Split Shot Rig Help.

[Bassin30721]

I have never fished a split shot rig before. I need to know how to fish it, set up, and what soft plastic to use.

[WRB]

The split shot is very simple and consist of a round split shot in 1/8, 3/16 or 1/4 oz sizes. The hook should be like a light wire Owner 5100 in size 1 or 1/0.

Finding smooth face round lead split shot will take some looking around, they are still made. An option is using a lead mojo tubular lead sliding sinker and crimping it in the middle onto the line.

Leader length (your line) is usually between 14" to 36" depending on the type of lake bottom being fished.

The key is using light mono or FC line 6 to 8 lb for finesse presentations and finesse style worms like Roboworms or Iovino hand poured worms in 4 1/2" to 6" curl tails or straight tails. The hand pours are softer and tend to float better.

Crimping on the weight; lightly crimp the weight onto the line about 6" from the end, then pull the line through the crimped weight, the line will mke a hole in the weight and start to slide easier. Pull another 30" of line through the weight and cut off any flattened line. Next tie on the worm hook, Palormar knot works good for this presentation. Slide the weight to whatever leader length you want and re crimp it. Weedless skin hook the worm, make sure the worm is as straight as possible on the hook to reduce line twist. You are ready to fish.

Cast, let sink to the bottom and feel the line go slack, then drag the weight about 1' to 2' slowly while feeling the bottom with the weight. Bites are very light or a rubber band type of soft pull because you don't feel the worm, you feel the weight. If you think you are bite reel fast and sweep set the hook. The bass may eat the worm and move forward in front of the weight so you need to take up all the slack line fast anf then sweep set.

A lot of anglers drift this rig slowly along the bottom, works.

I like to use a variation called slip shot. Use the mojo lead tubular weight (Pro Jo brass) and add a plastic Carolina Keeper or a pegged glass bead to stop the weight; like a Carolina rig without a swivel. The slip shot gives you a better feel of the worm because the line slide through the weight.

Good luck.

Tom

[ClackerBuzz]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/split_shot.html

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117421-split-shot-rig/

[Loop_Dad]

I didn't know they even called this split shot rig and I am probably doing wrong, but here is how I use split shots...

 

I just use split shot when I need more weight than weightless and less weight than bullet weight. I adjust the weight until it feels right. I would like to be able to feel the bait/weight just a tiny bit.

 

I mainly use with stick baits on spinning set up. I sometimes used 4" single tail grubs.

 

i especially like to use over submerged grass area by hopping over it just above the grass. The retrieve is not too slow and not too fast the way I do.

 

This was my go to set up to introduce the sports to my children.

[Sam]

The "split shot rig" is the poor man's Carolina rig.

 

If you use a Carolina Keeper and a small bullet weight you can move the weight up and down the line to add or subtract your leader length.

 

I like throwing split shot rigs as it catches lots of small bass.

 

However, I do not like crimping the weight to the line as it can damage the line so be careful when crimping the weight.

 

I throw the split shot on a spinning rig as it is a light weight finesse presentation. I usually use 8-pound fluorocarbon line.

 

Any plastic will do but I like the smaller brush hogs and finesse worms.

 

Have fun.

[Bankbeater]

Since it is a scaled down c-rig, I fish it the same way.  Just a lot slower.

[Felix77]

This has been replaced by the mojo rig for me but when I am fun fishing and quickly want to add weight to my weightless rig I revert to the split shot rig.  My favorite lure to fish on these are Zoom finesse and roboworms.  Simply cast it out and drag it back.  I can cover a lot of water moving this rig and catch a ton of numbers on it.

[MCS]

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

I caught on to this technique after reading the above article. I kinda use it as an inbetween drop shotting and Carolina rigging. It covers more up and down in the water column were drop shotting you have it at a set length above the weight. I use little hops or sweeps the bait floats up to the length of the leader and slowly falls back down and let it set or and a few wiggled then repeat. You can move it faster than a drop shot but not constant like a Carolina rig. If the situation calls for it I will slowly drag it like a mini C rig as well. I usually use a vibe speed craw, centipede, 4" senko or rattlesnake.

I like the idea of a single or twin tail grub. I am gonna try that.

[BenB54]

This has been replaced by the mojo rig for me but when I am fun fishing and quickly want to add weight to my weightless rig I revert to the split shot rig.  My favorite lure to fish on these are Zoom finesse and roboworms.  Simply cast it out and drag it back.  I can cover a lot of water moving this rig and catch a ton of numbers on it.

 

x2, they are killer around grass lines and they don't pick up as much gunk as splitshots.

[BassAssassin726]

Do yourself a favor go online or into BPS or Cabelas and buy the Water Gremlin Bull Shot weights. Theyre bullet weights that you crimp on like a split shot. I use the split shot rig A LOT and these weight come through crap better even than the normal split shot without tabs. Check em out. I use this rig with a painfully slow retrieve. Ive caught some big fish on it too. I use black Senkos in five inch and big ten inch ribbon tail worms.