Fishing Snaps and Clips: Are They Good or Bad and Should You Use Them? (underwater lure test) 

I don't use snaps with bait hooks, but I did it all the time as a kid and still caught fish. People do it with snap swivels too and still have luck. I do still use snaps with soft swimbaits occasionally.

Yes exactly, but just try arguing with those hardcore direct tie guys.

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate the discussion! The paperclip style is very strong.

Do you use the one with the rounded ends or the one that are more pointed? I see 2 type of these paper clip swivels?

Thanks! I appreciate the comment.

Great - thank you for the feedback. I'm glad you found the video helpful.

Yeah they don't work well with ultralight cranks. The lure just doesn't have enough buoyancy to overcome the extra weight on the front end.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I have some knot tying videos and a strength test video in this playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLcXAWxBLRzoKPQ2y39AtqVjoOiVnsO0GB I plan to make more knot-focused videos this winter.

Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

Thanks! 👍

Thanks for the comment

Awesome, thank you!

Thanks for the comment. Their convenience is a big plus.

Thanks. Those were all with 8lb Trilene XL mono.

Thanks - yes, it did take a lot of work and filming to put this together. I think your idea to create a tiny DIY split ring or snap makes sense to preserve as much finesse as possible!

I would agree. The snap is only as good as the wire it's made with.

That's definitely one of their big advantages - if hands or eyes don't work as well as they used to.

I've noticed that too. The Speed Clips also have some limitations about which lures they will fit well on. The crankbait snaps or Duolock snaps are more versatile with a wide variety of lures.

Thanks for the comments. I've had that style of snap open up a few times. You're right that snaps are generally labeled with a strength/weight rating and the weakest part of the setup will give first, whether that's the line, snap, hook, etc. I've found the bent-wire style to be much stronger than the labeled rating, so they provide better protection in case you get snagged or hook into an unexpectedly huge fish.

At 35:00 ...the video is 3 minutes long

Thanks for the comment

Yes, I agree. I don't often use line over 30lb test, and mostly use 30lb snaps. The line has always broken first.

by the way sir, i really hope you could make a video about the difference between floating (top water), suspending and sinking lures and how they are different in terms of just letting them sink and see how far they go down underwater, thank you very much @@FishingwithNat

@@2061526 You mean how each of those lures sink/dive on their own during a retrieve? Just trying to understand your suggestion.

yes, i just want to know if what they say is true about lures that are suspending, floating and sinking, they say floating lures tend to stop sinking around 1 meter deep and suspending 2 meters then sinking all the way to the bottom when they are sitting still.@@FishingwithNat

@@2061526 That would be more of a function of how large the diving bill is. Berkley Flicker Minnows can run 15ft+ but they float when they are sitting still because the bill and water force isn't helping them dive. Their buoyancy pulls them right back to the surface. Salmo Freedivers and Reef Runner 44Mags claim to go to 30ft. Sinking cranks like Ratl Traps definitely go all the way to the bottom. Check out our How to Fish Crankbaits video for an in-depth look at crankbaits of all kinds. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q0wjo_P3ZqM.html

I don't see much difference either. I've fished alongside others using the same types of lures and one of us is using a snap and the other isn't. We rarely see any impact of the snap on catch rates.

@@FishingwithNat I think there are some species, and extremely pressured waters (maybe close to cities) where it can make a difference but in most cases it just doesn't. And even if it did make a tiny difference the ability to change lures quickly means your lure will spend more time in the water and less time in your hands. And lures only catch when they're in the water.

@@Black-March I would agree. I generally don't use snaps or snap swivels when fishing for trout in clear water because they have such good eyesight. But I have caught trout on accident with spinners when I've had a snap swivel tied on.

Thanks for sharing

Yeah they work nicely for big saltwater lures

Thanks for adding to the discussion - I appreciate it

Thank you. A beginner overview of catfishing is actually on my list!

Yes, that's on my list (among many others!) Summer is too short!

Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed the video!

Cool. I haven't tried the Cross-Loks

Thanks for sharing. Snaps are definitely convenient to make lure changes quicker.

@@FishingwithNat yeah I use them for hooks too it might look kind of strange but re tie hooks is too finicky for me so using snaps with hooks is better for me

Thanks for the comment. I like VMC's small yet strong snaps of various styles.

No, not always. I often use snaps in place of the split rings. I think they provide the same benefit without the risk of cutting my line on the sharp edge of the ring. I will use swivels at the line-leader connection but generally not with crankbaits because they don't have much risk of rotating around like a spinner or a spoon does.

Thanks for the feedback

Any issues with them over the years? Do you use them on everything or just specific baits?

I’ve lost a few baits over years, not enough to quit using them. As for when, I use them on top water, crankbaits and sometimes with a jig head with swim baits. Somewhat when one would use a loop knot. One note is I fish in south Louisiana and stained water is the norm.

@@harveyschindler9554 Makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

Yes, a swivel will help with line twist whether it's placed at the line-leader connection or as part of a snap swivel. The thing to keep an eye on either way is if you swivel gets rusty or jammed with debris. In that case, the whole swivel will spin around, so it won't do anything to keep the twist out of your line.

Glad you liked it!

I used a clip on a jighead and soft swimbait for pike recently and I was catching one every few casts. I did it out of laziness because it was barely above freezing, but it worked just fine and I never ended up tying it on directly. I've used clips with spinnerbaits before and I doubt that the tiny bit of extra wire makes any difference in action or appearance, but you do need to make sure that your spinnerbait has a closed loop at the attachment point instead of a standard R-frame where the clip could slide all over.

Same here. They really like stealing spinners and topwater frogs but not if you're using a wire leader.

Thanks for the feedback

Sometimes. Check out my video on leaders (3 minutes) for a thorough explanation on leaders. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oUZEDod8Ehs.html

😆

Thanks for the feedback

So true. Interesting that you find a snap to affect a chatterbait of all things. Chatterbaits have such a powerful vibrating action.

That's funny, I was fishing chatterbait last weekend with a snap and it was fine.

Thanks for the comment. I considered the Duolock style and cross lock style to be similar so I only tested the duolock. Do they think they perform differently?

Good question. What are you fishing for, what are you using for bait, and what kind of rod/reel/line are you using?

I have caught trout on accident when using spinners with snap swivels, but generally I do not use snaps or snap swivels when targeting trout. They are finicky as you said, so I do everything I can do to keep the lure as natural looking as possible and I use light line.

Yes, trout fishing is a separate subject, I say it from my experience (west coast) endless combinations of different lures, fishing line (color) and depths of water...trout fishing is a separate chapter, considering each location and applying combinations of different lures , this is sometimes very mind boiling process😖☝ again a quick decision of changing lures hookups or both? May work to attract the fish?

Every trout I've ever caught I've had a snap swivel on

Understandable. Thanks for sharing. What kind of snap were you having problems with?

Yep its just unnecessary hardware and an additional failure point that some people use because they think it's easier when really they just aren't proficient enough with knots. Alsos snaps are like magnets for weeds and debris and if the snap isn't enough to turn a fish away weeds on the nose of your lure certainly will be.

I generally don't because it's more hardware to catch on algae and vegetation. If you're throwing a kicking frog into open water, I think a snap would be fine.

Valid points 🙂

Thanks for the feedback. What do you think is missing?

Thanks for the comments.

@@FishingwithNat yes but not exactly (time wise) what you may want to say to all of us; you may need to repeat a simple rule , location and successful fishing trip depends upon our prep job, (?) Location = water conditions- river or lake? I'm skipping salt waters fishing conditions, CLD = C = > water flow/ its speed...Color of the lure (daylight...clouds, evening time) if lake or kayak fishing observing the given lure (type) it works at given depth? L=Lure selection this is a huge subject🤔, anglers must figure it out (again try and watch it, calculate) and finally D= depth, whereas water (river,lakes dam reservor ...) all these conditions varies, subsequently combination of lures / baits and fishing line (types) this may be very fatigue and complex issue, however : use your senses and confusion drawn ' once you'll try it will come...not every fishing trip must be successful☝ but the core issue is => outsmart the fish🤣👍 by implementing your skills and fishing gear , use your head than your muscle 💪 😉

@@gregory3108 Practice practice practice...helps you prepare for a good trip.

@@FishingwithNat yes thanks to your channel / show, I almost gave up last year , I figured out all things went wrong I was so busted🙊 and depressed after watching 👀your show , o men a major reset☝ , but yes I made it 👍

Me too

That's an interesting take - thanks for sharing

Thanks for the feedback.

The size numbers differ between brands and styles, which is really annoying. I use the size #00 VMC crankbait snaps on my rods with 20lb or lighter lines, and the size 0 or 1 with heavier line and large swimbaits, musky bucktails, etc.

Delicious

Thanks for the discussion. It sounds like you have a solid plan!