Do you keep the split ring on your lures or take them off??  I've tried both ways and can't tell much deference.  What is your theory???

Most of the time i will take off the split ring and use either a surgeons  loop knot or Rapala knot.  The lure WILL act more naturally and will be more balanced without the split ring.

For me, it depends on the lure. With some topwaters I take them off. With cranks and lipless lures, I switch them out to ovals. On spoons, I like to add one if there isn't one already. It's a matter of preference it seems.

I take them all off and use Norman speed clips.  If I tie directly to he bait , then I use a split-ring.

Split ring + Palomar = Success

I always keep mine on.  I do occasionally swap out to an oval one, though.  

I always keep the split rings on.

Falcon

I remove them if i can get a cross-lock snap on the line tie. They stay on if i can't.

I never use a split ring on crank, duo-lock snaps for me.

heres the way i see it:

if the bait comes with a split ring, its probably there for a reason (weight to balance the lure, free range of motion, etc.) so you have 2 options:

1.) keep the split ring on and tie onto the split ring

2.) take the split ring off and tie clip to your line. this will be pretty much the same weight as the split ring and it will still allow free movement.

if the bait DOESNT come with a split ring, once again, theres a reason for it. example: if you put a split ring on a rapala floater, it will sit in the water nose down and won't work as well.

when there is no split ring, you can either:

1.) tie directly to the lure, limiting the movement

2.) use a loop knot (rapala knot) which will provide the range of movement a split ring will, without the added weight.

and there you have the Saavedra pocket guide to split rings

heres the way i see it:

if the bait comes with a split ring, its probably there for a reason (weight to balance the lure, free range of motion, etc.) so you have 2 options:

1.) keep the split ring on and tie onto the split ring

2.) take the split ring off and tie clip to your line. this will be pretty much the same weight as the split ring and it will still allow free movement.

There's a third option, which is using a snap with the split ring. I've been doing that for years and I'll be darned if I can see any reason not to continue. No visible difference in action or number of strikes that I can detect.

heres the way i see it:

if the bait comes with a split ring, its probably there for a reason (weight to balance the lure, free range of motion, etc.) so you have 2 options:

1.) keep the split ring on and tie onto the split ring

2.) take the split ring off and tie clip to your line. this will be pretty much the same weight as the split ring and it will still allow free movement.

There's a third option, which is using a snap with the split ring. I've been doing that for years and I'll be darned if I can see any reason not to continue. No visible difference in action or number of strikes that I can detect.

true, i left that one out because i dont do it.

there are 2 reasons i dont do it:

1.) its bulky. i dont like all the hardware sticking out the front of my bait. i dont think the fish like it either.

2.) it adds weight. weight that is not supposed to be there. if the bait was supposed to have that much weight in the front, the manufacturer would have put a beefier split ring on for added weight.

and there you have Appendix A of the Saavedra Pocket Guide to Split Rings ;D

heres the way i see it:

if the bait comes with a split ring, its probably there for a reason (weight to balance the lure, free range of motion, etc.) so you have 2 options:

1.) keep the split ring on and tie onto the split ring

2.) take the split ring off and tie clip to your line. this will be pretty much the same weight as the split ring and it will still allow free movement.

There's a third option, which is using a snap with the split ring. I've been doing that for years and I'll be darned if I can see any reason not to continue. No visible difference in action or number of strikes that I can detect.

true, i left that one out because i dont do it.

there are 2 reasons i dont do it:

1.) its bulky. i dont like all the hardware sticking out the front of my bait. i dont think the fish like it either.

2.) it adds weight. weight that is not supposed to be there. if the bait was supposed to have that much weight in the front, the manufacturer would have put a beefier split ring on for added weight.

and there you have Appendix A of the Saavedra Pocket Guide to Split Rings ;D

Yea it adds a least a pound of weight! Geez gimme a break, I leave em on and use a snap and I have caught fish this month

If they come with 'em, use 'em. If they don't...don't (Rapala knot)...

                      As Ever,

                       skillet

Ok, all these great replies, brings me to a new question.  If you are a user of snaps do you use swivel snaps, or snaps only?

Great Thread, but it raises a question in my mind.  If I have a lure that comes equipped with a split ring, is there any benefit to using a loop knot also?  I do, but would prefer to just use a clinch or palomar.

Ok, all these great replies, brings me to a new question. If you are a user of snaps do you use swivel snaps, or snaps only?

Snap only.

1.) its bulky. i dont like all the hardware sticking out the front of my bait. i dont think the fish like it either.

Do you really think that they look at the snap and be turned away but not see the massive treble hooks hanging from the bottom of the bait?  

I remove the split rings and use a Duolock snap.

1.) its bulky. i dont like all the hardware sticking out the front of my bait. i dont think the fish like it either.

Do you really think that they look at the snap and be turned away but not see the massive treble hooks hanging from the bottom of the bait?

nope, i just try to keep things as natural as possible.

My personal choice, on crankbaits, is a Duolock snap, and I have never had an issue with them. Brian Huskins (Brian's Bee's), one of the nationally known bait makers reccomends a snap along with a split ring to get the most out of his baits and reccomends against the use of an oval split ring on any crankbait. His baits have won thousands in tournaments, plus thousands of hours testing an I'm thinking his advice carries a little more weight most.

Anyone here believe a bass makes a scale count on a bait before he grabs it, just to make sure its the real thing?

I tie direct to the lure. A uni-knot will make the lure have a tighter wiggle when retrieved. A loop will give the most action. Just depends on the situation. A loop on a jerkbait, or a Slug-go will really make those baits come alive.

I dont like split rings because they can nick the line. On the clear waters I fish, if you are using split rings and snaps your catch rate will go way down.

I took all of that stuff off my baits and use flourocarbon leaders and it has helped me alot.

a split ring saves the time of making a rapala knot on a hard lure   the split ring helps the lure wiggle and wobble