Norman Lures Speed Clips Review [Strength Test Video]
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Product Reviews
I recently tried out the Norman Lures Speed Clips to see how they performed on the water and whether they had any effect on the amount of fish I catch.
I was skeptical about how the Speed Clips would perform and whether or not they were worth using. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of using them and have found a great way to employ them in my fishing tactics.
The Norman Lures Speed Clips are tiny metal clips you tie to the end of your leader. The clips take the place of your fishing knot you would tie and allows you to change lures by simply pinching down on the device and locking the lure into the split rings.
This article goes over what I like about the speed clips, how I recommend you use them and shows you just how strong they are with a strength test.
Norman Lures Speed Clips Use and Info
The Norman Lures Speed Clips can be found online, in tackle shops and bigger stores such as Bass Pro Shops. Most Speed Clip packs come with 10 clips per pack.
I like the Speed Clip for quick lure changes because it’s faster to use than snap swivels, which are a similar type of product.
The Speed Clip attaches to your leader line just like a snap swivel or any other hook or lure does. Once your Speed Clip is attached to the leader, you can lock your lure onto it for fishing.
To attach your lure to the Speed Clip, squeeze the bars together in the middle of the clip. Doing this opens up the split ring device at the end of the clip and allows you to slip your lure onto the ring. The graphic below shows you how the Speed Clip opens to attach lures to it:
After opening the clip rings up, slide your lure onto the rings and release the middle bars to lock your lure onto the Speed Clip. You are now ready for fishing.
The best part about this product is how simple and easy it is to use to switch out lures.
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Recommended Use for Norman Lures Speed Clips
There are fishing situations I recommend using the Speed Clip for and some that I do not recommend using them for.
My three biggest tips for using the Norman Lures Speed Clips are the following:
1. Remove Your Lure’s Split Rings
The Speed Clips already have a split ring device on them which makes additional split rings on your lure unnecessary. Failing to remove your lure’s split rings can create action/movement issues for it and adds extra unneeded weight to the nose of your lure.
2. Only Use Them for Hard Body Lures
Speed Clips are best used for hard body lures. Hard body lures that are a little more sturdy and less sensitive do well with Speed Clips as they do not affect the action of the lure.
3. Attach Speed Clips on a Rod You Will be Using Multiple Lures With
I like to use Speed Clips on rods that I know I will be switching lures on throughout the day. For instance, when I go fishing, I usually have one rod rigged with a hard bait and one that I solely use soft plastics on. I switch out my hard baits often throughout my fishing trips. I usually use a topwater plug early in the morning before changing to a suspending hard body lure as the sun gets higher. Having a Speed Clip on this rod saves me valuable time and effort when I’m fishing and changing lures.
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Non-Recommended Uses for Norman Lures Speed Clips
There are many times when using a Norman Lures Speed Clip is not conducive to the type of fishing you are doing.
My three biggest tips on what not to do with the Speed Clips are as follows:
1. Do Not Use Speed Clips Offshore or With Big Fish
While Speed Clips are fairly strong, I wouldn’t recommend using them when offshore or when targeting big inshore fish like breeder snook or tarpon. These clips will break under enough pressure and it’s not worth it to lose a good fish just to be able to switch lures more quickly.
2. Do Not Use Speed Clips With Soft Plastic Lures
Speed Clips add weight to the nose of your lure, which can severely affect the action of soft plastic lures. Soft plastic lures are designed to be twitched subtlely. Speed Clips will cause you to lose some of that sensitivity and not be able to feel your soft plastic lure as well.
3. Don’t Change Your Lures too Often
While the Norman Lures Speed Clips are designed to let you change your lures with ease, I do not encourage you changing lures over and over again. Changing out your lure too often means you’re not fishing with it long enough and does not give you enough time with a line in the water — resulting in less fish caught.
Norman Lures Speed Clip Review and Strength Test Video
This video shows you my full review of the Speed Clips and exactly how to use them. I’ve also included a strength test to see what the max amount of force the Speed Clip can take before breaking.
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Conclusion
The Norman Lures Speed Clip can be a great product to use when targeting inshore fish using hard body lures.
Make sure to adhere to the recommended and non-recommended tips above to make sure you use this product in the best way possible.
If you have any questions about the Norman Lures Speed Clips or want to see a review of a similar product in the future, let us know in the comments below.
Remember, we are not affiliated with any fishing gear companies and all our reviews are completely independent.
Tight Lines!
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Tony, what knot are you using to attach the clip to your leader? I use about a 17-18# fluoro leader most of the time.
Hey John! I use the Trilene Knot:
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/trilene-knot/
Tony, what are your thoughts on using one of these small clips under a popping cork to attach / change lures?
That could definitely help with changing lures. Popping corks work best in dirty water as well so I don’t see the clips being an issue as far as a distraction from the lure (which typically happens in cleaner water)
Thanks . On another topic, does the Smart Fishing Spots app take into account the water temperature ( and how it changes during the day ) when making its suggestions for spots to fish. ?
No problem!
Not water temperature directly, but other factors that will affect water temperature – such as the season, wind, etc. For example, it will show a specific area in the winter based on wind direction and the “type” of area, but may not show that same area as being good in the summer. Hope that makes sense! A little tricky to explain as a lot goes into it.
FOR SALT WATER NORMAN MAKES THE MAGNUM CLIPS WHICH ARE MUCH STRONGER AND ALSO COME IN LARGER SIZES. I USED ONE ON MY 50lb RIG WITH 40lb FLOUROCARBAN LEADER WHEN A CAL. HALABUT PUT MY 12oz DIMUND JIG IN A ROCK. I HELD THE 80 FOOT PARTY BOAT FROM DRIFTING AND FINALLY HAD TO HAVE THE DECK HAND BREAK IT OFF. THE CLIP CAME IN WITH PART OF THE LEADER STILL ON. THAT WAS OFF SHORE AT 300 FEET AT THE CHANNEL ISLANDS.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing, Paul!
It is not necessary to squeeze them open to hook into the eye of the lure. Just hold firmly along the flat plane and press the lure onto the eye through the opening of the bottom radius of the loop, turn until you feel the click. To remove the lure, again hold firmly along the flat plane and reverse the step by lifting at the opening of the top loop.
I got this from Terry Fett who says that he is the inventor of the clips. It does make them easier to use, at least for my old, and sometimes cold hands.
Thank you for the tip Tony!
Tony,
Any chance of doing a comparison of the different types of clips available? Norman vs mustad vs tactical angler
Hey John! We can definitely test that out. I will add it to the list!
If you would try the Breakaway Spin Links or Lure Links, I believe you would find them easier to use, stronger, and more secure than the Norman Speed Clips. I have had lures occasionally almost come loose from a Speed Clip, slipping such that only one side of the Speed Clip was through the eye of the lure. The way the Breakaway clips work, this is never an issue. I have tested both the Spin Link and the smaller size of Norman Speed Clip. The Spin Link is much stronger. I have not tested the smaller Breakaway Lure Link. (The larger size Norman Speed Clip is far too large for “usual” inshore lures.
I’ll be sure to check them out, thanks!
Great vid Tony as usual. Good point on swapping your lures to often. Gonna give these a try. Thanks
Thanks Robert!
Tony,
The speed clip idea is genius. Sure makes a change out much easier.
BTW, Norman makes 2 sizes of the speed clips. They make a smaller size that comes in a 10 pack and a larger size that comes in a 5 pack. You strength tested one that broke at 25 lbs., do you know which size that is was?
Thanks,
Scott
Hey Scott,
The ones shown in the video came in a 10 pack so I assume they are the smaller ones (if they were any smaller it would be really difficult to open them to put lure on)
Tony I have been using the speed clip for years in fact I know I have commented about them to you and Luke before you guys are always talking about loop knots and such to give you more action on your lures that’s fine but let’s say you forgot your topwater rod because you got up to late and the fish were tearing up the mullet on top well if one of your rods is rigged with a speed clip now you have a rod that you can use with a topwater and as far as changing out the splitring if it’s on a quality bait like the one you have shown a rapala saltwater subsurface mullet I leave it on I catch tons of fish with it on it never seems to impede the action of the bait but to each his own on that one but yes I do agree I only use it on hardbaits not soft plastics there are a couple of stores here in the jacksonville area that sells them anyways bottom line they work and I love them thanks for the report and all you do????
Great feedback Steven, thank you!
Heya Tony, i would say that one caveat to the no soft Plastics would be that if you happen to be using a jig head for a soft plastic paddle tail swim type bait. I would think they would work sweetly for that as well
Screamin’drags!
Hey Mike,
They can possibly work well for jigheads, especially if you need to change sizes.