yikes!
 

Lost a decent fish the other night, felt the leader for knicks and the snap felt weird. I have never had one of these open on me but this was getting close.

thats exactly what happend to me last year off squibby. except mine was at the end of the braid and i lost my whole leader.

I was out chunkin squid at the mouth of the Saugus River in Lynn, MA this past Sunday. I had been there less than a hour, and the tide had just started to ebb. All of I sudden I hear a thump. I look over and see my 8 foot rod with a spinning outfit doing a balancing act over the pier guard, reel screaming like a victimized woman who took a wrong turn off Blue Hill Ave. I grab the rod, and begin fighting the fish. After a few minutes fighting, I finally get the fish in close. By this time, several other fishermen gather around and one of them shines a flashlight into depths. A four foot sand shark sweeps into view. Spooked by the lights, it immediately dives yanking another 7 or 8 yards of line from the reel. Finally, it tires and I reel it back in. Then as I proceed to lower the bridge net, when the shark is as tired as a 60 yr old hooker, the snap swivel gives. DAMN. Now I'm not saying I would have killed the shark (its illegal), but I would have loved to get a picture. It was the first shark I ever hooked, would have been the first shark I ever caught.

I can relate bro....

Was that the little snap?

Jim,
She must have given a few real good head shakes or gotten the plug against a rock in order to get the leverage to open that end of the clip, no? It was the end with the 90 degree bend that opened, correct?

my buddy lost a fish to an open snap swivel about a week ago.. i hadn't ever seen it happen before. is this a disturbing trend in the quality of snap swivels these days? who knows...:rolleyes:

Jim maybe you shouldn't use paper clips for snaps :rotflmao:

Just kidding thats a shame, especially if it was a nice fish

Someone argued with me last spring at a show that this NEVER happens to Breakaways. There you go...

I keep 2 in my bag as "broken memories".... :(

I don't use them anymore, but I've never seen one bent to hell and gone like that.

I've been using those breakaway snaps, both the large and small versions, for a few years now and I've had good luck with them, although I've never caught anything real big that might have tested one. I did notice that the last batch I purchased from Cabelas this past winter seems to a slightly different color than some older ones I've got, makes me think they might have changed the metal composition that they're made of. Anyone else notice this?

Yeah..that worried me too. The last ones I got had a kind greenish tint to them. The old ones were stainless steel color. They look the same otherwise. They both say stainless steel on the package. I wonder if there is a difference?

I think the plug was twisted funny on the side of the fishes head and it put a torque on the snap. I didn't loose the plug but about half way thru the battle it broke free. I wasn't a monster but it was decent. (it was the large snap)

Coastlock :kewl:

I'm still loyal as well. Only times I've had failure it was my fault when I didn't change out a well used one. Like any metal , with enough opening and closing it fatigues.

Rosco Coastlock R34 all the way...

I use #35's

Just tie direct. it's what I have done for more than 30 years and my knots never open...

If you're using a lure that will accept a split ring on the nose, put one on and then tie direct to the split ring. I put splits on all of my 9" swim baits,wooden plugs and plastic plugs, then tie on like Paul said. The split will allow the lure to swing and wobble as it would with the snap. There is no need for snaps IMO. The failure potential is considerably reduced with the split ring.

Bonus information:

I sometimes put a split ring on my eel hooks to prevent the eel from sliding up the line and being lost or chopped by bluefish.:think:

just goes to show u that we can all be humbled ;)

Split rings increase your chance of being cut off if you tie direct...the sharp edge of the split ring will move against the line and cut it...usually at the worst possible time. Used to use them but too many failures so I use a loop knot direct now.

Gunpowder I'm not going to publicly flog a member here :hee:

Same except a few less years.
People must be lazy.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/co...oop_knot_4.gif

Never say never...

Scott,

I don't think it happens any more than tying direct to the lure eye. With either case, you need to check the knot frequently for integrity. Also, you need to tie on to a split ring where it is only single stranded, not where it is doubled up. Otherwise, what you suggest happens will happen, and at the worst possible time.

Thanks for the care package you sent to FCC. Wasn't sure what was in the box until I opened it.:happy:

funny cause i thoughtt it looked like the same thing at first :tooth:

You tied on that clip upside down. Go ahead and laugh but it's true.

Maybe I'll call Hatteras Outfitters and ask them, but that looks right.

Yikes is right Mr.Sandman
looks like the fish got some leverage against the clip

It is tied correctly Flap
You just like to tie them your way, but I got it from Big Dave that the package is correct, you tie it like the one in the pic.

I know the originals were made in England with the finest of stainless.

Maybe China imports now. :huh:

that's what I thought, must be an imitation lesser quality