Dave's How To - Getting The Best Out Of Swivels

This entry was posted on 9th November, 2017

Swivels are great for joining different strength lines together, preventing line twist and gaining extra strength compared to simply using knots. Swivel links are also very useful for attaching various tackle like leger weights, feeders and loaded floats to your rigs. It pays to keep rigs as simple as possible (to avoid tangles) and swivels help a great deal here.



Several companies market float adaptors with snap links and swivels incorporated, which lock on the main line with peg legs and rubber tubing. These are brilliant for fully loaded floats like pellet wagglers. The snap link allows floats to be changed quickly, without having to break down the rig. The swivel part keeps the float flexible on the cast and when striking. This type of float adaptor keeps rigs uncomplicated; once installed all you need to do is add a hook length. This can be done loop to loop style, or via a micro swivel. (The latter option helps to avoid line twist as the tackle is retrieved).



American snap swivels are favoured by many anglers for attaching feeders to their main line, mainly because they allow feeder sizes to be changed in seconds without having to dismantle the rig. Another big advantage is you can switch to a leger weight if you want to stop putting free grub in the swim for a while. I prefer to use snap swivels mainly with free running leger weights or smaller feeders, positioning a small bead ahead of them and a tiny stop weight in front of this - just above the hook length loop. This set up pushes the hook length away on the cast and presents minimal resistance to fish when they pick up your hook bait.



Snap link beads are great for attaching groundbait or maggot feeders to your end tackle. The bead part is left free running on the main line and then below it a small 4-inch loop is formed - with a small swivel trapped at the leading end. If you twist the line before forming the loop, it creates a stiff boom effect, which helps to keep your hook length away from the feeder. The hook length is attached to a micro swivel, which is there to prevent line twist when the rig descends in deep water. Beaded snap links allow fast changes in feeder size, or a switch to a leger weight, if you want to stop feeding the swim for any reason.

Apart from using micro swivels to attach hook lengths to feeder rigs, I also use them for joining a hook length to reel line when waggler fishing. Apart from preventing line twist, they gain a stronger union between different strength monofilaments, preventing thicker line from biting through thinner trace material.