The swivels on all my leaders are Spro #4 130#. Small and plenty strong for leaders, I can see Mike's point of a larger swivel as far as size to make it easier and safer to handle the leader when landing fish but not necessary for strength. The leader is acting as a shock absorber and reducing the tourque exerted there. However in a plug I want a stronger swivel like the HD Kroks or Rosco, that's where it's necessary. For clips I like the 50# Breakaways for schoolies and holdovers when I use lighter test leaders and the 80# with heavier leaders from about the third week in May into December. Knots on both ends are polomars.

Up until last season it was always mono-to-mono/flouro for my leaders ... not usually a problem, unless I got lazy and did not retie or check my knots ... you need to do that with swivels and breakaway clips any way, as your knots can become strained after a day's fishing/or even several fish ... always check your notes after catching fish, leaders as well for nicks, etc. ... that's how I have lost fish in the past when using leaders ...

Now use the 80 breakaways with 130 or 200 spros,

always used swivels and snaps and always will,,, cross-lock snaps NEVER FAIL,,, i use all different sizes surf usually 50lb plenty big enough

no matter if you trust your knots or not ( you better ) you better tie them well cause clip or not you need a knot to tie the snap to your line . or maybe Im missing something or are we are talking about a hangmans knot . I use breakaway 80# and duo locks . I use them on spinning and occasionally on conv . Mostly I tie direct when fishing conv.

This is totally my way and yours may differ some or completely .

Hmm...

Ya see ,When I said some are tieing them on backwards no names were mentioned,, Even though you immediately came to mind . You had to call me out . I win ... pay up Numby

I'm right,, you win .... I'll pay up . :bc:

I like to use #35 coast locks with pencils..
#34 for plugs.
breakaways for jigs..
I don't trust the breakaways for plugs anything that goes on that easy can come off just as easy.There have been some istance's where they have done that..Thats enough for me i don't need to experience the horror story for myself..

thats what I'm saying ... been like 4 yrs. using them ..0 problems .. Thats why I said Numbskull might be tieing them on backwards .. Hooks bend and fish are dropped .. never the clip .. not once .

many big bass many 40+ bass and a few over 45lbs not one problem with breakaway, i use to wear out the berkley crosslocks and they would open up on me, plus i wore out barrel swivels untill i went to spo , I like how fast I can swap out plugs also
as far as mono goes go direct to a clip

Before Breakaways, I'd quit using snaps entirely, since I'd had so many (both Duolock and Crosslock) fail over the years. It used to be commonplace to find my snap open after landing a fish on a plug, particularly if the fish did a lot of rolling and the line had become fouled in the plug (usually a metal lip). I didn't use a swivel which might be an issue and tended to avoid the heaviest snaps. With Breakaways, I have not had a failure, even using them upside down (though it is no easy trick getting your plug on them that way in November). What I don't like about them is that the knot seems to slide a bit on them so you end up pulling your plug from an angle. Tieing direct is better, but then you end up fishing a nonproductive plug too long.

I don't use any. I tie direct.

I once used coastlock snap swivels for quick plug changes for fall daytime fishing. haven't done much of that lately.

I started using the breakaways last year based on a similar thread and I love em, so much easier to change plugs. Plus, my leader stays the same length all night as opposed to when you have to constantly re-tie.

LOL, I live in Stoughton.

Sorry but I do believe that is WRONG :angel:

Oops, guess I should have read the whole thead.:hf1:
The winner, loser part had me thinking though......who was who:spin: