Smart Links ?

[HarveysMinnow]

Have any of you tried those so-called "smart links" that Cabelas offers ?

They are little oval shaped split rings that can be installed between the hooks and body of a crankbait. The claim is that, if your lure becomes snagged, a slow steady pull will cause the 'smart link' to open and leave the hook behind but save the lure. It's also claimed (and this is the part I'm skeptical about) that they hold a fish without pulling open, because landing a fish does not result in a sustained 'steady pull'. They come in various pound ratings. Obviously, a line rating somewhat greater than the 'smart link' rating would be required.

Just a curiousity perhaps. Opinions, please ...


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[nofearengineer]

My solution is to first, not use $25 lures. Second, I carry a lure saver for snags up to 30' deep. It has had about a 95% success ratio for me on snags I could not get out.

To each his own, but I have a distinct feeling there is a small group of anglers who actually prefer to have every bit of tackle they own be as complicated as it can be.

[Cavs1123]

Sounds like a bunch of bull crap to me

[HarveysMinnow]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

My solution is to first, not use $25 lures. Second, I carry a lure saver for snags up to 30' deep. It has had about a 95% success ratio for me on snags I could not get out.

OK, that sounds like a 'No'.

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

To each his own, but I have a distinct feeling there is a small group of anglers who actually prefer to have every bit of tackle they own be as complicated as it can be.

Within the overall distribution of anglers there probably is a segment that fits this description. Personally, I have nothing against 'complicated' as long as it serves some useful purpose. The Space Shuttle is complicated, but how complicated could a split ring be?

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[TN_Bassin]

I'm skeptical on these types of things. My advice would be to buy some and try them out, then report what happens with them.

I could just see this being a problem with bigger fish when they take a big run.

[bassinbob]

Yea I say try them on a cheap lure first.

[HarveysMinnow]

Originally Posted by TN_Bassin

I'm skeptical on these types of things. My advice would be to buy some and try them out, then report what happens with them.

I could just see this being a problem with bigger fish when they take a big run.

You make a good point, TN. I would sure hate losing a big fish because of the 'weak link'. I wonder though - if I used 10# line with 8# 'smart link' and set my reel drag at about 6# - the overall load on the split ring might never exceed 8#, even on a big run. But then the question becomes, "are the split rings really that accurate?".

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[geezer1]

I can just see it now, Harv...."The 10#'r got away, but I still have my $2 lure!" Yeah, that would suck.

[HarveysMinnow]

Originally Posted by geezer1

I can just see it now, Harv...."The 10#'r got away, but I still have my $2 lure!" Yeah, that would suck.

Yeah, Geezer, that would suck big time. But what I want to know is: If it gets away, how are we gonna know it was a 10 pounder? Oh, pardon my momentary lapse of reason there...if it gets away, it automatically turns into a 10 pounder, right ?

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[cassidyta]

Harvey,

I got some through a tourney raffle and they didn't work too well for me. I did find that they released when snagged, but I also had them release on a fish. Now it wasn't a bass (I had a Cat hit a crank) The rings held up until I got the fish near the boat and it made a last ditch deep dive. Funny how a running fish can produce the constant pull needed to release the fish.
This wasn't a huge cat and I don't think it was bigger than the rated rings.
I do think that a lure retriever is a better solution. The only place where I see a real value is when I manage to hook a branch of a tree.

[HarveysMinnow]

Cassidyta,
I appreciate your input. Given all the possible disadvantages, plus the relative expense, I think we would be well advised to steer clear of them. I really don't use a lot of crankbaits anyway.

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[BigBassin144]

Haven't heard anything about the specific ones you mentioned, but check out this review.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewultimateluresaver.html

BB

[cassidyta]

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not use either brand mentioned. It was another brand, but I can not remember the name.
Also, since I was almost ready to bring that big cat into the boat, I did have the rod pointed upward (reducing the give) when it released.
Having read the TT review, I can see why mine gave way

[geezer1]

Originally Posted by HarveysMinnow

Yeah, Geezer, that would suck big time. But what I want to know is: If it gets away, how are we gonna know it was a 10 pounder? Oh, pardon my momentary lapse of reason there...if it gets away, it automatically turns into a 10 pounder, right ?

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Might even have been a 12#r.....

[Bender]

A guy I fished with before used them and didn't lose any fish, although we didn't have 10#ers in Michigan. He only put them on his high dollar lures such as Carolina Chips cranks since the split rings are expensive themselves. I thought about them but decided not to use them, the lure retriever works fine for me.

[HarveysMinnow]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Haven't heard anything about the specific ones you mentioned, but check out this review.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewultimateluresaver.html

BB

BB, thanks for sharing this link. I believe it removes any skepticism I had, and these appear to be identical to the ones I saw in Cabela's catalog. No wonder they are expensive, since they are made of Titanium, but they would probably be worth it to anglers who use high dollar lures.

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