Yesterday I thought I’d change out blades & swivels on some spinnerbaits. I was looking forward to freshening up these baits! It quickly became a real chore!

I was using #2 Sampo ball bearing swivels with the split rings already attached and have a set of Texas Tackle split ring pliers. I finally got one accomplished but it took quite some time after multiple attempts. I had to basically take the swivel assembly apart and attach each piece individually. Even with that there is now a gap in the split rings, they are not tight. Spring is the only way I can describe it, if that makes sense?

Sorry for the long winded description, but is there a trick to doing this? Any tips would be appreciated!

 

Thanks....Joe

I cant do them either and I have good split ring pliers too .

Good split ring pliers are the key.  Pliers specifically for the job, not pliers with a crappy bump on the tip. 

 

3 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

Good split ring pliers are the key.  Pliers specifically for the job, not pliers with a crappy bump on the tip. 

 

I have Texas Tackle pliers. I thought that was a good brand? That's one of the reasons I couldn't figure out the difficulty.

 

The orange handled ones or the green handled ones.  Reason I ask is that the green handled ones don't like small split rings at all.   The green handled ones are make for larger split rings.  

4 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

The orange handled ones or the green handled ones.  Reason I ask is that the green handled ones don't like small split rings at all.   The green handled ones are make for larger split rings.  

The orange.

Stronger glasses!  ?

I have those, with the yellow handles.  They work great. 

 

25 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

I have those, with the yellow handles.  They work great. 

 

Are the yellow ones that much different from the orange? Would they work better on the smaller #2 split rings?

4 hours ago, 5/0 said:

Are the yellow ones that much different from the orange? Would they work better on the smaller #2 split rings?

I have no idea, I've never seen the orange. These are the only ones I've ever actually had. 

 

Are the split rings stainless steel or standard wire? Stainless steel ones will stretch and stay stretched without returning to form much more often than the standard wire.

These are the split ring pliers I use and they work great.  Much better than any fishing split ring pliers I've ever used:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Xuron-496-Split-Ring-Plier/dp/B07DDBDDCS

Thanks for the responses!

On a related subject, I’d like to get into changing the skirts. I’ve looked at a few videos, including Glenn’s on this subject and have an idea on how to do it. But I am not sure on how long to leave the inside portion, the shorter end, to give the best profile. I’ve picked up a few packs of Dirty Jigs and Boss banded skirts and would be using these.

I won’t be using these, mainly Keitech Fat Impacts, Flukes, and single tail grubs.

 

Joe