On the package it says that the invisable swivel is “great for fly fishing”.
I’ve never heard of using a swivel while fly fisning… am I missing out on something?
How would you use a swivel while fly fishing.
This thing won’t rust, it floats, and it is invisable.
But for fly fishing?
Help me out here.
Aloha,
Stan
I’d say go for it in situations that don’t demand much in the way of stealth or precision.
I know a few guys who use tiny barrel swivels while fly fishing for Lake Erie steelhead, but, as anyone who’s done this will tell you, it’s fairly crude fly fishing. My best days last year, I probably made fewer than 10 actual casts, as most of your productive fishing consists of heavy-weighted nymphing within 20 feet of the angler.
How about a link to the product that you are referring to? I might see an application for something like this when used with very large pike or bass flies that wobble on the retrieve. I would not see a use for small stream trout applications on first thought.
One assumes he is talking about the “Inviso Swivel”: http://www.aquateko.com/. There are very few situations where one would need a swivel to begin with in fly fishing, and I cannot think of any where I would need one of these (e.g. even the smallest is too large for my waters). YMMV.
feather craft sells furled leaders with swivels on them so why not!
http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=GC020
That’s the one… Invias Swivel. I’m going to try it in saltwater spincasting… where we have a sliding weight/bubble on the main line, a swivel, then leader and hook/fly.
But I can’t think of any way I could use it fly fishing.
I think some like to use swivels with streamers (I could count on one hand, the number of times I’ve pitched streamers over the last ten years, so don’t look at me).
If these things actually floated, I could see using them to pitch size 8 hoppers (made from 4-6mm of foam) with 5x tippet. Cut down on tippet twist I’d expect.
I tie up a bass fly where the design of the fly makes it want to spin during the cast causing the leader to twist. I have thought of using a light swivel when fishing with this particular fly. That invis-swivel may be just the thing.
I was introduced to using swivels in leader systems years ago by Dan Blanton and Lefty Kreh in their writings. Initially this was for connecting wire bite traces to the leader to allow for quick wire changes. It also helps prevent or eliminates leader twist cause by bulky flies spinning during the cast. I use small high quality ball bearing swivels. I usually use the SPRO brand but others will work. Black should be used because sometimes fish will strike a silver swivel. Toothy critters like pike or barracuda will bite of the leader if they strike the swivel. It does not adversely affect casting and I have never noticed a reduction in hookups when fishing side by side with another angler who did not incorporate a swivel into their leader system.
They’re somewhat common on our salmon and steelhead rivers. They help prevent line twist, when dead drifting egg patterns.
I agree with using small swivels when throwing large flies that catch the wind. The wind will twist your leader when casting…and a swivel is an excellent solution.
“Why not?” … better question would be “WHY”. I know a lot of answers have been posted, but I still wonder, why? I think it’s just one more “thing” to get fouled up!!
Right here on FAOL :
http://flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/053005fotw.php
In the "
Suggestions on colors, materials, tactics and equipment"
the 5th note calls for a swivel.
I also use Spro brand - the smallest barrel swivels I was able to find.
I have never had any foul ups with a leader that had a swivel incorporated that were associated with the swivel. The incorporation of a swivel is a simple and painless solution to many issues as already described. In such situations it allows the angler to spend more time on fishing and less time fussing with their rig. In the situations where I use them, I have yet to find any downside, only benefits.
Well … OK then. I’ll shut up.