When choosing a swivel for fly fishing, micro swivels are the best choice, the smaller the swivel the less affect it will have on your fly line setup and casting. It’s also best to use high quality swivels and to shy away from the traditional cheap barrel swivels.
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What size barrel swivel should I use?
As a rule of thumb, the size of the swivel should match the strongest line it is attached to. Example, if your leader is 60lb test and your line is 30lb test, then the swivel should be able to withstand 60 pounds of weight. Typically for surf fishing, sizes between #1 to 2/0 work well in most situations.
Should you use barrel swivels?
Barrel Swivels are particularly useful when fish ultra-deepwater with a drop shot rig and the fishing line has the tendency to twist many times when reeling in. This twisting decreases the overall strength of the line and can cause breakage well below its poundage rating.
Does barrel swivel size matter?
In general, it’s best to choose the smallest swivel size that you can get away with, since that won’t spook fish as much as an oversized swivel. For example, when fishing for trout, a size 12 swivel is most often the best choice.
Do swivels scare fish?
Although snap swivels can save you time, they’re too big and bulky and will most likely scare off the fish either by their unnatural look, or just their presence in the water. Sure, you might catch a few young, naive, aggressive with it, but if you want to maximize your chances of catching fish, it’s not a good idea.
Should you use a swivel with a leader?
The ideal place to have a swivel (if you’re going to use one) is at the top of the leaderโฆ away from your lure/hook. This allows for the swivel to be on the line to absorb line twists from the bait without being an unsightly bulk right next to the bait that can cause more fish to get spooked.
When would you use a ball bearing swivel?

Can you attach a hook directly to a swivel?
Directly connecting a hook to a swivel is a great way for new anglers to get started with fishing, even if they are still learning how to tie good fishing knots. New anglers can easily get lost trying to remember the different knots.
Do swivels affect lures?
Usually the link between line and leader, snap swivels can play an important role in allowing for a quick change of rigs and lures while keeping twists and kinks out of everything between man and fish.
How do you rig a barrel swivel?

What is the difference between a barrel swivel and a crane swivel?
Crane Swivel โ The crane swivel is similar to the barrel swivel, but does a better job under tension from a heavy load. It’s best used with heavy fishing line for catfish and the like. Ball Bearing Swivel โ Ball bearing swivels are the most expensive of the the three, but also provide the most versatility.
What is the smallest barrel swivel?
Micro Hyper Barrel Swivel – Micro Hyper Swivels can be used for any application to eliminate line twist. They come in a full size range from a tiny #14 (about ยผ” length) to a #1 rated at 410 lbs. These are made from stainless steel to obtain the premium strength at the smallest size.
Can you use a swivel with braid?
Use the Braid Knot to Connect a Swivel to Braided Line Even so, this knot like all knots, must be tied with care. Pull it up slowly and evenly so that the loops snug up neatly and don’t overlap. If it doesn’t look right – one of the loops is looser than the others for example – cut it off and start again.
Do fish see snap swivels?

What is the point of a swivel fishing?
The main purpose of the swivel is to allow the two line sections to rotate independently of each other, which allows self-unwinding of any twists formed during line casting and retrieval, preventing undesirable tanglings.
Should I use a swivel with a spoon?
Normally, a spoon should be fluttering through the water, not spinning, so a swivel should not be needed. However, if you’re retrieving too fast, or the current is very strong, then your spoon may start spinning, thus spinning your line, and increasing the chance you’ll get knots and tangles.
Why use an FG knot instead of a swivel?
The FG knot is much more refined than a swivel and is, therefore, less noticeable. Because the FG node is smaller, debris is also less likely to get stuck behind. A clean line results in more bites, so more fish. The FG button does not suffer from fatigue and is therefore more reliable.
Where do you put a swivel on a fishing line?

Do you use a swivel with soft plastics?
Soft plastics generally track straight, so no swivel and no snap, and if I can see to tie one, a loop knot gives them the perfect action.
How do you use a cross line swivel?

Where are SPRO swivels made?
The swivels I received from Amazon’s supplier arrived in generic packaging labeled “Spro Power Swivels, Pack of 50, Black, Size 2, Made in China. These swivels are smaller and appear to be less strong than the other supplier provided in sealed Spro packaging. The back of the actual Spro package says Made in Japan.
How do you rig a leader to snap swivel?

Are ball bearing swivels better?
Conclusion. Yes, ball bearing swivels are much more effective at preventing line twists than regular swivels. However, they might not be worth it considering they’re much more expensive, and if you use spoons correctly, they shouldn’t spin anyway.
Should you use a swivel with a spinner?
We do not recommend attaching a spinner directly to a swivel. Most fishermen use a swivel that is way too big and this can interfere with the action of the lure. If you are set on using a swivel, we recommend you tie a very small top quality ball bearing snap swivel to the end of your main line.
What is a ball bearing swivel?
A ball bearing swivelโalso known as a load swivelโis used both for load positioning as well as allowing for rotation while under load weight. Swiveling under load weight helps to control load movement during the lift and prevent twisting and kinking in the rigging.