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Merwin: Better Split-Rings for Bigger Fish
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August 24, 2009
Merwin: Better Split-Rings for Bigger Fish
By John Merwin
Let’s get back to some hard-core fishing. As some here know full well, there are lots of little things in fishing that mean a great deal--sharp hooks, good knots, and--yes--split rings. These are the little double coils of wire that hold the hooks on many lures. The following doesn’t happen too often, but it can happen. You hook an unusually big or strong fish, the split ring pulls apart, the fish gets away, and the air turns blue with words you never heard in Sunday school.
So I was talking with Terry Trattner a while back, who has a company called Wolverine Tackle out in Illinois. Wolverine makes so-called “super rings” that Trattner says are the strongest around. These split rings are made of three wire coils instead of two. I told Trattner that I thought he had a pretty good product, but that too few people knew about it. He of course allowed as how that was true. So here we are.
The Wolverine rings are available in both stainless-steel and black finishes and in four sizes. The newest and smallest size (#4) looks about right for most largemouth-bass lures. The muskie and striper guys would probably want to go a little bigger. The price is right around $1.30 for a 10-pack. Split rings are fairly easy to replace as long as you have a pair of split-ring pliers. Or use your thumbnail, which can get painful if you’re not careful. Anyway, stronger split rings seem to me like cheap insurance if big fish are in the offing....
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Comments (8)
It's funny how many blogs on here are about things I have recently been involved in. I pulled the muskie lures out the other day and went over a few with a hook sharpener. I never thought of replacing the "O" rings but considering how few fish I hook compared to the number of hours spent fishing, it would be a $1.30 well spent.
yeah 1.30 is a small price to pay for a little insurance. i fish in saltwater so the larger sizes are interesting. you never quite know what is going to hit a trolling lure in the deep blue ocean.
Mr. Merwin,
I now know, thanks to you, how important good split rings are, but I would like to know how strong are the interlock snaps on a ball bearing swivel. During a recent trip to Canada I unfortunately lost a trophy Northern Pike when it bent my interlock snap straight. I was using 20lb test Fireline Crystal fastened to the ball bearing interlock snap; which I figured would have broken before swivel did. This was a brand new swivel and they cost $3.99 for a pack of 5, but I was disappointed and very religious when I found out why my fish got off. Any insight on the strength rating of different sized interlock ball bearing swivels would be greatly appreciated.
Three; that magic number. Always better than two.
Hey, Streack:
Interlock snaps are terrible and not strong at all. In choosing snaps for strength, from weakest to strongest: interlock, duo-lock, coastlock, and cross-lok (Berkley). Google the various snap names I just cited for pictorial examples and sources. I usually use cross-loks, unless the cross-lok wire configuration won't fit in the eye of a particular lure. Then I use duo-locks, but don't really like them. Hope that's helpful, and better luck next time!
I've been changing my split-rings,along with the treble hooks on all of my new,and old lures,for the last 6-years.
I use the Daiichi,Strong Wide Gap,Treble Hooks,with the Wolverine Super Rings,and a pair of split-ring pliers.
My buddy turned me on to the Wolverine,Superior, Super Rings ... he only uses the best,especially when tournament fishing,when every hook-up is a potential money maker.
Sure makes hookin' up easier and safer!
Great article!
Mr. Merwin:
Can you refer me to the name of a magazine that focuses entirely, or at least primarily, on surfcasting and/or surf-fishing? I subscribe to F&S but would like to subscribe to a specialized surfcasting magazine as well.
Thanks,
Vineyarder(vze3rstr@verizon.net)
A lot of people under-estimate and look past the weakness of ordinary split rings... hell, I do it myself. I without a doubt would pay a little over a dollar as an insurance policy for catching big fish, because there is nothing worse than the feeling of letting a big one get away.
Post a Comment
Mr. Merwin,
I now know, thanks to you, how important good split rings are, but I would like to know how strong are the interlock snaps on a ball bearing swivel. During a recent trip to Canada I unfortunately lost a trophy Northern Pike when it bent my interlock snap straight. I was using 20lb test Fireline Crystal fastened to the ball bearing interlock snap; which I figured would have broken before swivel did. This was a brand new swivel and they cost $3.99 for a pack of 5, but I was disappointed and very religious when I found out why my fish got off. Any insight on the strength rating of different sized interlock ball bearing swivels would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, Streack:
Interlock snaps are terrible and not strong at all. In choosing snaps for strength, from weakest to strongest: interlock, duo-lock, coastlock, and cross-lok (Berkley). Google the various snap names I just cited for pictorial examples and sources. I usually use cross-loks, unless the cross-lok wire configuration won't fit in the eye of a particular lure. Then I use duo-locks, but don't really like them. Hope that's helpful, and better luck next time!
It's funny how many blogs on here are about things I have recently been involved in. I pulled the muskie lures out the other day and went over a few with a hook sharpener. I never thought of replacing the "O" rings but considering how few fish I hook compared to the number of hours spent fishing, it would be a $1.30 well spent.
yeah 1.30 is a small price to pay for a little insurance. i fish in saltwater so the larger sizes are interesting. you never quite know what is going to hit a trolling lure in the deep blue ocean.
Three; that magic number. Always better than two.
I've been changing my split-rings,along with the treble hooks on all of my new,and old lures,for the last 6-years.
I use the Daiichi,Strong Wide Gap,Treble Hooks,with the Wolverine Super Rings,and a pair of split-ring pliers.
My buddy turned me on to the Wolverine,Superior, Super Rings ... he only uses the best,especially when tournament fishing,when every hook-up is a potential money maker.
Sure makes hookin' up easier and safer!
Great article!
Mr. Merwin:
Can you refer me to the name of a magazine that focuses entirely, or at least primarily, on surfcasting and/or surf-fishing? I subscribe to F&S but would like to subscribe to a specialized surfcasting magazine as well.
Thanks,
Vineyarder(vze3rstr@verizon.net)
A lot of people under-estimate and look past the weakness of ordinary split rings... hell, I do it myself. I without a doubt would pay a little over a dollar as an insurance policy for catching big fish, because there is nothing worse than the feeling of letting a big one get away.
Post a Comment