I know that some posters on here recommended putting an oval shaped split ring on Zara Spooks to help with walking the dog. I have both Zara Spooks and KVD Sexy Dawgs (KVD's knock-off of the spook). I can walk the dog fine without a split ring and none of my Zara Spooks or Dawgs have split rings on them from the factory.

 

 

 

Is a split ring only helpful for walking the dog or is there other benefits from it?

 

 

 

 

Because if the only benefit from adding a split ring is to aid in walking the dog, I wouldn't need to add one. But if there are other added benefits maybe it would be worthwhile to add them.

Never tried a split ring, but some walking baits do "walk" better than others. But hands down the easiest to walk for me has been the Rebel Jumpin' Minnow. Little to zero effort has to be put in, and the bait will also have the same walking action slightly below the water's surface.

The only benefit other than making them easier to walk, is when you use them in place of a loop knot.

I would think a oval shaped split ring would come into play more if you were using larger diameter mono where directly tieing to the lure would impede the action . With thin diamter braid you are removing that happening .

I like them on my super spook jrs. Without a split ring, the knot would eventually travel towards to the upper part of the line tie, which would hurt the walking action for me. Of course, I've never used a loop knot, like many suggest.

 

But aside from helping the walking action, I can't imagine they offer any other benefit. In fact, one might argue they can be a detriment, since you're adding another piece of breakable hardware.