Getting ready to re-stock the ol' tackle box for spring. Was wondering how many use the pricey, Sampo brand swivels and if they feel they are really worth the money over say.....cabela's "premium" brand swivels. Mostly used for dipsy leaders and on downrigger poles when running spoons.
thanks!

I use the cabelas or basspro brands and they seem to work just fine for me

some of the terminal tackle is quite pricy
put on a bb swivel a 3 way and a sinker and a bait and add it all up
you are dragging $10.00 worth of tackle thru the water

rebs

I use the cheapest I can find. I find very little difference, if any, when comparing pound test rating and size.

I use Cabela's cross-lok ball bearing swivels and have for a number of years. I haven't had a failure yet (knock on wood). They're cheap enough to change often.

I only use Sampos. I am set on using quality snap swivels after having cheaper off brands cost me a few nice fish and some tackle many years ago.

I never worried about the holding power if you bought good middle of the road swivel and the right style. I have been wondering about the ease of turning and if like in reels and other machinery, the better quality sampo would keep the line from twisting better than less precisioned bearings.
Had a question asked last year I never thought of: Only one side of the swivel turns. Is that the side you put toward the bait or toward the rod. At first I laughed but then thought there is food for thought here. What are you controlling the lure from twisting or the line? This is all considering it is swivel only. If it is a tappered swivel I have put the small nose to the rod but if they are the same?

I have not found much difference in the ones I use, as long as they have been ball bearing. Ran some SPRO power swivels l/y to connect
my flourocarbon leaders...very tiny swivel... plan on trying out their snap/swivels this coming season.

Mike,
I've tried a lot of stuff over the years and have finally just settled on paying for the Sampos. I get several dozen in the spring and don't have to worry about them. With everything I spend on fishing I've decided to get the best on the things that matter the most and not worry about equipment failure. The last two years I've got them from Jann's Netcraft in Toledo (actually Maumee).
Steve

I use them both,cheap and costly,and the cheap ones work,just as well.With all I've spent on boat,motor's,car's,and the price to get there,what's a few buck's on swivel's?Go cheap....I've not had adverse results with them.

Two comments:

1) I lost a couple of huge steelhead a few years ago when my Cabela's "premium" ball bearing snap swivels failed at the snap.

2) The local tackle store had an interesting display a while ago where they had two downrigger cannonballs hanging side by side on heavy fishing line, each with a different brand of ball-bearing swivel. When you spun the cannonballs, it was amazing how much faster/longer the ball with the Sampo swivel spun.

That said, I now use a mixture of swivel brands. For presentations where line twist is a real concern, or when big fish are likely, I go with Sampo's.

good swivels cost money ! there is a difference and the only swivels that i have found to work are the sampo and cabela's premium. you can save some money buying the cabela's premium over the sampo but you always get what you pay for !

For fun fishing I guess it's not a huge deal, but when a swivel letting could cost you thousands (tournament fishing), I always have Sampos on. When you get right down to it, and consider all the money you have invested to try and catch a fish, tournament or not, what's a few more bucks for good swivels. When your set up propperly and you pay attention to details, you don't loose that many (on Erie anyway).

i like the cabella's except i make sure i get the welded "o" rings and not the split rings....steve....approx 1/2 price of sampo

Hey ETT, lol

For some of us, after "investing" all that money you speak of, we have to make a choice between expensive swivles or night crawlers! lol lol Heck, old Probst used to go beach combing to find some hooks to use!

No doubt about it, Bob Probts was a treasure that we let get away. I appreciated his fishing ugly techniques, and his orange trooper cap mentality. Some how, some way, we should have kept him in the game. No idea how to accomplish it....just wish it could have happened.

ANY out of the fishing industry promo/marketing company expert could have old Bob back involved in a flash. Someday...probably later than sooner, the fishing marketing departments will understand the value of marketing the "human interest" element of the anglers. Good and sometimes bad...there are MANY stories and histories with guys like old Bob that would attract interest in our game far beyond the people that care about high speed boats, fine line and sensitive rods. ALL the major leugue sports are prime examples of that. The latest being NASCAR. Only finally seeing that day keeps me in the game....
Now back to swivels!