Split rings are everywhere in fishing — on lures, jigs, and terminal tackle — but removing them without the right tool is a frustrating, finger-punishing experience. Here's how to do it cleanly and quickly every time.
What You'll Need
A dedicated pair of split ring pliers is the only tool designed for this job. The angled tip slips into the coil of the ring and spreads it open without distorting the wire. Angle-R makes two sizes to cover everything from ultralight trout rigs to heavy offshore setups:
- Angle-R 4.5" Split Ring Pliers — ideal for sizes #1–#4 rings on freshwater and inshore lures
- Angle-R 6" Split Ring Pliers — built for larger rings on offshore jigs and heavy swimbaits
Step-by-Step: Removing a Split Ring
- Grip the lure or hook firmly — hold it in your non-dominant hand or secure it in a vise. You need both hands free to work the ring.
- Find the gap in the ring — every split ring has a small opening where the two coils overlap. Rotate the ring until you can see it.
- Insert the plier tip into the gap — slide the notched tip of your split ring pliers into the gap and apply gentle outward pressure to open the coil.
- Rotate the ring around the tip — keep the pliers stationary and spin the ring (or the lure) so the hook or swivel slides off the open coil. Don't try to force the hook over the gap — let the ring travel to the hook.
- Release and inspect — once the hook is free, release pressure and check the ring for kinks or deformation. A damaged ring should be replaced.
Pro Tips
- Go slow on small rings. Micro split rings (#1 and smaller) are easy to over-open and distort. Use the lightest pressure that still opens the coil.
- Replace rings after a big fish. A hard-running fish can stress a split ring enough to weaken it even if it looks fine. Swap it out before your next trip.
- Keep a spare assortment. Carry a small split ring kit so you can swap hooks or add hardware streamside without heading back to the truck.
- Use the right size pliers. Forcing a large plier tip into a small ring will distort it. Match your tool to the ring size.
Why Not Just Use Fingernails or a Regular Plier?
Fingernails break, and standard needle-nose pliers don't have the angled notch needed to open a split ring without crushing it. A proper split ring plier pays for itself the first time you avoid losing a $15 lure to a failed ring swap.
Ready to upgrade your rigging game? Check out the Angle-R 4.5" Split Ring Pliers and the Angle-R 6" Split Ring Pliers.
Here is a link showing how our 6" split ring pliers work with heavy split rings: