Should You Use A Swivel With A Spoon? (Surprising Experiment Results)

[@Saltstrong]

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[@noahway13]

One inch of mono is stiff enough,, but what about 50 feet of mono?

[@brotharuss]

You need to put the swivel on a split ring and attach it to the spoon directly... your problem is solved. Another reason not to put the swivel between the leader and main line is because the weight of the swivel affects the action of the spoon. For example, my spoon retrieve on cold days (when fish are slower) - I only use the rod to pull the spoon thru the water and then quickly reel in 30% - 50 % (depending on depth) of the slack line. I let the rest of the slack line (floating braid) go with the spoon. The spoon will be fluttering straight down the water colomn..... get ready to set the hook because it will get smashed. Last thing: Use the lightest weight swivel that won't break.

[@KurtKaleido]

Then it's not weedless tho no?

[@robbiejohnson3698]

Attach a spilt ring to the spoon and add a swivel to the split ring C A Richardson tip

[@Saltstrong]

I tried that during the aquadream vs. silver minnow spoon test (www.saltstrong.com/articles/aqua-dream-spoon-vs-johnson-silver-minnow-weedless-spoon/), and it didn't seem to make much of a difference.

[@robbiejohnson3698]

Thanks I will check out

[@rev.dr.funnyshoe7497]

Totally correct! Those old school swivels are a false sense of security. There are 3 levels of swivels above the cheeseball swivel in the video. BEARING SWIVELS are the way to go.

[@DeeDee-vu5mi]

There is no tension doing the mono test. I have never have issues using braid or mono with swivels. i always use a swivel and splt ring when running spoons( and trolling). This test is so unrealistic. Thanks for sharing.

[@jameshunt585]

along these same lines, My quick change rigging consists of braid to main leader with FG knot; Main leader to lure (perfection loop knot connects to shorter leader with tactical angler clip); connects to lure with non-slip loop. (lures are pre-rigged to allow quick change). I have posted this before but AFAIK, no responses. I have not noticed any twisting. If using hard/stick lure, the lure connects to main leader with tactical angler clip or just tied with non slip loop.( I realize that many do not like using the clips opting to just re-tie). one caveat is that depending on the size of loop knots, the tactical angler clip can come off, but that has happened only once to me.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@geosuy]

Awesome demonstration! Also I find myself consciously keeping my retrieve slower when I omit the swivel with a weedless spoon...not a bad thing on the grassflats..

[@johnmoore3504]

If your spoon is spinning your doing it wrong. It should wobble side-to-side and not spin. The spinning is caused by reeling too fast... so just slow down. You'll need a loop knot for the best action. Like a wing a spoon generates a lot of lift, so you can retrieve it very slowly without dragging the bottom. Another way to keep the spoon from spinning is adding a trailer, like a 3" curl tailed soft plastic grub. Pin the grub on the weed guard, then cover the hook point, this will make the spoon even more weedless. This technique works great for bass in Kissimmee grass, even better then a spinner-bait.

[@tylerbeebe5999]

John Moore can you show a picture of how you’d put your trailer on the spoon?

[@geosuy]

Now I've gotta try this out with a long culprit worm trailer..should be killer for bass around matted grass! Thanks dude!

[@joeking3378]

Tasmanian devils don't wobble.. They spin like a cut bait. A swivel attached to a splitting that's directly on rhe lure prevents line twists.

[@davemojarra2666]

Florida guys believe that the Spanish Mackerel likes to reaction strike a spoon cranked at high RPM.

[@J-Burgerz]

Spot On

[@warrenlindsay8377]

On the Johnson Silver minnow I put a small split ring with a swivel onto the welded loop in front and get better action from the spoon and no line twist

[@nozrep]

drag the line behind the boat i have never heard this that is interesting! Then again… never owned a boat either 😅 but anyway that did answer my question about a swivel

[@mclark8441]

Braid to 6 inches 20 lb mono to swivel to leader to spoon. A bit clunky...but no twists. Same thing I do when fishing with popping corks to eliminate tangle

[@THEADVENTURECHANNEL11]

Regardless, I've always used a 30lb. swivel. BUT .....it is connected directly to the spoon. Not like in this demo. But with the new Shimano Nasci reel, it's not so critical.

[@512TexasRed]

If you use a H&H Secret Spoon it comes with a barrel swivel hidden under a red cone cap that acts as a weed-guard and kinda looks like a red jig head. Simply tie your braid to mono/floro leader. Then run the leader through the red cone cap thingy. Then snug knot the leader to the swivel. My father is a big sight casting guy and almost exclusively uses that spoon for a decade and from my count has only had 3 fish spook. Those were all very close to the boat so that may have been the issue. The only thing we can't speak to is the line twist problem because we only use bait casting reels.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the info!

[@kaikart123]

Pretty sure I've seen this video already last year or so and the answer is "No you should not use swivel with a spoon". Also if your spoon is spinning, you're doing it wrong anyway because you reel it in too fast.

[@edmundhenderson6559]

Agree that the spoon should not actually rotate. But something else. That swivel shown is pretty poor. Use a ball bearing swivel or just forget it.

[@1chuckhar]

I was thinking the same thing, ball bearing swivels are better.

[@robbiejohnson3698]

Agree C A Richardson share this tip on his show and yes I believe he said use a quality ball bearing swivel I am going to try this setup next weekend

[@rev.dr.funnyshoe7497]

Totally correct! Those old school swivels are a false sense of security. There are 3 levels of swivels above the cheeseball swivel in the video. BEARING SWIVELS are the way to go.

[@tonykomer2997]

If you move to a spro or owner ball bearing swivel it WILL prevent the line twist. It will make a few rotations 3-10 but then it 2ill spin freely. A few rotations hurts nothing. Having knot staljs in your line on braid especially in combonwith spinning reel socks. If you use a high quality ball bearing swivel is the key. But hey they are not cheap. But a swivel attached to a quick clip and leader allows quick changes with the swivel preventing line twist. You can then use the FG knotbfor a compact high strength leader to braid so no swivel to crash into your guide ring and chance cracking it. I like to carry 3-4 main type lures for inland fishing: kastmaster, paddletail gulp shad, rappala top water white walker with red nose or eye, and a white bucktail. If I add anything a magic swimmer slow sink sebile or berkley. That frankly should cover me for just about everything I can run into be it reds, snook, tarpon, black drum, mangroves, trout, blues, mackerel, flounder, whiting, jacks etc. Just about anything worth catching close to shore. Otherwise a cast net live pinfish or mullet or cut ladyfish and crab knuckle if we go bait.

[@artvandelay418]

Loop knot to the spoon. That's it!

[@laylow8648]

Great info. You’re totally correct with this demonstration.

[@bobsmoot2392]

Related: Braid is twisted as much as mono, in normal fishing, but we don't SEE the twists. We do see it in "wind knots". Pulling loose braid while motoring helps a lot.

[@noobpyrotech9991]

I was going to set up a spoon and swivel. Have you tried the barrel/ ball bearing swivel? I think that swivel has better swivel action. I am still new to spoons just wondering if you had an update or trial and error.

[@Saltstrong]

Spoons pair well with swivels, we have not tried those before!

[@darrelljanssen588]

Can't you just put the swivel between the mono leader and the spoon?

[@Saltstrong]

You could, however we don't recommend swivels. It is one more thing that might compromise the rig

[@chuckcox8582]

Maybe a snap swivel on terminal end of leader at spoon connection?

[@MegaExaile]

The tension of the twist has to overcome the tension within the swivel then it will rotate, also get ball-bearing swivel(it has less friction and will be easier for the line twist to overcome). I use atleast one on every single rod. With a spinner I usually have 2-3 and I've never got any line twist in main line.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the input!

[@puterrivera9967]

Wow, now i know, many thanks sir Luke for sharing your fishing knowedge...

[@telsonalves8060]

Muito bom o vídeo bem explicativo parabéns .

[@donb1661]

Is your spoon rotating 360 degrees on retrieve? Why would the line twist 360 if the spoon is wobbling back and forth without making a full rotation?

[@Saltstrong]

Yes, the spoons sometimes rotate the full 360 degrees.

[@christopherstewart9874]

@@Saltstrong If your spoon rotates 360 degrees you are fishing it too fast! Spoons should not rotate, they should wobble.

[@rrising8150]

Spoon is one of my favorite lures to use. And I have tried with a swivel and split ring with swivel attached to spoon what I believe is that it screws up the action of the spoon. I'm not saying to try it. it just doesn't work for me

[@alphasquach]

Any difference w a smaller swivel? I notice you have a 130# swivel. Or putting the swivel at the end of the leader?

[@Boosted98gsx]

But if i'm using a mono topshot over braid (with a NiTi leader to the terminal), I should still use a swivel, right?

[@michaelminoughan5879]

Would it make sense to use a small spro 80lb swivel on spit ring to spoon, and then time one at other end of mono leader and attach main line braid to the swivel? I do this to keep heavier spoons to work spoon controllable in surf. Opinion please. Thank you, love your videos!

[@MH-ls1xi]

What if you attach the swivel to the spoon with a split ring will that make a difference

[@Saltstrong]

I tried that during part of the aquadream vs. silver minnow test (www.saltstrong.com/articles/aqua-dream-spoon-vs-johnson-silver-minnow-weedless-spoon/), and it didn't seem to make much of a difference.

[@joeking3378]

Works for me.. Slow moving or fast current swivel to a splitting on the lure.

[@454bard]

Thank you. But can you actually do a real life test ? Actually running the line through the pole and reel ?

[@seangodfrey2224]

Hey Luke, how would you get line twist out of braid if your shore based without a boat? Thanks

[@Saltstrong]

We would recommending checking us out through the Insider Membership and posting in the Community, we have thousands of like minded anglers available to help give you tips and feedback. Check us out at www.saltstrong.com/

[@mordyfisher4269]

I would say its not worth using a swivel with braid to flouro unless you are ice fishing using light lure and you dont want your lure spinning in a circle while twitching it

[@Saltstrong]

Good Info!

[@Queloqueloco]

Can you attach a swivel directly to the spoon instead of having leader then swivel then main line?

[@Saltstrong]

Yes. But it won't do much good if you're using braid because the braid line is so nimble and will take less effort to twist than the swivel takes to turn.

[@mypronounismaster4450]

how do you get the twist out without a boat?

[@mattsnow4116]

Very interesting, good video

[@InfinityFishing]

Can you retest this issue with fc leader ? Checking the twist on the braid proximal to the fc leader?

[@tylerbeebe5999]

Are there instances when you go straight braid to any type of lures or always have a leader line of mono or fluro?

[@ianundercover6295]

most would say always

[@Saltstrong]

I always use a leader when fishing with braid because it's less visible to the fish and has more resistance to abrasion.

[@tylerschuster877]

When I fish topwater I got straight braid.

[@walden6272]

@@Saltstrong This might surprise you but straight braid can fish just as well as having a leader. Roland Martin goes straight braid and he can catch bass as much as anyone. You should conduct a test experiment, it will make a good video.

[@2003zq8]

Luke, whats your take on this alternate method? I use a #1 ball bearing swivel, remove one of the welded rings and replace it with a small split ring which I attach to the spoon. I tie my 20lb. mono leader to the other ring.

[@Saltstrong]

I think it'll help a little, but the use of braid mainline will most likely still enable a lot of twists to occur. However, the good news is that the braid can handle a lot of twisting before it becomes a problem, so the act of having some twists isn't an immediate problem. I now go without any swivel, and it's good for a full day of casting.

[@bestof4227]

I wonder if you tied an fg knot to mono, tie the swivel to mono, and finish with a mono leader that it would help with that issue?

[@Saltstrong]

That won't make much of a difference because since the other end of the mono is attached to braid.

[@bestof4227]

@@Saltstrong Thanks, by the way just caught a nice Snook on the gold digger with some Dr. Juice in St. Augustine Florida. Super rare catch in this area. I was stoked!

[@Saltstrong]

@@bestof4227 How awesome!

[@jones10121970]

Good video

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks!

[@johngrosariu1992]

No mater will still twist. Here is my tip after 50 years of fishing. On the rod side of the swivel, on the eye of the swivel, put 3 inch of mono, around the eye. Clamp a good size spilt shot, at least 1/4 ounce on the both ends of 3 inch mono, very close to eye. Your line will NOT twist anymore. If split shot slide down, make a knot behind split shot or use fast glue before clamping.

[@mikewubben2844]

That totally changes the action and running depth of the lure.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

The type of swivel you use makes a huge difference. Cheap barrel swivels suck. Aftco and others have ball bearing swivels for trolling that are the best I've found. The kind in the video aren't as good as the ball bearing type, if you really need one. For trolling you want the best swivel you can get.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@Saltstrong]

Here's a test of a nice bearing swivel vs. the one shown in this video: www.saltstrong.com/articles/ball-bearing-swivel-line-twist-test/

[@palper]

Well, it depends on the shape of the spoon, and it depends on how you want to use it! No swivel nor split ring make the spoon less prone to spinning, which really is what you want to avoid when fishing it "mort manie" style. A swivel is suitable when using the spoon on the bottom only - lifting it sharply and leaving it full freedom to 'fly' back to the bottom.

[@whatnow6891]

So I go braid to mono/fluorocarbon about a 10+ leader before I tie to the swivel (I do this so that if I change lure I can get rid of the swivel) do you think that would have any effect on what you just showed us? Or would the braid still get twist?

[@J-Burgerz]

You’re braid would twist like Luke demonstrates. Just use a snap with the spoon, no swivel, if you want a quick connectS

[@chris117ize]

If you use braid could you put the swivel in the leader?

[@Saltstrong]

Yes, but there will still be twists in the line.

[@reelchaoscharters3605]

What do you think of those angler clips?

[@dross1492]

Not a ball bearing swivel?

[@cajjesra269]

I just found this out and was like why do people use swivel exactly? Braid is 90% main line

[@PrunedaleMike]

Hey Luke, Good experiment, but doesn't the water lube the swivel? Also , would the line twist that occurred in the braid weaken the braid? Thanks , Mike

[@Saltstrong]

Based on how many twists I had in my line when doing this aquadream vs. silver minnow spoon test (www.saltstrong.com/articles/aqua-dream-spoon-vs-johnson-silver-minnow-weedless-spoon/), the water lube isn't enough to help very much.

[@e303gt]

braid to small leader to swivel to leader.

[@tentingaroundflorida]

Most spoons come with swivels attached to the spoon.

[@pablocontreras8767]

Not the point of the video, though.

[@tripplebeards3427]

I double swivel mine with cheap huge eagle claw swivels from Walmart. Zero line twist with braid or mono. I install a swivel right on the spoon and one the leader. I also use the same swivels you tried for making leaders and spinner bait blades. They don't work the greatest as you've found out. The cheaper eagle claws in a large size work great. Imo the one on the leader makes the lure look like a baitfish chasing a big or smaller fish. Caught tons of fish this way. Running a single swivel as you have found will still twist the line.

[@crazykajun914]

Cool video

[@SandDuneProperties]

Because you are holding it an inch from the swivel ... not out 50 yards as it normally would be.

[@Saltstrong]

How could we improve the experiment?

[@hotelamanda626]

yes i should use that swivel...

[@Phil.D333]

You cant blanked this statement. Cause your forgetting the water/river/drift variable to this explanation. In the water lm sure she spins naturally. On a desk yes but in water there’s that variable that needs considering. L never use swivels with spoons with my braid as mainline. Also the companies R&D on a spoon may not recommend this as it may impede on its intended action…anyveeee my two cents

[@barretharms655]

Yeah it's pretty obvious braids will never be able to use a swivel and beaded chain isn't going to be any different moons on monofilament and Spinners with jig under on your braided. Moreover always tangle your braided and get that string as straight as possible.

[@crazykajun914]

Cool

[@mikewubben2844]

You may have paid a lot but that's not a quality swivel. Ball bearing swivels are better. I've used spoons quite a bit for everything from northern pike to redfish and don't use a swivel the vast majority of the time because I keep my retrieve rate slow enough that the spoon doesn't spin, it just flutters.

[@thomaskarsten1362]

Why not use a snap swivel on the end of your main line ?

[@pablocontreras8767]

The result of the experiment would be the same: Braid takes up more twists before there’s enough tension.

[@full_metal2452]

Do not try and swivel a spoon, that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth...there is no spoon. Then you'll see that it is not the spoon that you swivel, it is only yourself.

[@joeking3378]

I tie braid to mono with a double uniknot(no swivel) then.. Put my swivel on the splitting that's attached to the lure.. Certain lures like the Tasmanian devil, pheobes.. Spin .I haven't had line twists doing so.

[@walden6272]

You are wise!

[@OzarkPursuit7883]

Matrix!

[@llshamelessll]

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