Whats the difference? I haven't noticed anything yet but I know some companies sell baits with oval split rings.

With the round ones your line has a chance of getting caught in the groove for threading it on the bait. With the oval ones the line is always on the ends where it can't get in that groove.

kylek is exactly right.  I put oval split rings on all my baits that don't come with them.

What they said.

They're just for line ties. Attaching hooks with them can be done but is a waste.

I prefer fishing round spit rings on my hard plastic baits (and I have used both).

 

oe

With the round ones your line has a chance of getting caught in the groove for threading it on the bait. With the oval ones the line is always on the ends where it can't get in that groove.

 

This is correct, the advantage is with an oval ring is the line tie will not get caught in the split ring teeth. Personally I like the oval rings for the line tie but for hooks I have never seen a difference.

 

Allen

Whats the difference?

What these guys said... and they're a bit harder to put on a bait too.

Does anyone here take the split rings off and just connect with a snap? Not a swivel-snap, just the clasp. 

I do for almost all may hard baits. Only exception I can think of where I don't is a whopper plopper.  There has been a couple good threads about snaps and crankbaits in the past if you are able to find them.

It takes literally 2 seconds to make sure your line doesn't line up with the split in a split ring, and if you upsize a round one and center it on the lure, some will hunt randomly rather nicely at higher speeds.

As suggested in this forum, I have started using tear drop shaped split rings.  Best of both worlds IMO.