Replacing split rings and hooks, a cautionary tale

[txchaser]

So I fish a lot of 6th Sense crankbaits, and the hardware has held up to some real bruisers. But this Jackall in 4 and 5 meter depth sizes has been a real winner for me as it is a lot more subtle than most cranks, and I'm a big fan of the square/coffin bill as it is pretty good through cover. I originally bought this to fish some submerged treetops. I've caught a lot of fish on these, up a little over 8. The 8 was hooked on a single hook point and it was definitely starting to bend out, but she came with some weed slop too. Plenty of fish nearly that big with no big issues; occasionally needing to bend back the #4's on the 4m.

 

The 5m have #2 owner ST-36 hooks on them, so I thought to myself "these are good hooks, and probably good split rings too" so it was never a priority to replace. And I fish cranks with the drag really light - probably 3-4lbs on 20lb Tatsu - a 4 or 5 lb fish surging at the boat will definitely pull drag. 

 

Anyway, I was fishing the 5m this weekend, on a deep (17ft) tapering flat that dropped off into 30+. Thermocline at 23ft. Big fish zone, smaller ones were more around 12-15FOW with the shad.

 

I got into a big one. Heavy heavy on the line, and a big, slow head shake. Running for the deep. "This is the one" I thought to myself, be gentle and just work her back to the boat. She (it?) surged at around 10ft out and 10ft deep, no problem.... and then dead air on the line. "DANGIT I didn't keep her pinned!"

 

And then I got my lure back to the boat and it looked like this:

 

Not only is the front hook bent out but the back hook is completely gone. Broke at the split ring. 

 

Who knows, maybe it was some monster catfish or a turtle? Maybe it was the catch of the year. If anyone has any ideas on how a fish pops the whole split ring out w/o breaking the line, I'm all ears. 

 

Lesson #1 - unknown split rings are ...unknown.

Lesson #2 - ST36's are 1x. The very first time I had a fish bend one I should have replaced them all; I live in Texas so bigger fish are just one cast away.

 

I have some STX-45 Zo-wire hooks on the way, I think they will be a good fit. If you have a favorite round bend big fish hook I'd love to hear about it. 

 

Ps: if you decide to try one of these out, fish it slow. I'm regularly rewarded with bigger fish when I slow down as much as I can without it starting to rise. 

 

[CrashVector]

That had to be one hell of a fish to pull out a split ring.  

[Aaron_H]

I feel for you, losing a big fish to failed hardware is heartbreaking. I am very anal about replacing hooks and split rings on 99% of my hardbaits, and this is why.

 

Split rings are Owner Hype Wire or Gamakatsu Superlines with an oval split for the line tie, no exceptions. Spro Power Rings are super beefy also.

 

For heavy wire hooks, Owner ST-56 is my go-to. Have never had one open up, but a lot of baits are sensitive to the heavier hooks and you can't get away with them.

 

For lighter wire hooks I lean towards Gamakatsu EWGs, but the Owner Zo-Wire hooks look very promising for a lighter hook. I haven't been able to play with them yet so I can't say for sure.

 

Even with quality hooks and split rings, you're only adding $2-3 to the cost of the bait, well worth the peace of mind and better chance of not losing the potential fish of a lifetime.

 

As for how a fish will pop a split ring, it's leverage. If they can lock up the hook against the bait, that torsion will open up a cheap split ring and allow it to work itself free or (if it's very cheap) break. I've had stock split rings on Rapala baits pop free on small bass (under 2lb), and had one come up looking like a pretzel on a 7lb tilapia. Doesn't take a huge fish to do it, just have to get leverage on it. Never had it happen on the Owner or Gamakatsu rings.

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, txchaser said:

And then I got my lure back to the boat and it looked like this:

Been there. I feel your pain.

 

[fin]

Sometimes I can't remove split rings using tools. I don't know how a fish can do it with no hands. ?

 

 

[GRiver]

6 hours ago, CrashVector said:

That had to be one hell of a fish to pull out a split ring.  

No doubt, I got to go fish Texas. I’ve had hooks bend but not a split ring fail. Gonna go check mine out.

[Deleted account]

Using metric cranks in TX? I'm calling the Lake Police...

[FrnkNsteen]

I've lost a large smallie to this on a Whopper Plopper. I was buzzing a WP90 across some rocks when a nice smallie exploded on the lure.

 

Had it on the line and the fight was on,... Then nothing. Got the lure back to the boat and the front treble and split ring were both gone.

[A-Jay]

An ounce of prevention ~ 

A-Jay

[Fishlegs]

7 hours ago, fin said:

Sometimes I can't remove split rings using tools. I don't know how a fish can do it with no hands. ?

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Excellent post, and sadly it cost you a nice fish to make it.   I was actually going to make this same post a few days ago after losing a 6-7lb fish right at the surface after a fantastic fight......got that same feeling you got......the one where you know the line didn't snap, but the bait pulled.

 

I go to inspect my beloved fat free fingerling with excaliber hooks, and lo and behold, she broke off a single hook on the back treble.   Made me sick because I actually do replace and change the hardware on the baits.   I like to put a red treble on CBs out of the box in the first position.

[Fallser]

I haven't had that happen to me, yet.  Recently, I had a fishing buddy call me and he wanted replace a guide on one his rods.  When I picked it up he asked me if I could do anything to fix a lure his son had broken.  His son didn't break it.  The lake he was fishing has stripers in it and a large striper had grabbed it.  Not only did he lose the back hook and split ring up but the piece that holds them.  It was a SPRO lure. There was no damage to the tail of the lure.  The assembly had just pulled right out. I mess around cleaning up lures we buy at flea markets.  I have screw eyes I use on lures that I clean up.  I used the longest and heaviest one I had that fit the hole.  Coated the threads with Gorilla glue and screwed it into place.  Let it set up.  Used the heaviest split ring I had and a stronger hook, replaced the front hook with same type hook.  Haven't heard any complaints yet.

[Bankc]

99.5% of the time, my line breaks before the hook bends out or the split rings fail.  And to me, replacing split rings and hooks just isn't a good value proposition.  

 

Now, if I was fishing for a paycheck, that 1 in 500 chance of losing a fish would probably pay for the cost of new split rings and hooks.  I'd be fine with it then.  But for now, I couldn't even justify the time it would take to swap all of those out.  

[Basser2021]

It could been a catfish I've been known to snag a few on cranks every year. Or you might have just forgot to finish putting it on the ring. Who knows??

[Tatulatard]

On 8/16/2022 at 6:35 AM, Deleted account said:

Using metric cranks in TX? I'm calling the Lake Police...

The jackal lake police.  Also deep cranking on 20lb flouro?  Seems wrong.

[Deleted account]

The marks on that crank tells me that whatever he is doing with whatever he's doing it with is working. A 20 ft diver with 20 fluoro will get down to the tops of the trees he was describing me thinks...

16 hours ago, Basser2021 said:

It could been a catfish I've been known to snag a few on cranks every year. Or you might have just forgot to finish putting it on the ring. Who knows??

Flathead if I had to guess...

[WRB]

When removing hooks leave the hook on the split ring and remove the split ring and hook from the lure.

Replacing put the split ring on the hook, leave a gap then put the hook with split ring onto the lure. Make sure the split ring is closed.

Doing this you always have fresh hooks and split rings.

Tom

[Woody B]

On 8/15/2022 at 11:36 PM, CrashVector said:

That had to be one hell of a fish to pull out a split ring.  

The description of the fight sounds like it was a heckuva fish.  I saw the fish that done this.  It was 3 pounds tops.  I suspect in my case, and possible the OP's also the hook somehow got lined up with the ends of the ring and started working it's way around.   

 

 

[txchaser]

On 8/16/2022 at 6:35 AM, Deleted account said:

Using metric cranks in TX? I'm calling the Lake Police...

Bass here are familiar with freedom units but the metric system confuses them enough to bite. 

 

8 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Also deep cranking on 20lb flouro?  Seems wrong.

It really does seem wrong. I'm moving towards 17lb on a bunch of my reels which I think is the right balance. But I really can't go lower than that, almost everywhere I fish has a good bit of cover either weeds or wood.  12lb and 15lb were pretty scary. In fairness Tatsu is pretty small for its rating, but I'm very sure that it's not going as deep as it would go on lighter line. 

 

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. In summary, these hooks are "good" is not even close to the same as "I feel good about these hooks and split rings if I knew for certain I had a fish of a lifetime on the other end."

[schplurg]

My guess is that the split ring was never installed properly and was waiting to slide out.

[Woody B]

6 hours ago, schplurg said:

My guess is that the split ring was never installed properly and was waiting to slide out.

Probably correct, at least in my case.  I had made 10 or 15 casts with a new out of the box lure, and caught 2 bass before the hook came off.  This retaught me to inspect stuff, not just when it's new but every few casts.  

[CrashVector]

16 hours ago, Woody B said:

The description of the fight sounds like it was a heckuva fish.  I saw the fish that done this.  It was 3 pounds tops.  I suspect in my case, and possible the OP's also the hook somehow got lined up with the ends of the ring and started working it's way around.   

 

 

 

 

...or drag was set waaay too tight

[Dogface]

1 hour ago, CrashVector said:

 

 

...or drag was set waaay too tight

 

? 

[Woody B]

7 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

 

...or drag was set waaay too tight

 

In my case, 12 pound mono.  The split ring/hook should have been stronger than the line.  I suspect the hook had started working it's way around the ring, or was never installed all the way around it.  I firmly believe an inspection a cast of 2 before this happened would have prevented it.  

[txchaser]

On 8/15/2022 at 10:22 PM, txchaser said:

I have some STX-45 Zo-wire hooks on the way, I think they will be a good fit

Followup, the STX-45 are brittle like some of the reviews. Perhaps I just got a bad hook, but I was horsing a 3lb fish last weekend on a size 2 hook and one of the tines snapped right off. Ugh.