I fish most of my big topwater baits on braid. I like the quick response you get from your baits with it, and it is also great for getting quick, solid hooksets.

One of the biggest downfalls to using braid, however, is that it has a tendency to get hung up in your split rings. Well, I figured out a way to keep this from happening.

I'll start by showing the final fix and then backtrack and explain how to do it and what you will need. What I am doing is filling the gap of the split ring with small copper wire and soldering it all together.

Here's what you will need

1. Some 24 gauge copper wire
2. A high watt soldering iron
3. Some flux core solder
4. A pair of small dykes and pliers
5. Some Scotchbrite
6. A fly-tying vise

Start by cutting about a six inch piece of copper wire. Clean the outer coating off with the Scotchbrite.

Clamp your bait by the split ring nice and tight in the fly-tying vise. Start by holding the wire parallel to the split ring, resting the wire in the slot. Now carefully begin to wrap the wire through the split ring using small loops so you don't kink the wire.

Keep the wire tight to itself until you reach the other end of the open part of the split ring.

Now wind it back to the slot and rest it parallel in the slot on the other side. It will end up looking like this

(Shown here on a Dirty Bird)

Now you are ready to heat up the split ring and wire and fill it with solder. This whole process is a lot easier said than done so you may want to practice on some split rings off the bait. Remember – you are working with the hooks on the bait so be careful. 

 
Here is a Punker with both split ring gaps filled 

This whole process takes quite a bit of time so its a great rainy day project. But think of the time and frustration it will save you on the water this spring.

So get out your topwater boxes and start wrapping them up.