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The lures we hang on the end of our lines usually get most of our attention. Sometimes that results in overlooking other items of tackle that are often every bit as important.
I’ve already written about the new 2010 Mack’s Lure catalog. If you’ve got your own copy, turn to Page 33. There’s something shown on that page that can remove a whole lot of headaches associated with putting fish in the boat.
Some of the most productive lures in the Mack’s Lure lineup are those most often used by trollers. Trolling is an especially effective method of using the famous Wedding Ring spinner or a variety of the lures that come with those fish-attracting Smile Blades.
If you’ve done much trolling you’re aware just how important it is to have a dependable swivel up there in front of your lure. That’s especially true when the lures you are use carry spinner blades.
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These top quality Mack's Lure USA Chain Swivels take away the line twisting misery often associated with trolling. |
The last thing any of us wants is to reel in and find our leader is so twisted and kinked it has to be replaced. When that happens it means lost time and any time you don’t have a line in the water is also a cinch to result in less fish.
This sort of thing assumes even more importance if you’re into tournament fishing. Then lost time very easily might transmit into fewer bucks in your pocket. All of which means you’ll be wise to pay close attention to the kind of swivels you tie on your line.
It’s easy to recall the conversation I once had with a professional walleye angler. He told me about the chain style swivels he had started using and how he’d found that they really got the job done.
The swivels these pros were talking about are called USA Chain Swivels. That’s why I mentioned Page 33 of the new Mack’s catalog. The next to last item on that page carries illustrations of these swivels.
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Mack's Lure USA Chain Swivels come in two sizes and in either red or black colors.
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The folks at Mack’s Lure will tell you they’ve had nothing but good reports on these stainless steel problem solvers ever since they were first added to the company’s product line up several years ago. That’s easy for me to understand because I’ve fished with some of the Northwest’s top guides who love ‘em.
As Bob Schmidt, the general manager of Mack’s Lure points out, “Examine one of our Chain Swivels up close and careful and you’ll note it has six beads. Each of these little beads provides a swivel point and that can be important in more ways than one.”
Another walleye pro I talked to supports Schmidt’s comments. Here’s what that tournament pro had to say: “Sometimes the fish are in cover of one kind or another. Troll through this stuff and you’re a cinch to pick up bits of wet grass, weeds or whatever. If that happens while you’re using a single swivel you’re dead in the water. You can’t continue to fish if your swivel isn’t functioning because you’ll twist the bejabbers out of things if you do.”
That’s where the importance of the six beaded Mack’s Lure USA Chain Swivel comes in big time. “I pick up various kinds of crud with the chain swivel too,” this walleye pro said, “but often it doesn’t put me out of business. The first one or two beads might no longer turn, but I’ve still got those other four that do. It really makes a difference.”
Chances are you’ve never seen similar chain swivels in anything but a plain silver color. The new Mack’s Lure USA Chain Swivels are available in two different shades. They come in black or red.
“Having the different colors,” Schmidt says, “gives the user a choice. The red color provides an added attraction. If stealth is more important to you, go with the black shade.”
These swivels also come in two lengths. The smallest is about 1¼-inches. The largest size measures approximately 1¾-inches. The beads on the small size are 1/8th-inch in diameter. The beads on the larger chain are 3/16th-inch in diameter. Despite their small size, these USA made swivels are plenty strong. The smaller of the two carries a strength test of 45-pounds. The larger size is 80-pound test.
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Employing a USA Chain Swivel is going to take the twist out of your line or leader regardless of the lures being used.
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There are no hard and fast rules as to which size you should use. Generally the larger sizes are more popular for things like salmon fishing. Most of the time walleye and bass anglers opt for the smaller chains.
As I mentioned in the beginning, lures usually get most of an angler’s attention. That’s as it should be but you want those lures to perform as they were designed to do once you get them into the water.
If you’re one of the many whose favorite angling approach is trolling, don’t overlook Mack’s Lure USA Chain Swivels. They’ll let your lures perform as they should and they’ll take away some of trolling’s major headaches in the process.
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