Your terminal tackle is essential to your fishing setup, but smaller pieces of the tackle can get left behind as an oversight. Snaps and swivels are some of these small odds-and-ends that tend to get overlooked - that is, until your line tangles or you’re robbed of a catch due to a weak spot in your line.
Snaps and snap-swivels make it easy to clip lures to your line, provide better lure action than a rigid knot, and keep line from fraying at lure-tie points. Some light-tackle fishermen believe that swivels impede casting accuracy by preventing the lure or bait from being reeled to the rod tip prior to a cast while others also believe that swivels spook fish, or worse, attract toothier fish which could lead to a cut-off in your line. Luckily, thanks to new developments in swivels, these arguments don’t hold as much water as they once did.
Choosing the right snaps and swivels can make a huge difference in your fishing experience. From reducing line twists to ensuring durable connection points between line and lure or leader, the addition of these small items in your terminal tackle can improve your setup. With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our inventory of snaps and swivels at Outdoor Shopping.
Swivels
In-line spinners tend to twist lighter lines and even some trolling rigs, but the addition of a swivel can alleviate this issue. Swivels consist of two rings connected to a pivoting joint. There are two primary benefits to using a swivel:
Allows line to untwist during retrieval
May stop a sliding sinker
Types
Most saltwater anglers will benefit from one of two main types of swivels: ball-bearing and barrel. There are also many additional types to consider aside from these two:
Swivel Type | Guidelines | PROS | CONS |
Ball-Bearing | These contain polished stainless-steel ball bearings positioned between its spindle and body, enabling the swivel to rotate freely and negating any twist, even under heavy load. |
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Barrel | These are comprised of a nickel-plated brass barrel that has been swaged around brass pins with formed heads and eyes. |
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Extreme Swivels | These “Australian-style” swivels are streamlined, torpedo-shaped and designed for extreme, heavy-tackle fishing in situations that may tax other swivels |
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Finesse Swivels | Also known as a ‘Power Swivel’, these offer a barrel design with extremely high strength in compact sizes. |
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Construction and Finish
Materials/Color: Most swivels are comprised of nickel-plated brass with stainless steel rings and snaps, and some swivels are taken through further processing to create a black finish (ideal for those who fear that a shiney swivel will spook a fish).
Sizing: Even the smallest of swivels will be stronger than your line, so always opt for the smallest swivel possible. The standard theory is to use one that’s slightly heavier than the leader.
Hinges: Choosing the right hinges is based mostly off of the type of fishing you’re planning to do. For instance, in offshore trolling, use ball-bearing snap swivels exclusively. As mentioned, their friction-free performance prevents line twist at all trolling speeds and when fighting fish. Keep in mind that serious trolling warrants the use of a snap swivel that features welded rings on each end. Double rings give the swivel more latitude to rotate and stay in balance, eliminating any resistance that could lead to line twist.
Snaps
If you’re not dealing with in-line spinners and twisting lines, then you may suffice with a simple snap. These pieces of terminal tackle connect your lure to your line, making for easier lure action than when using a rigid knot. There are many types of swivels to look for:
Snap Type | PROS | CONS | Best for: |
Duo-Lock Snap |
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Coastlock Snap |
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Hooked Snap |
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Fastlink Snap |
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Cross-Lok Snap |
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Swivel and Snap Care
As one of the smaller and more overlooked pieces of your terminal tackle, swivels and snaps can get left in the dust when it comes to maintenance and care. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly with water after fishing. Check that swivels still rotate freely and that damage has not been incurred (especially after handling a large fighting fish).
Snaps and swivels will tire over time and should still be replaced regularly even with routine maintenance. Doing so will guarantee that they’ll do their job and hold together when you need them most.
With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our inventory of snaps and swivels at Outdoor Shopping.
