Hi Folks. When if comes to terminal tackle (i.e. snaps, snap/swivels), little things can make a big difference and it’s that little bit of detail, which will help put you on to more fish. Here are 3 quick tips to keep in mind, when using terminal tackle.

Color

Color makes a big difference. Generally, terminal tackle tends to come in 2 different colors: silver or varying shades of black. The preference would be to use black, and in fact, a light shade of black is preferred, rather than a bold shade of black.

Silver terminal tackle may give off some flash which may cause fish to be suspicious; where as the light shade of black is less visible to fish and keeps them focussed on your lure.

Terminal tackle with a black nickel finish is preferred, as it has low visibility to fish and is also good for both fresh water and salt water use.

Stay away from terminal tackle that is painted black as they are usually dark black, “bulky”, and the paint typically chips off. Again, a black nickel finish is the way to go. A black nickel finish is not paint, but rather, it’s plating - which makes it much more durable.

Profile

When selecting terminal tackle, stay away from the big/bulky styles. They may be a bit cheaper in price, but the preference would be to use terminal tackle that has a thinner profile (i.e thinner diameter).

Terminal tackle with thinner diameters, that are black nickel plated, will cut the water much better and actually help the action of your lure – also, they will be less visible to fish and help you get more strikes.

Quality

Terminal tackle is yet another very important link between you and the fish, and should not be taken for granted.

In the past, I have lost my share of fish due to poor quality snaps or snap/swivels and thus, have learned my lesson very quickly. Usually, the fish you loose in these cases are the big ones, and what makes it even more painful is that you also loose your lure!

When selecting a snap or a snap/swivel, look for the ones where the snap actually locks when it snaps shut. This will help prevent it from folding open while fighting a fish.

Also, any crimps in the snap should be neat and completely folded shut. If you notice that they are not, stay away from them.

Summary

Look for top quality terminal tackle, that is slender in nature and comes with a black nickel finish. It is sure to make your day on the water a bit more pleasurable!

As always folks, until next time, good luck and good fishing,

Ivo