Split Rings

[A-Jay]

Just scored a few Strike King KVD Elite 300 and 300 Elite Deep Jerkbaits ~

A-Jay

 

[NorthernBasser]

Yessir. I have a few of the non-Elite versions. What makes the Elite "elite"? 

[A-Jay]

Right off the bat - it's updated hardware;

including what looks to be an "oval split" ring line tie.

Long time coming on that one.

And for me it's these two new color/patterns . . 

$4 bucks off each bait helps too 

 

A-Jay

[NorthernBasser]

 

You had me at oval split ring.  Sometimes it's the little things. 😃 All my Luckycraft, Jackall and 6th Sense jerkbaits have them, I'm waiting for Megabass to get onboard. 

 

I usually use snaps on my cranks as well. But I usually just clip onto the split ring. Is there any benefit to removing the split ring? I always felt this gave the bait even more freedom of movement, but it's probably just in my head.

 

I know you're a jerkbait nut. Have you tried the 13 Fishing Loco Special yet? Quite the sleeper that I never hear anyone talk about. Comes with Triple Grips. Also has the oval line tie. I love 13 Fishing hard baits in general. I worry about what Rapala's plans are with them.  All of their hard baits have been wiped from their site. 

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

I have not ~ nice looking bait though. 

There's been such a decent amount of big brown bass success with Megabass & SK baits for me

that I've been truly hard pressed to tie anything else on.

To that point, I've sold off almost everything else.

The few other brands that remain (Berkely, Rapala, & Lucky Craft)  will be re-homed

before open water 2024. (keep an eye on that Flea Market forum) 

So until the baits I have stop putting tankers in the Frabil,

I'll be leaning on them to keep that up. 

BTW - I change out all hard bait hardware with Quality after market stuff that has yet to disappoint me. 

A-Jay

[NorthernBasser]

5 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

There's been such a decent amount of big brown bass success with Megabass & SK baits for me

that I've been truly hard pressed to tie anything else on.

 

This is my issue as well. 

 

I have way more jerkbaits than I need. 98% of the time, I'm using a 110. It's hard to grab anything else when they're sitting there staring at you. 

 

I know some people tho, like @Bluebasser86, who will take the 6th Sense Provoke 100 times out of 100 over the Vision 110. I do wanna give the downsized Provoke a try, tho. 

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

. I do wanna give the downsized Provoke a try, tho. 

If there was just one bait to throw for me  . . . . 

This Is It !

It's just the right size, shape & profile; especially early on. 

https://youtu.be/k3Z48BqFWuw?feature=shared&t=1668

A-Jay

[gim]

59 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

including what looks to be an "oval split" ring line tie.

What's the advantage of the oval instead of the standard circle split ring?

[NorthernBasser]

7 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

If there was just one bait to throw for me  . . . . 

This Is It !

It's just the right size, shape & profile; especially early on. 

https://youtu.be/k3Z48BqFWuw?feature=shared&t=1668

A-Jay

Absolutely. I think many with agree with you.

Just now, gimruis said:

What's the advantage of the oval instead of the standard circle split ring?

Honestly, for me, it's just way easier tying knots. Don't have to worry about the line getting stuck in the split ring opening. 

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What's the advantage of the oval instead of the standard circle split ring?

 

20 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Honestly, for me, it's just way easier tying knots. Don't have to worry about the line getting stuck in the split ring opening. 

X2 ~ 

Just not a fan of having a mono / FC leader or mainline lure connection knot

positioning itself right in the 'break' in the a standard round split ring.

Especially with 10 lb or less.  

Not much meat on the bone there. 

Goes for just about any hard bait including top water.

btw - I do not use a ring tie on Poppers;

straight to the bait, at the bottom of the baits tie ring (OG trick).

Give a better 'pop'.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

X2 ~ 

Just not a fan of having a mono / FC leader or mainline lure connection knot

positioning itself right in the 'break' in the a standard round split ring.

X3 - any lure that comes with a round split ring - that ring gets exchanged for either an oval or a teardrop.

[gim]

Interesting.  So do you change out the split rings on the trebles too?

 

I'm all for upgrading factory components that appear inferior, so don't get me wrong here.  I guess I never considered the idea that the fact a split ring could fail if I tied the knot on the break of a standard round shaped split ring.  If a round split ring on the nose can fail, certainly one attached to a treble hook can too, one would think.  Most trebles on jerk baits are generally not super heavy duty; they're lighter wire style, just very sharp.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

So do you change out the split rings on the trebles too?

No - just the 'nose-ring'.

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 If a round split ring on the nose can fail, certainly one attached to a treble hook can too, one would think.

What happens is the ring 'rotates' inside the knot - the line gets pushed up against the sharp edges of the ring, and gets cut.

 

It's not the ring failing, it's the line being cut by the edges of the ring.

[A-Jay]

While it could happen it's sort of rare in bass fishing,

unless a giant is hooked on a crappie lure with line strong enough not to fail.

Line getting in the split in the split ring is more about the knot rubbing on the potentially sharp 'edges' of the break /space in the split ring itself.

So while I've had split rings 'stretch out' a little under heavy load, the bigger problem was 'the mysterious' knot failures.  IMO believed to be caused by the above.

Oval or Pear shaped rings take this right out of play.

And while I do replace hook holding split rings (with round) I do it mostly because I prefer to be able to change treble hooks as needed when worn or bent,

and many stock rings can only deal with one maybe two changes and then they 'stay' half open.

No good.

Owner Hyper wire rings last a couple of seasons for me. 

A-Jay

 

 

 

[JediAmoeba]

On 1/16/2024 at 1:37 PM, NorthernBasser said:

All my Luckycraft, Jackall and 6th Sense jerkbaits have them, I'm waiting for Megabass to get onboard.

The first thing I do on all cranks and jerks is take the split ring off. I use snaps for all of them.

[PhishLI]

On 1/16/2024 at 3:05 PM, gimruis said:

If a round split ring on the nose can fail, certainly one attached to a treble hook can too, one would think.

Yes, and I would know.

 

[Crow Horse]

On 1/16/2024 at 3:19 PM, A-Jay said:

While it could happen it's sort of rare in bass fishing,

unless a giant is hooked on a crappie lure with line strong enough not to fail.

Line getting in the split in the split ring is more about the knot rubbing on the potentially sharp 'edges' of the break /space in the split ring itself.

So while I've had split rings 'stretch out' a little under heavy load, the bigger problem was 'the mysterious' knot failures.  IMO believed to be caused by the above.

Oval or Pear shaped rings take this right out of play.

And while I do replace hook holding split rings (with round) I do it mostly because I prefer to be able to change treble hooks as needed when worn or bent,

and many stock rings can only deal with one maybe two changes and then they 'stay' half open.

No good.

Owner Hyper wire rings last a couple of seasons for me. 

A-Jay

 

 

 

Do oval or tear drop split rings affect the action? What size would be a starting point for 110/110 jr.'s?

Edit** Think I found it. #2 ?

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Crow Horse said:

Do oval or tear drop split rings affect the action? What size would be a starting point for 110/110 jr.'s?

Edit** Think I found it. #2 ?

I don't think the ovals affect the action much, but I do opinion that the teardrops increase the side-to-side darting of jerks...which is why my jerks get teardrops.

 

Ya - #2 is what I put on my 110-clones.

[Crow Horse]

Thanks! I was concerned about the "balance" and how it suspends. I ordered some Owner #2 tear drops and I'll weigh them and compare to the original split rings.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Crow Horse said:

Do oval or tear drop split rings affect the action? What size would be a starting point for 110/110 jr.'s?

Edit** Think I found it. #2 ?

#2's work fine for regular 110's & Jr's.

As for affecting the action,

I'm going with no, not adversely.

But you can decide for yourself.

A-Jay

[detroit1]

I too remove all line - tie split rings, and use a duo-lok snap. In 50+ yrs. of fishing, i have never had a factory  hook split ring fail. I agree with Ajay that if you open them up a few times, they don't always snap back to original shape. The tactical bassing guys have alot of good content, but they are pushing product too.

[JediAmoeba]

On 1/18/2024 at 4:24 PM, NorthernBasser said:

I usually use snaps on my cranks as well. But I usually just clip onto the split ring. Is there any benefit to removing the split ring? I always felt this gave the bait even more freedom of movement, but it's probably just in my head.

I feel the bait doesn't run as true with both. I have been removing splits for years and years - ever since I had a split ring cut me off.

[txchaser]

I cut all line tie split rings off, and attach with a paperclip snap. Tactical anglers (tiny) or p-line depending on the bait/line/hooks. The way the paperclips are built there's just not really a way for pressure to cause them to fail until far beyond the line strength.

 

The TA paperclips weigh about the same as the megabass 110 split ring it comes with - sits the same in the water. 

 

I don't think they run right with both the split ring and any kind of snap on it, but I can't prove it. Just seems like more forward weight and janky stuff moving around up there. I can't prove it though. 

 

[MIbassyaker]

On 1/16/2024 at 2:35 PM, MN Fisher said:

X3 - any lure that comes with a round split ring - that ring gets exchanged for either an oval or a teardrop.

X4  -- I swap out round for ovals on every jerkbait & crankbait. I haven't tried the teardrop style, but your comment reminds me that I should check them out, as this isn't the first time I've seen teardrops recommended.

 

On 1/16/2024 at 1:09 PM, A-Jay said:

 

Oh boy. 

 

Wasn't sure I needed more jerkbaits, but.....

 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

X4  -- I swap out round for ovals on every jerkbait & crankbait. I haven't tried the teardrop style, but your comment reminds me that I should check them out, as this isn't the first time I've seen teardrops recommended.

 

 

Oh boy. 

 

Wasn't sure I needed more jerkbaits, but.....

 

They look much better in hand.

A-Jay