DECOY - SPLIT RING LIGHT CLASS R-1 & R-4 MADE IN JAPAN

Decoy Split Ring Light Class R-1 & R-4 (Made In Japan)

The R-1 and R-4 are the entry point of Katsuichi's four-step Decoy split ring ladder — Light Class (R-1 / R-4), Medium Class (R-3), Heavy Class (R-5) and Split Ring EX (R-11). Light Class suits small and medium lures where a heavier ring would kill the action: finesse plugs, area trout spoons, small minnows and micro jigs. The wire is flat-forged, so the low cross-section seats deep in the lure eye instead of standing proud and fouling the swim, and the inner-cut ends are angled inward so a hook eye or snap slides over the step without catching. R-1 is matte black for bass and trout work where chrome flash at the nose of a small lure is unwanted; R-4 is silver for salt and brackish use.

Key Features

• Light Class split ring — the lightest step in the Decoy R-series ladder
• Flat-forged wire for a low profile that sits flush in the lure eye
• Inner-cut ends so hooks and snaps slide on without snagging the step
• R-1 matte black for bass, trout and clear-water freshwater lures
• R-4 silver for saltwater and estuary use
• Size #00, the smallest size in the Light Class range; made in Japan by Katsuichi

How To Rig It

• Open it properly — Use split ring pliers on the inner-cut step. Prising a #00 ring with a fingernail distorts the coil and it never closes flat again.
• Replacing factory hooks — Wind the hook eye all the way around until it drops off the far end. Never leave a hook sitting on the split, and never load two hooks onto one #00 ring.
• Trout spoons and area plugs — Run one ring at the tail eye and clip the leader straight to the nose; a second nose ring can be enough to deaden a light spoon's wobble.
• Check after every fish — If the coil has opened even slightly, retire it. On light gear the ring is usually the smallest link in the chain.

Specifications

Ring end type: inner cut. Wire: flat-forged. Katsuichi does not publish a tensile rating for the Light Class rings, so none is stated here.

Recommended Pairing

• Ultralight to light spinning tackle, 2–6 lb mono or fluorocarbon, or PE 0.2–0.4 with a light leader
• Small trebles and singles as supplied on 45–70 mm plugs, 1–5 g spoons and micro jigs
• Step up to R-3 Medium Class for general lure fishing, R-5 Heavy Class for shore casting and jigging, or R-11 EX for the heaviest work