There are many bait clips on the market. It seems like everyone, myself included, gets asked what the best bait clip is and what makes it different from the rest. Well in this article I will go over the pros and cons of bait clips and how they can improve your fishing.

What is a bait clip?

A bait clip is a device that allows you to clip your snoods or strip lines on your rigs, thus reducing the risk of tangling and also present baits effectively at a distance. Using without a bait clip can cause your bait to come off the hook during a power cast, or worse, hit the surface of the water and inadvertently come off the hook and then sit there staring at the tip of your bait. the rod for bites thinking the bait is present. very well deep down when in reality it has been eaten long ago by a school of Bass. Anglers refer using a bait clip to a rig away; By trimming the trail and bait, it makes your rig more streamlined, giving you better distance when casting.

Main types of design on the market

Detachable impact shield

A simple hook system that physically ejects the baited hook on impact with the water. The cone-shaped cap over the hook acts as a windshield to prevent the bait from being broken by the rapidly passing airstream during a cast.

Breakaway Imp (Imp2) Miniature combination impact bait plier works in conjunction with a quick link Easy to use with foolproof hook release, excellent in-flight stability and offers bait protection during casting. They can be used with any type of plumb bob.

Gemini Alpha Bait Clip

A streamlined, releasable bait clip, having the advantageous option of a slider reliably holding and releasing one or two bait clips, or attaching two individual clips in line for larger baits.

breakaway relay clips

A neat plastic bait clip that snaps onto the tracing line to prevent it from accidentally coming off the rig pipe. Also, this clip is very adjustable.

Breakaway Impact Lead A combined lead and bait clip system. Nicely designed as a streamlined lead allowing you to create a streamlined rig in seconds by securing the baited hook so good casting distances can be achieved. As soon as the sinker hits the water, the colored plastic tip is forced up, releasing the hook, so that the rig can drop freely into the water in its intended position.

So which one do I use?

They are all priced differently to begin with, with the Relay Clip being the cheapest and the Imps & Impact Leads being the most expensive. Most anglers would have heard of or been using the Breakaway Impact Shield bait clip for years as it is the market leader for simplicity and effectiveness. However, new designs have since been introduced that allow the angler a wide variety of bait clips to try. Here are some tips to look at: cost, effectiveness, setup time, and how well they suit your needs as you fish with different methods. The Breakaway Impact Shield can be added to any deck design of your choice with a simple rubber tube holding it in place. Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest bait clip for large baits at a distance, and sometimes it may not release if you go that route. For Sandeel squid and worm baits it is a great versatile clip to use and very easy to apply. These clips are widely used on distance rigs.

Breakaway Imps, these are pretty smart. The advantage of these is that there is no need to incorporate the clip into your equipment design. This clip attaches to a Fastlink Breakaway that connects your rig to your lead weight, allowing you to use any weight size and rig design you like. The downside to these is that they don’t offer as much protection during launch as the famous Impact Shield.

The Gemini Alpha Clips are great for big baits and multi hooks too as they have a nice long wire sticking out with plenty of room to clip hooks. The only thing I didn’t like about the Alpha clip is that in the winter when you feel like your fingers are going to fall off or for people who don’t have patience! This clip can be tricky to set up and trim baits.

Breakaway Relay clips are a simple solution to a problem! It’s just a clip! They couldn’t be easier to use. They do not have a release mechanism or system, and can be attached to any of your rigs, however, because they do not have a function as such, they can sometimes fail to release baits at short distances. Breakaway Impact Leads are my personal favorites and the newest clip on the market, this clip rarely fails to drop the hook, they are very streamlined because they are built into the cable, and as with the imps they can be added to any rig. for it to be trimmed. Impact cables are available in many different sizes and types, from grip cable styles to Flatfish cables. The only problem I’ve found with these is that if you fish on a beach that has very coarse sand, you may need to clean the sand out from under the cone to prevent it from clogging before pulling it out again. Otherwise, the plastic cone cannot remove the hook from the clip on impact. Overall this clip is second to none!

Remember whatever bait clip you decide to use, make sure you feel comfortable with it and that it does the job. However, for all you Impact Shield anglers out there, why not try something new this year and see if it can improve your fishing? With so many new designs, you just might find the cure for your bait trimming problems or needs.