garagedoorman39 Loc: Tampa Florida

If I'm going to use 40 lb leader or heavier I'm using a swivel. I have brought in plenty of big fish wade fishing with 15 lb Sussex or Power Pro braid, and generally 20 - 25 lb test leader. 99% of the time I use 20 lb Yozuri flute for a leader. But as I said most of my fishing is done inshore. Alot of it depends on the type of reel you are using. If your reels have a good drag system you shouldn't have to go that heavy.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

I'm talking about bluefish to 20 pounds stripers and red drum to 40 plus. It's not really a leader it's a shock tip for throwing 6 to 8 ounce lead plus bait in the surf. If I try to cast with 25 pound keader it will last about three casts before the line stretches out and snaps

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

I keep hearing about "straightening out" a snap swivel. Y'all must do something I can't fathom or you buy cheap junk terminal tackle. I have been using snap swivels for over 50years... never had one fail on me except one.... I was trying to pull in something I had snagged and just kept tugging at it till....ping !...the split shot came flying past my ear. Looking at end of my line, still have the snap ??? Damn, just lost an expensive Rapala ! Too young and stupid to let it go without a try...... I swam out and dove down to see if I could retrieve my lure from whatever. Turned out to be a tire somebody had thrown in the pond (or more likely, just rolled down the hill, since the pond sat below the road). My Uncle Fred gave me $5 for retrieval of the tire from his pond, I got my lure back.... now had money for more lures (Rapalas were an outrageous $1.79, if I recall correctly !)
THE one and only time I saw a snap straighten. At the time I was fishing 20-25lb line, since I was mostly fishing for channels, and that day for some of the 6lb+ bass in Uncle Fred's pond. I NOW always buy the ones that have a tiny bend at the end, that kinda "locks" the wire into the "flap".

Braid to leader... surgeons knot, at least 5-7 turns on each side of the "spread opening", careful cinching. If you are needing to get past top eye and guides with "hardware", my preference would be to use a tiny two-ended swivel (no snap) or even less intrusive would be "TIPPET RINGS", a fly fishing item available in a couple of sizes, both of which are tiny enough, they would pass the tip guide, in most, then you just use an improved clinchknot with both line and leader.

6106b

If I am on the Mississippi river fish for catfish with a 6 oz weight I use a swivel,if I am on a trout stream in colorado fishing for trout with a spinner then I tie it direct no swivel on the spinner or on the line.I catch a lot more fish if tied direct.

Seafoam Loc: Nampa, ID

Albright knot is what I usually use. There's also one called an Alberto I think, but doesn't work as well.

Seafoam Loc: Nampa, ID

Or if they already have loops tied a lark's head maybe

Old75 Loc: Broken Arrow, OK

if you decide on knot, here is an easy one that makes a tight knot. https://youtu.be/4WQDDNPHVnk
I’d bet you cannot break it.

Sinner Loc: witness protection program

I agree, I always use a clip for fast changes.

And, I have hand tremor. It takes me forever to tie a knot, and I have to rest my hands on the table.

Jwmorris5252

I never use a swivel. There are several really good knots to connect braid to a fluorocarbon leader. To catch nice fish, being "stealth and natural" are always best and swivels are not that by any means. Also most knots can be reeled and casted through the eyes where a swivel can't. The advantage to that is using longer leaders and still being able to cast and reel a fish all the way in. Just a few examples are the FG knot and the Alberto knot. I personally love the FG knot. When tied properly, the finished diameter is not much larger than the leader and it reportedly has a 110% break strength. I use it on all of my reels and have never had one break or come loose. Learn how to tie either and you will never use a swivel again. For an added feature, I use clear nail polish to coat the knot and it will prevent fraying. There are a lot of good videos that will give you instructions. Good luck.

Seafoam Loc: Nampa, ID

The only disadvantage of using a swivel is that they sink eventually.

Old75 Loc: Broken Arrow, OK

Please be careful about undoing your line. My HS baseball coach was in a floater (why here, I don’t know) on Lake Texoma when his line got tangled up. Being a pretty strong guy he wrapped his line around his wrist to pull it loose. You guessed it, he flipped his floater and drowned.

Jwmorris5252

Very sorry to hear about your coach. I had a friend lose his leg because an anchor rope got wrapped around it and he got in the bite of a hung anchor and a 26’ boat. Sometimes we all get careless and take things for granted.