminal tackle so I can put more heat on a fish. This weekend we had a donkey kong on for a good minute or 5 until all the sudden the line went limp and we reeled up to check ......the snap swivel and it was open, fish and leader gone. I of course instantly started talking $hit and didnt let that particular individual hear the end of it.......however, after talking too a few people this weekend, I find out that other people have had this occur.....so maybe it wasnt his fault......but I will still talk $hit

Anyways, it got me to thinking. What do you guys think is the best snap swivel on the market?

Furthermore.....have you ever had one fail?

Just wondering, things like that only happen once and they dont have to happen to me for me to learn the lesson. Thanks ahead for any insight.

Johnny

[Broadbill]

We stopped using snaps and switched over to Aussie style swivels and crimp both terminal ends. It only takes an extra few seconds and you never have to worry about a snap breaking or coming open. IMO this is the strongest connection possible.

[swordstalker]

I agree with BB, we made the switch to Aussies some time ago also. Just too many things can go wrong with a snap swivel in my opinion.

[Tuna Devil]

I am not useing Snap swivels either (wind on Spros). I think sometimes the fishes tail hits the Snap swivel and opens it. If I have to use a Snap Swivel it would be a Sampo.

[Uncle Buck]

The best snap swivel is one that you remember to close. :lol: I can imagine that crimping each time ya swap baits would get to be a PITA, especially if you're getting a lot of slashed baits. I think the real question is "how often does the snap fail"? And would the extra effort to crimp to the swivel be worthwhile in the grand scheme of things? Of course, I'm talking about recreational fishing... not tournament fishing.

[Verado06]

Agreed with the rest. We ONLY use snap swivels for trolling. For swording/drifiting we only use Aussie's.

As the other guys have said, too much can go wrong and has before.

[e-money]

I think the best one is one that does not open.

Sampo 300lb works well, but have not tried the aussies yet to compare.

Fun fishing w you Dink & HF

E

[Sword Donkey]

I had the same problem and lost a nice fish. The snap came back opened. ](*,)

We now use barrel swivels and crimp everything. It takes longer, but having peice of mind is worth it for us...

[Tuna Devil]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

The best snap swivel is one that you remember to close. :lol: I can imagine that crimping each time ya swap baits would get to be a PITA, especially if you're getting a lot of slashed baits. I think the real question is "how often does the snap fail"? And would the extra effort to crimp to the swivel be worthwhile in the grand scheme of things? Of course, I'm talking about recreational fishing... not tournament fishing.

It's only a pain in the a$$ if you have girly hands and can not sqeeze the crimper closed. :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

If you have everything handy it is just as fast.

[Beerman]

Hey AG, bite me :lol: :lol: :lol: Something crazy happened down there and I dont know what, but hey maybe it saved me from losing 2 lights :lol: :lol: :lol: I replaced all the swivels :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Another Grand]

Originally Posted by Beerman

Hey AG, bite me :lol: :lol: :lol: Something crazy happened down there and I dont know what, but hey maybe it saved me from losing 2 lights :lol: :lol: :lol: I replaced all the swivels :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Ahhh.....the "lame snapper"

Seriously Zack, I bumped into a few people that say it may not have been your fault, dont get it twisted, I am still blaming you.......but it made me think about my snap swivels.

I will say that there is NO WAY I am switching to those Aussie Swivels.....thanks for the input but that was not the question. I am looking for the best snap swivel on the market......any other opinions.

[DORADOsteve]

Originally Posted by Another Grand

the snap swivel and it was open, fish and leader gone.

Lucky fish . . . :lol:

If the swivel didnt open, Im sure he would diner tonight!

[Broadbill]

I will say that there is NO WAY I am switching to those Aussie Swivels.....thanks for the input but that was not the question.



SORRY!

[Tuna Devil]

Originally Posted by Broadbill

I will say that there is NO WAY I am switching to those Aussie Swivels.....thanks for the input but that was not the question.



SORRY!

Go to your room!!!!!! :lol: :bounce:

[Another Grand]

No biggy.....I just absolutely hate crimpin anything on the boat. Particularly when my hands are all squidly or there are fish around. I like to have everything crimped before hand so I can quickly just snap on new baits and fire them out. Dont understand why I would use a wind on swivel if I am fishing wind ons but I guess most of you have just eliminated wind ons and fish long leaders????

Thanks though.......I appreciate the advice

[Tuna Devil]

No wind-ons. Main line, swivel, leader (15 feet), hook.

[RiskTaker]

Johnny:

Those same thoughts have gone through my mind after our highly experienced "Capt. Andy" chimed in with his advice about line/leader connections, perhaps mainly applicable to Marlin and/or tournament fishing. His advice was to crimp both ends to the ball bearing swivel (not a wind-on swivel either).

After much mental debate and comparing to practical fun fishing, I decided to stick with the snap swivels for dead baits and perhaps a direct crimp for the livies only. (B-B Swivel on hook or perhaps a Double ring B-B swivel. )

So the question remains, who makes the best B-B Snap Swivel? Personally, I don't know. But I will suggest that you try the Sampo Black Ball Bearing swivel (#400 lb.) These look exactly like the ( #300) Swivels but "they are not made for girly-men". They do require a sustantial amount of effort to snap closed. So much so that I have even considered to back off from them. I would think that it would be nearly impossible to flip one of these babies open, once set out.

But it always happens, just when you think you hhave everything alright, a defect occurs where you think you have perfected the process. Case in point. We had a big swordfish on last Wednesday night: the wind-on leader popped.

Let's see if that calls anyone's attention. Well before anyone starts jumping to conclusions: the monofilament portion of the wind-on snapped, (ie. 200# Momoi Diamond). So the braid held, the finger trap held, the serve held, but the mono snapped. The failure occurred right in the area where an LP Electrolume was clipped onto bar mono. So I think my lesson learned from this, for lack of anything else to blame, is to wrap a protective layer of wax line onto the monofilament. I guess #200 was not enough to prevent a failure.

[Beerman]

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

Johnny:
So I think my lesson learned from this, for lack of anything else to blame, is to wrap a protective layer of wax line onto the monofilament. I guess #200 was not enough to prevent a failure.

Ummmmm Johnny did you notice this on mine?? :lol: :lol: RT, thats what I do even on 300.

Johnny I upgraded to 300# not sure what they are called, but the are BB SS swivel, hard as hell to close, so make sure you close it next time you put out the bait :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

So I think my lesson learned from this, for lack of anything else to blame, is to wrap a protective layer of wax line onto the monofilament. I guess #200 was not enough to prevent a failure.

FYI... you can also use a 2" piece of silicone fuel tubing. (get it at hobby shops for nitro-powered R/C engines) Make a slice down the length of the tube piece, slip it over the line, the clamp the LL clip onto it.

[SANDRA D]

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