A regular question I get asked is whether I use a loop knot like a perfection loop or snap swivel to attach lures to my fishing line.
To snap or not to snap?
I ALWAYS use a loop knot (I prefer the perfection loop) to attach my lures, simply because big barra bite down HARD and I have seen too many fish get away from an opened snap swivel.
Take a look at my thumb nails after years of big barra biting down.
It’s not hard to imagine how they can easily open a snap swivel. It’s just not worth it!
Snap swivels can also affect a lure’s action/movement. This is a far more important determinant than colour when affecting a bite response.
Master lure makers like Dave Killalea don’t spend years crafting and developing exactly the right action if it’s not THE most important criteria for fish. Colour is important for anglers haha, but not so much for fish.
And if you practice it a little, it won’t take much longer to tie a perfection loop than fiddling around with a snap swivel. Check out the method I have used to catch over 2000 metre plus barra in the video below.
Now some of you may have caught many hundreds of barra using a snap without incident and I that could well be the case.
However when you get into the better class of fish, over 90cm+ regularly, you’ll find that the snaps just don’t cut it and for the few extra seconds it take to tie on, will be well worth the effort.
Jonathon Thurston and other top sportsmen don’t get to the top of their game by taking short cuts.
And while we are on the topic of knots and tackle, check out some of our previous posts;
Getting your drag in tip top shape
Set your drag correctly and catch bigger fish
Best way to get lures off snags
Our ecourse Barra Basics covers all aspects of fishing for barramundi including lure casting and trolling in detail.
For a Program Tour of exactly what is contained within the program, visit our website https://www.ryanmoodyfishing.com/courses/barra-basics/
