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Canada => Ice Fishing Manitoba => Topic started by: whitefish on Jan 04, 2011, 09:02 AM

Title: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 04, 2011, 09:02 AM
Hey guys,

Does eveyone use swivels with jigs or do you just tie right on to the jig?  I was watching a video on You Tube talking about line twist and how it can spin a jig while ice fishing.

What size swivel do people usually use?

Thank :tipup:
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: hoghammer on Jan 04, 2011, 09:09 AM
When jigging I never use a swivel but I will use one on a Rap or buck shot jigging spoon.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 04, 2011, 09:15 AM
Quote
When jigging I never use a swivel but I will use one on a Rap or buck shot jigging spoon.

Yeh, I've always used swivels with spoons or a buck shot, but never with a jig.  Likely makes a bigger difference in deeper water when alot of line is let out.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: hoghammer on Jan 04, 2011, 09:18 AM
I forgot to say I will go with the smallest swivel I can get away with.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: icejunky on Jan 04, 2011, 09:38 AM
I cant remember the size i use, the smallest I found local was #14, but you can order #20 from cabelas. I always use black, dont want it to flash at all and distract the fish from your bait. this is my second season using them, and i love them (barrel swivel not snap)

some fish will still peck awat at it, and you will see it on your flasher (depending on where your gain is set)
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 04, 2011, 09:48 AM
Thanks guys - any advantage to rolling versus barrel?
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: hoghammer on Jan 04, 2011, 09:52 AM
I agree with the black. Black barrel is all I have in my tackle box.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: Dr.Funk on Jan 04, 2011, 08:02 PM
Never toss a line in the water without a swivel.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 04, 2011, 08:10 PM
Ball bearing SPRO or equivalent swivel at least 18" up joining the braid to the fluorocarbon... then a tiny ball-bearing cross-lock snap to the lure  ;).
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: firefighter on Jan 04, 2011, 08:30 PM
Smallest black snap swivel I can find. Some lures I simply prefer to tie directly if lure equiped with a ring.

FF
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 04, 2011, 08:41 PM
Smallest black snap swivel I can find. Some lures I simply prefer to tie directly if lure equiped with a ring.

FF

This minimizes or eliminates twist how, exactly... or you just don't think it matters  ???
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: biggamefisher on Jan 04, 2011, 08:53 PM
Ball bearing SPRO or equivalent swivel at least 18" up joining the braid to the fluorocarbon... then a tiny ball-bearing cross-lock snap to the lure  ;).

Some lures require to tie direct for proper action, or a loop knot, it's my preference to never use a snap of any type unless the lure requires it, alot of folks use a snap for ease of changing baits, I'll take the few extra seconds needed to tie direct.........I however, always use a swivel further up the line, using a uni-knot with a flourocarbon leader.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: icejunky on Jan 04, 2011, 09:01 PM
Just to clarify my above post, I only use barrel swivels and tie them use them to attach a leader, i always tie my lures directly onto the line. I find most baits need to sit a certain way and tying direct ensure this
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 04, 2011, 09:11 PM
Quote
Some lures require to tie direct for proper action, or a loop knot, it's my preference to never use a snap of any type unless the lure requires it

Me either, BGF... but there are plenty with rings that will tie you in knots if you don't use one  ;). That's also why I specified a quality ball-bearing swivel (not one of the usual "50 count for $1.00" packs). I've watched plenty of fish swim up towards a spinning lure on a camera & leave immediately at a high rate of speed to believe that it doesn't matter, though  ;D. 
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 04, 2011, 10:46 PM
Thanks guys - I`m picking up some smaller swivels tomorrow.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: Svengalli on Jan 04, 2011, 11:23 PM
Black or dark bronze swivel at the end of braid attached to fluoro of varying lengths depending on lure/depth/clarity and then tied directly to the lure.  High quality swivels are preferred as the others don't swivel too well, they're more of a bind and grind.   
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 05, 2011, 12:07 AM
I also noticed that fish often check out the swivel. I now use about 1 inch of 30lb test atached to the swivel with a bare hook and a live minnow. Below i use 6 feet of floro with my jig. The bare hook and minnow often produces!
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 05, 2011, 09:01 AM
I'm a braid user, so I have to tie on a leader of mono, between the two is a swivel. I do like a snap swivel at the end too, just makes changing lures faster.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: firefighter on Jan 05, 2011, 10:29 AM
This minimizes or eliminates twist how, exactly... or you just don't think it matters  ???

I tie small jigs and perch lures directly to the line with no swivel. Never get "line twist" with small jigs and live minnow while icefishing. Jigging spoons/lures... all those "Live Target" type operations will twist badly, and IMO a swivel somewhere along the system is nessisary.

FF
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 05, 2011, 10:40 AM
Quote
I tie small jigs and perch lures directly to the line with no swivel. Never get "line twist" with small jigs and live minnow while icefishing. Jigging spoons/lures... all those "Live Target" type operations will twist badly, and IMO a swivel somewhere along the system is nessisary.

The video I saw talked about twist in the line created by the spool, not necessarily by the action of the lure.  A jig would propellar one way and then back until the twist in the line is relieved.  I would expect that the deeper you go, the more line is let out and the greater the chance of line twist as a problem.  That said, once the twist is relieved, its gone until you wind up the line again.

Action lures like spoons and raps are imparting twist all the time.

As a side note, I've been tieing my fireline micro ice right to the lures.  I think I'm going to opt for tying a fluro leader now instead.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: hoghammer on Jan 05, 2011, 11:01 AM
I have 2 rods with the fireline ice on them and tried tying direct to the jig and found that I cant set the hook like I would with mono. It seems like I was ripping the jig out of the mouths all the time then I tried just lifting the rod in a slower motion not the big hookset and it works great. Only problem I found with the fireline is it seems to pull off the spool kind of funny. I have 8 lb fireline and think I might try around a 10 or 12 lb. I think the 8lb is to thin.   
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 05, 2011, 03:58 PM
Quote
I have 2 rods with the fireline ice on them and tried tying direct to the jig and found that I cant set the hook like I would with mono. It seems like I was ripping the jig out of the mouths all the time then I tried just lifting the rod in a slower motion not the big hookset and it works great. Only problem I found with the fireline is it seems to pull off the spool kind of funny. I have 8 lb fireline and think I might try around a 10 or 12 lb. I think the 8lb is to thin.   

Yeh, I sort of noticed the same thing.  I love it when trolling or casting long in the summer though.  Much better sensitivity.

Picked up two packages of Mustad #16 Rolling swivels - smallest rolling swivels I could find.  Wholesale did have #20 Barrel swivels as well.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: firefighter on Jan 05, 2011, 05:30 PM
I also noticed that fish often check out the swivel. I now use about 1 inch of 30lb test atached to the swivel with a bare hook and a live minnow. Below i use 6 feet of floro with my jig. The bare hook and minnow often produces!

Kind of like drop shotting. Might be a good idea but 6 feet of line after the swivel would put your live well up into the water collumn would it not? Maybe I misunderstood your explanation though :)

FF
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 05, 2011, 08:45 PM
4-6 feet alows you to fish different depths. At chalet if I walk out iy is usually shallow so I may only have two feet between swivel and jig. At Balsam I may go as much as 6 feet if I am in 18 feet of water. And yes much like drop shotting.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: GrandrapidsGizmo on Jan 06, 2011, 04:48 PM
4-6 feet alows you to fish different depths. At chalet if I walk out iy is usually shallow so I may only have two feet between swivel and jig. At Balsam I may go as much as 6 feet if I am in 18 feet of water. And yes much like drop shotting.

Would the swivel and hook 6 feet from the jig not interfere with reeling a fish close to the top of the hole, especially if you are sitting down? I use Power Pro Ice exclusively, with a small ball bearing swivel and a flouro leader not longer than the rod I am using so that if a big fish turns and makes another run at the top of the hole I dont have a swivel hanging up on my top guide.

I agree with TC, quality ball bearing swivels make a world of difference. Barrel and rolling swivels, made by inserting 2 wires into a barrel, can kink fighting a big fish and then will no longer "swivel" making it a useless piece of junk on your line. Very rarely will a good Sampo or Spro ball bearing fail.

Someone mentioned having issues with Fireline coming off the spool badly. To fix this put enough mono on the spool to cover the spool, then nail knot your fireline to the mono then fill up the spool with the fireline.You will see a huge difference in how the line comes off the reel.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 06, 2011, 06:02 PM
At that point if the  higher up I stop reeling and pull up by hand the old fashioned way. Give it a try you may be surprized!
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 06, 2011, 06:05 PM
At that point if the  higher up I stop reeling and pull up by hand the old fashioned way. Give it a try you may be surprized!

(should have said) If the swivel and jig is higher up say 4 feet or more simply reel up to that point and then pull up by hand.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: GrandrapidsGizmo on Jan 06, 2011, 06:17 PM
(should have said) If the swivel and jig is higher up say 4 feet or more simply reel up to that point and then pull up by hand.

Sorry, but if a big rainbow or northern makes a power dive while I am hand bombing I will incur blood loss at the very least! Power pro cuts like a knife, we even use it for cutting cheese at our house.Also, the chance of hooks pulling out when hand bombing goes up dramatically as the surging fish has no "give" that the rod provides.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: whitefish on Jan 06, 2011, 08:24 PM
Quote
Very rarely will a good Sampo or Spro ball bearing fail.

Good to know - where do you pick these up?
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 07, 2011, 11:20 AM
(should have said) If the swivel and jig is higher up say 4 feet or more simply reel up to that point and then pull up by hand.

I don't see the advantage of using a 6' leader over a 18" leader, why would you want to hand bomb?

I also would assume your only fishing for walleye?
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: GrandrapidsGizmo on Jan 07, 2011, 01:43 PM
Good to know - where do you pick these up?

Once a year I take a weekend off and hit the Gander Mtn in Bemidgi Minn and buy all my personal gear for the year. They have the Spro swivels, the Sampo's  I got from Mills Fleet Farm. I have tried the Mustads from Wholesale too, they arnt bad but I did have one separate on a big Walleye once, probably just a defective one.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 07, 2011, 02:11 PM
At that point if the  higher up I stop reeling and pull up by hand the old fashioned way. Give it a try you may be surprized!

In my opinion. Not a good idea. As gizz says. Nothing worse than fiddling around,when you have a fish in or just below hole. But if it works 4 U then, IF it aint broke don't fix it ;) ;)   zeus.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: firefighter on Jan 07, 2011, 03:38 PM
In my opinion. Not a good idea. As gizz says. Nothing worse than fiddling around,when you have a fish in or just below hole. But if it works 4 U then, IF it aint broke don't fix it ;) ;)   zeus.

I kind of point my rod tip toward the hole once the fish is close. Gentle recovery of line there after to ensure fish is not knocked off while getting into the hole :).

FF
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 07, 2011, 05:43 PM
In my opinion. Not a good idea. As gizz says. Nothing worse than fiddling around,when you have a fish in or just below hole. But if it works 4 U then, IF it aint broke don't fix it ;) ;)   zeus.
The reason I do it is because I dont have a flasher, this allows you to cover the bottom 1/2 to 1/3 of the water column.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: The Beachcomber on Jan 07, 2011, 06:36 PM
I have found using fluro connected to the jig doesn't work for me, it seems to snap all the time, I just use fireline with a small black swivel.

Not a fan of fluro at all.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 08, 2011, 09:42 AM
The reason I do it is because I dont have a flasher, this allows you to cover the bottom 1/2 to 1/3 of the water column.


HUH ??? ???, I don't see what a flasher has to do with the length of your leader, or how you land a fish
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: Tee Tot on Jan 08, 2011, 04:57 PM
 I have about 4' of flouro. to a small swivel than to my 20' braid. The swivel I use is small enough to wind right onto the spool right through the guides.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: Tee Tot on Jan 08, 2011, 04:58 PM
OOPS..... 20lb. braid
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 08, 2011, 05:38 PM
I have about 4' of flouro. to a small swivel than to my 20' braid. The swivel I use is small enough to wind right onto the spool right through the guides.


All depends on size of swivel and size of tip eye. A leeder shorter than your rod would work in most cases. ;) ;)zeus
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 08, 2011, 08:05 PM

HUH ??? ???, I don't see what a flasher has to do with the length of your leader, or how you land a fish

As posted earlier , this allows you to fish at different depths, If you have a flasher you can raise your jig if you see a fish higher in the water cuomn. This will give you a better chance of catching suspended fish compared to only a jig on the botto.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 08, 2011, 08:12 PM
As posted earlier , this allows you to fish at different depths, If you have a flasher you can raise your jig if you see a fish higher in the water cuomn. This will give you a better chance of catching suspended fish compared to only a jig on the botto.
Bad spelling should be collumn and bottom.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 08, 2011, 08:27 PM
As posted earlier , this allows you to fish at different depths, If you have a flasher you can raise your jig if you see a fish higher in the water cuomn. This will give you a better chance of catching suspended fish compared to only a jig on the botto.
If you have a 2 foot leader you can still fish ALL of the water column, different depths. I am not trying to be argumentative. But I fail to understand your reasoning. F/finder or not.

Example. If you have a 10 foot leader in 20 feet of water. You will only be able to reel half way up from the bottom, before swivel reaches your rod end. If your swivel gets jammed in the end eye and you have a fish on you're screwed. And that is why I say, leader no longer than your rod. If swivel gets jammed, your fish will be almost if not all the way out of your hole. ;) ;)zeus
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 08, 2011, 08:39 PM
Not at the same time.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 08, 2011, 09:34 PM
Quote
should be collumn and bottom.

Actually, *column*  ;D
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 08, 2011, 09:56 PM
Not at the same time.
 

So sorry, but I am completely baffled by your last statement. Let's just revert to "status quo".

This is getting me more confused than b4. What do you say T.C. ;) ;) ;) zeus
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 08, 2011, 10:06 PM
Agreed, but just to keep the ball rolling I also troll two lures at a time while fishing lake trout in ontario with a similar system. Works great!
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 08, 2011, 10:18 PM
 Different type of fishing, Unless you are ice trolling ;) ;) ;) zeus
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 08, 2011, 10:46 PM
OOOps i shoauld have added in open water.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 08, 2011, 10:58 PM
I also noticed that fish often check out the swivel. I now use about 1 inch of 30lb test atached to the swivel with a bare hook and a live minnow. Below i use 6 feet of floro with my jig. The bare hook and minnow often produces!

Having re- read this post. I have worked things out in my tiny mind. You attach a hook from your swivel, drop shotting fashion. So what happens if you get a fish on your jig at the bottom, and your swivel that now has a hook attached, snags on the bottom of your hole. Leaving your fish dangling 6 feet below. Personally, as I have said that system is a no go 4 me. If it works 4 you then fine. ;) ;) ;) zeus
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 09, 2011, 12:41 AM
hasnt been a problem.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: keen on Jan 09, 2011, 07:22 AM
I have tried that and the hook does snag the ice, not worth trying.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 09, 2011, 09:34 AM
Having re- read this post. I have worked things out in my tiny mind. You attach a hook from your swivel, drop shotting fashion. So what happens if you get a fish on your jig at the bottom, and your swivel that now has a hook attached, snags on the bottom of your hole. Leaving your fish dangling 6 feet below. Personally, as I have said that system is a no go 4 me. If it works 4 you then fine. ;) ;) ;) zeus

Same here, re read that post, now I understand what your doing. Kinda like a pickerel rig, except bigger gap.

Do you catch more fish then those you fish with?

I'm just wondering if you would do just as well having your jig 3' off the bottom.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: big b muskie on Jan 09, 2011, 10:45 AM
Dont think I do alot better, but I have caught fish 6 feet higher up than my buddy in the hole beside me and still have a chance at a bottom fish. Much like a pick rig with a wider gap as sled in stated.
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: Rat-Man on Jan 09, 2011, 11:02 AM
Hey guys,

Does eveyone use swivels with jigs or do you just tie right on to the jig?  I was watching a video on You Tube talking about line twist and how it can spin a jig while ice fishing.

What size swivel do people usually use?

Thank :tipup:


Never when fishing shallow water down to about 20', I use a fly reel so the only twist is from the jig going down, but I don't drop it so quick.  If I'm fishing deeper I use spinning reels and always use a swivel (SAMPO).
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 10, 2011, 09:08 AM
Dont think I do alot better, but I have caught fish 6 feet higher up than my buddy in the hole beside me and still have a chance at a bottom fish. Much like a pick rig with a wider gap as sled in stated.

How do you even know where they are in the water column... didn't you say you were fishing without electronics ??? If you're deadsticking 100% of the time, then it might make (some) sense.

Why not just buy a finder and reel up to them :whistle:?
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 10, 2011, 09:18 AM
Why not just buy a finder and reel up to them :whistle:?

Not everyone wants another addition like you TC ;) ;D
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: topcat3820 on Jan 10, 2011, 09:52 AM
Not everyone wants another addition like you TC ;) ;D

Sorry  :P... I just can't (won't) fish without at least one flasher ;).
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: sled-in on Jan 10, 2011, 12:53 PM
Sorry  :P... I just can't (won't) fish without at least one flasher ;).

2x ;D
Title: Re: Swivels
Post by: zeus on Jan 10, 2011, 01:38 PM
In  these days fishing without  electronics is like fishing with spears (archaic) imho. zeus ;) ;) ;)