Stop Losing Trophy Fish – The Strongest Split Rings for Traveling Anglers

Gear

Dec 26

Berkley J-Walker Topwater 120 with replaement split rings and treble hooks

My belt holds my pants up, but the belt loops hold my belt up. I don't really know what's happening down there. Who is the real hero? ——Mitch Hedberg

As we prepare our hard lures to chase species like peacock bass and golden dorado – or even when we use bass tackle for yellowfin tuna – we go through lots of 4X trebles. We need to be careful not to upset the balance of the lures or cause floating baits to sink, but there are few things worse than losing a trophy fish and getting your lure back with one or more hook tines straightened out.

But super-strong hooks don’t do you much good if they won’t stay affixed to the lure. Indeed, these powerful fish will just about always find the weakest link in your chain – so if you’re upsizing hooks without swapping out your bass-grade split rings, you’re risking disaster. They’re inexpensive insurance against heartbreak.

Changing out terminal tackle before an Amazon Basin fishing trip

Top Heavy-Duty Split Rings for Hard Baits

If you want your lures to stay intact when it counts, start here:

BKK Split Rings -- 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 100 lb. test.
Owner Hyper Wire Split Rings – Black -- 16, 37, 45 and 50 lb. test.
Owner Hyper Wire Split Rings – Stainless -- 50, 60, 70, 80 and 120 lb. test.
Gamakatsu Superline Split Rings – 10, 18, 44, 48, 97, 130, 180 and 255 lb. test.
Ryugi R Split Ring – 12, 22, 19, 44 and 74 lb. test.
SPRO Power Split Ring – 32, 50, 60 and 90 lb. test.
SPRO Power Split Ring NSB Black – 32, 50, 60 and 90 lb. test.
VMC Stainless Steel Split Ring – 88, 101, 198 and 231 lb. test.

Alternative Shapes and Connection Options

Not all split rings are perfectly round — some shapes can reduce torque, improve hook alignment, or simply offer stronger connections. Here are a few excellent alternatives:

Decoy Egg Ring – 50, 75 and 100 lb. test.
Decoy GP Ring – 300 and 400 lb. test.
Decoy R-51 Front Ring Split Ring – 50, 60, 75, 100 and 150 lb. test.
Harmony Fishing Stealth Clips – 25, 40 and 50 lb. test.
SPRO Prime Snap – 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 75, 125 and 175 lb. test.

Whether you’re heading to Brazil, Argentina, or Panama, don’t let a weak split ring be the reason your next trophy gets away.

Before your next trip, double-check your lures and stock up on heavy-duty split rings at Tackle Warehouse. These small upgrades can make the difference between a story about the one that got away — and the one you’ll never forget.