s.s. ball bearing snap swivels

[Boatnut]

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!

[rebs]

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

[stevefellegy]

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

[eyedoktr]

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.

[Brad]

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.

[FreeByrd]

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

[Lund AnglerMJ]

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.

[Homer]

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.