I've only had one split ring failure, hooked into a big Muskie on Green River (for the locals). Buddy netted it and it went nuts ripping off both rings of my jointed shad rap. But it was already in the net. 

I had a muskie, not big, about 25 inches, do the same thing to me, though I netted it only to find it not hooked whatsoever, which was nice. I find my whopper plopper missing the back hook which I found in my boat with mangled split ring. 

 

That said this was one time after God knows how many fish. Unless I'm targeting muskie/bigger pike I still can't see myself spending the $ to replace everything on all my hard baits. If I have to replace a split ring though, I'm buying something high quality. 

Hmmmm....looking at the 'Herters' built stuff my Pappy left me. Big GLH, ruby eye and daredevil spoons with huge hooks added and every split ring soldered shut...

 

home built wire leaders, etc. I still remember being 12 and my first visit to Ontario and watching him change out my line and started using his home built fiberglass rods along side level wind steel rods with glass eyes and braided 'squidding' line with 36' leaders to troll those big spoons for Northerns...

 

I'll bet he had his reasons.....

12 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

A bbz-1 is definitely a budget swimbait....

I never have to worry because I don't catch big fish.

I'll rephrase, I thought I was buying a quality bait.

 

15.00 for a tiny swimbait the least they could do is use a ring that wont straighten on a two pound fish. 

I never thought much about it but have been using more cranks this year.

 

Sunday I opened up a brand new $15 lure and this was the line tie split ring... I then walked in from the garage, ordered some Owner split rings, a Texas Tackle pliers and have a project for this weekend. 

 

2 minutes ago, browne762 said:

I never thought much about it but have been using more cranks this year.

 

Sunday I opened up a brand new $15 lure and this was the line tie split ring... I then walked in from the garage, ordered some Owner split rings, a Texas Tackle pliers and have a project for this weekend. 

 

Good find. That is where I notice it the most when it’s brand new out of package bad from the factory. TW had a good selection of split rings. I’ve been using the VMC they sell. They May have a variety kit also. 

6 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I bought some VMC split rings and used them to change out all the round bend trebles to short shank ewg.

 

I wish I wouldn’t have, I have had about a dozen on them bend out. They weren’t cheap either!

I hope I stay lucky than. I went with the VMC’s. I have not fished Strike King Crankbaits much until the last few years. Every once and awhile inspecting before use I see ones that are bad and replace them before use.

 

I fish a lot of Rapala versions. Can’t say split rings were ever a problem. 
 

Willing to bet a lot of guys don’t even look at rings and connections. 

If they get rusty or damaged I’ll change them Out 

I usually don't worry about split rings.  I've only ever had one fail.  I was throwing a Rattle Trap for stripers when a skate hit it.  Better than 3 feet wingtip to wingtip.  Fought it for like 10 minutes, it seemed.  Just as I got it to the rocks, the trap came flying at me and the skate took off.  The front split ring and failed and it and the treble hook were missing.