Split Shot - Old School, No Ridges, Teeth, Or Serration

[xbacksideslider]

In his book In Pursuit of Giant Bass, Bill Murphy makes the point that when split shotting he recommends split shot with smooth instead of toothed or serrated interior clamping.

 

The only kind I can find all have the teeth "so the shot won't slip" on your line.

 

Is there a brand name I can look for to get the smooth jaws?

 

I could peg a hollow sinker but typically they wind up being too heavy when they are big enough to peg; I want to be able to clamp on a tiny weight for that slow sink but still get the split shot action on the bottom.

[00 mod]

I'm not 100% but I am pretty sure water gremlin makes a removable split shot with no ridges!

 

Jeff

[xbacksideslider]

OK, thanks, I'll look into them again but so far all I found in Gremlin have teeth.

[Sam]

Try a Carolina Keeper.

[mr.mallard]

CLAM SHOT. i like them alot better because it will grip onto the line nicely without ridges and is totally smooth so it doesnt catch bad.

[WRB]

You can use the lead mojo tubular sinker designed specifically for split shotting rocky areas, just crimp the center with needle nose pliers.

The old style round smooth split shot without the ears is difficult to find anymore.

I use a slip shot rig; mojo style weight with pegged glass bead for a stopper and prefer that over the split shot for 2 reasons; better strike detection and does't flatten the line with the rubber peg.

When you use the round split shot make sure you crimp on the shot, then pull line through the shot to create a smooth hole through the shot, then cut off the line that is flattened, lightly re crimp the shot.

Tom

[merc1997]

they do make slip sinkers at least as small as 1/16oz. as i have some. slip sinkers can be pegged with a piece of rubber strands. the rubber strand does not damage or flatten you line in anyway. in using this method, it is really essy to adjust how far from the hook to put your sinker. i have not used any, but i can see how the mojo type weight would be very snag resistant.

bo

[Sam]

Use any size bullet weight and use the Carolina Keeper to keep the weight at the selected distance from the hook.

 

And yes, a MOJO rig can work, too.

 

If you use the Carolina Keeper you will not damage your line.

 

http://www.2catchbass.com/store/info.php/id/911

 

Check out Wood Daves' info as Woo introduced me to the Carolina Keeper:

 

http://woodaves.com/

 

I like the clear style although the red is fine.

[MCS]

http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/welcome-splitsville

 

This just came in the mail the other day. In here it talks about the types of shot Klein uses and why.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I do what wrb said crimp the shot and pull the line off cut off frayed line and re tie.. hasn't failed me yet.. BTW I'm on the 4 th time reading that book.. its awesome learn so much every read through.. I hope all that stuff will become second nature someday!!

[xbacksideslider]

Thanks all, for your thoughtful posts.

 

Yes, a pegged lead Mojo, and/or brass and glass will do it.

 

Over the weekend I was in a local tournament and I wanted to quickly switch from drop shot to split shot.  I could do that quickly by just clipping off below the hook and crimping on a split shot above my already tied hook.  In doing so I noticed that my split shot had the teeth and I recalled Murphy's warning about the teeth and, as Tom reiterated, the advantage of a set up that allows the line to slip if necessary through the split shot.

 

Rip rap was catching my drop shot so I wanted to split shot to drift over the rocks instead of the drop shot sinker dropping into them.

 

The problem of course is that I wanted to avoid the time expenditure that a re-tie for a pegged Mojo, or pegged bullet, weight, would require.  I just wanted to quick clip the drop shot and quick crimp a split shot above the hook. 

 

Edit - Mr. Mallard - the clam shots look to be what I want.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Clam-Shot-Weights/product/30031/

 

The Carolina Keeper could work but with a dropper to the weight.