The picture says it all really, ALWAYS change stock componentry or you may end up with a split ring looking like this.

I should know better by now but apparently not

That's the first step to recovery isn't it?   

Had a few new lures to test out at the Mokes today (well that's my excuse for fishing instead of working). Re-rigged a few last night but due to a late night and early start, I got a bit lazy and left the hooks and rings the samples came with.

We came across a good patch of fish early on, landed a couple of 10-12kg fish each, then decided to give the new bait a swim. And it swam brilliantly for precisely two sweeps of the rod before the ocean around it erupted and it was engulfed by a horse of a fish.

Had to apply plenty if hurt and a bit of boat work to get it clear if the foul and finally started making some progress when the weight came off, which made me decide to extent my little brothers vocabulary by a few words.

So yeah, ended up with one split ring gone altogether and the one in the picture hanging by itself minus it's hook.

And as it always happens, we couldn't raise another fish after that

Yea I actually even managed to keep the lure as we'll, just minus it's hooks and what would have been my topwater pb. But lesson learned this time