To snap, or not to snap?
 

Many fishermen make a big deal over tying direct vs. using a snap. I, for one, used to go with the smallest, strongest snaps I could find as I was extremely caught up on the idea that the bass would be turned off by the sight of a big snap connected to the front of my plug. At times I would even go as far as to tie my leader directly to the plug when I felt the fish were "finicky". My thoughts on this changed one day when I was holding some plugs up to the sky to get a better feeling of the sillouette the fish would see as the plug worked its way across the surface. There it was staring me in the face. 2 big sets of 4/0 treble hooks dangling from the plug. Why would I worry about a tiny 1" snap on the front of the plug looking un-natural, if there is a pair of un-natural hooks hanging from the belly and tail of the plug?

So, why all the worry about a snap turning off a fish, when the hooks seem to be less natural? Do you agree or disagree with this thought? Was I just staring at the sun too long that day?

Toby..
Started using breakways with no problem... I agree trebbles are way more visable..

Our mutual quiet friend was doing a job last year using a big rosco snap on his needlefish..... :hidin:
and he schooled me many nights.... :exp:
B

Totally agree, I've thought the same thing for years, small snap versus all the ather Hardware :huh:
Only arguement that might have some merit is change in action, of snap versus direct.... but, that ain't been proved to me yet.

I'm with Karl and the only concern for me is the size of the snap effecting the action of the plug. A fish will be less concerned about a big snap, and actually on needles that appear to imitate an actual needlefish, it may be a good thing to have a long snap on the front.

Toby...

When using a snap to connect the leader to the main line, I've actually used larger snaps and threw on a teaser and clamped her down tighter, never had a problem landing fish with large snaps......
But - For some reason I attract too many bluefish up this way..and if you look at it from a different light....meaning your plug chasing this small object a few feet infront of it (the snap), the bigger that object the more attention it will draw...if you find yourself in a school of Bloooos, and I've seen this while bridge fishing (aerial view - you learn alot)...the bloo's get attracted to the snap if there's already a blooo on the plug, guess where they're hitting next.... I've switched to breakaways myself...for the better part anyway. When fish are on the feed, they'll hit anything. I wouldn't worry about size...I'd worry about sharp teeth on the leader - my opinion.

my preference is to tie direct. It probably doesn't makea big difference but it's like one plug you use all the time. If you faith in it, then it works. I just have more faith in tying direct. I have fished right beside RIRockhound out on a certain reef and he was using a snap. Didn't make a damn bit of difference. We both caught a ton of good fish.

The only time I have really noticed this is on the lighter plastic swimmers like Red Fins and smaller bombers. A big snap kept the nose down a bit more and deadened the side to side action. Also had some snaps turn a small floater into a slow sinker. I have used the smaller breakaway snaps for about a season now and I have not noticed any negative effects.

Slip, I can't see it changing the action at all, if we're talking about the snap at the connection point between the leader and the main line. If the leader starts from the same point of origin (the knot on the snap, not the size of the snap)...then the action shouldn't change....I would think, but if we're talking about the snap at the plug, sure it will add a little weight to the lure due to how close it is to the plug, also slightly affecting the action...like adding a little more to the lip

Bloo, maybe it's the combo of the heavier flouro I would use with a bigger snap??? Can't expect to get the same action with the small mambo with a large breakaway snap on 40 lb flouro as I would with a small snap on 25 lb leader. I know what you mean about the point of pull, but it adds weight.

With your scenario, I agree totally....

With the snap at the connection point, I'd be a bit more concerned over the thickness/strenght of the line than the size of the snap in affecting the action. Not only does the line get thicker/heavier with added #/test...but it doesn't cut through the water as easily, thus weighing it down even more by adding more resistance. This will intensify as you slow down on your retrieve.

the only time i will use a snap is when i think i will be changing lures from time to time during the course of a fishing that day/night. i've learned my lesson on duolocks after having in the period of a few months a couple fish straighten them right out - plug and fish, bye-bye. those were 54's. i leave one of the straightened ones on my mirror as a reminder to never use them again. now, it's breakaways.

ok, toby, how about that 80# leader we use? except on a ultra calm night or full moon, i could care less about using a leader that big.

Back to the old WMI days, and Bassdozer's use of the biggest coastlock...big as a New York cockroach...on everything including the smallest jigs.

I've always used snaps.

..sorry, I had to edit ALL my replies to this thread....I was giving my opinion on a different question... :wall:

I've had quite a few snaps straighten out on me at the lure also, some aren't bent as far over as others...If you question it, you may want to squeeze it a little..but becareful, most snaps only bend so many times before they break, so pick a good stopping point. Another thing to consider is the bass destroying it on you, against a rock in or out of the water...it don't take long....I've also found a defective one in the package while tying one on...rare, but it happened. When you're night fishing, you don't see defects...

I've yet to have a problem with Break-Aways....not that I don't or won't use snaps...depends on what I'm targeting. I don't have the luxury of filling my tackle container with every size/option available...

Sidenote: // Depending on the size of the Break-Away....Some poppers can be a bitchh to slide on a break-away, I guess they do have at least one flaw. :uhuh:

I've always used snaps.Its a must in my book as I change plugs frequently until I find one the fish want.

I would have to agree with Tlapinski if you've ever seen a plug swim under water; then you know it really looks just like a plug swimming under water and all the fancy paint and finish starts to fade away fast. The thing that stands out are the hooks and the leader. Why they chase them and eat them I'm still not sure. They really don't look like a fish from underneath. As far as a snap, I make my own so they are both small and strong and I can blame no one if they fail but myself.

small storms 3-4" swim much better with a direct tie i keep a half a dozen tied with teasers in my bag snaps for everything else

I'd much rather tie a good knot to a crosslock or breakaway snap before I hit the water than worry about tying knots in the dark

I usually use a snap until I find the plug that is going to catch the fish then
I tie direct if a plug has a split ring to tie to I don't use a snap

I use snaps /when I figure I,ll be changing plugs // small snaps for the small stuff / under a oz..
on lead heads I tie direct ....

on no weights /no snaps & really don,t want a leader // If I have to use one ==then its light & long //////

Yah know Toby I gotta thank you for that observation. I've been tying direct, and hating it for a couple of years lately. After reading what you posted I'm gonna go back to snaps. Probably black and as small as I dare, but lure changes are gonna be a "snap" from here on out. Thanks. :happy:

one thing about the breakaway snaps=- On a windless glass calm morning, I can hear the snap rattleing around on the loop of some of my plugs.. is it a good thing??? I dunno- but sound is another factor to consider with some snaps.

this is a great thread.... :kewl:

amen

This idiot read the question wrong and had to edit all his posts... :crying:

When tying direct, give yourself an extra foot (1') of extra leader for at least 3 lure changes. You'll lose that much because some of the line near the lure may get damaged, fish/rocks depending on structure...That should hold for an average night...unless you have a lot of time to fish that night...bring a spool ;)


Again, I apologize, that must have seemed like I was being a smart :bshake: ...I wasn't, I just mis-read the question :wall:

You? Sounding smart? Never... :bl:

As far as straighteneing snaps, I had it happen enough on the duo-locks and cross-locks to make me look for another alternative. That was what brought me to try the Breakaways. I heard some very good things from several respected members of this site on them, and have not turned back since I started using them. So far I have only straightened one of the smaller clips, and that was on a jig attatched to a rock. The only lure I have not been able to use the breakaways with is a tin. The large amount of metal around the eye hole does not lend towards the use of the Breakaways. I have tried to put a split ring on the nose of some tins, but they usually get bent out of shape. I keep a couple duo-locks on hand now for when I throw tins.

TLap, I haven't had any problems with the cross locks. The only down side I've found is if the wire loop is too small on the plug, it can be a pain to attach the snap.
I have had other types of snaps, like duo-locks fail.

The breakaways don't wanna go on some 8/0 an 9/0 jig hooks either.i don't like bendin em out of shape to get em on there.i'm in the process of changin all my jigs to brass eyelets but i still got alot to go..if i wasn't lazy i would tie a loop knot my friend can shark off 50lb mono i gotta use a clipper its just to much.but usin a snap is askin for disaster.i use a BIG coastlock most of the time like size 35 I think.or a duolock size 55 that I bend up.I only use the big breakaways.they will alter the action on some 5 inch plugs but i really don't throw em anymore.I have been usin big clips for yrs as some of the current fishing taught me that there is no place for small clips in the world of large bass.i use the duolocks on pencil poppers an tin squids.as the coast lock with the small bend in the bottom prohibits action.

used breakaway clips for the first time- OMG they're great!