Swivel
Also called barrel swivel, snap swivel
What is a fishing swivel?
A small two-ended connector that spins freely, used to stop line twist and to join a leader to the main line.
Some lures rotate as they move: inline spinners obviously, but also live bait drifting in current and a spinning reel's own retrieve. That rotation travels up the line and coils it into a mess. A barrel swivel breaks the chain, letting the lure side turn while the line side stays still.
It is also a quick connection point between braid and a fluorocarbon leader, which saves learning a line-to-line knot. A snap swivel adds a clip so you can change lures without retying at all, at the cost of some extra hardware in the water.
Size down as far as you can. An oversized swivel is visible, adds weight where you did not want it, and hurts the action of small baits.
Add a swivel about eighteen inches above an inline spinner. Without one you will spend the day untwisting line.
Where this comes up
The guides that use swivel and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . Swivel is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.