Split Shot Rig

[WRB]

There is a article in Fishing Techniques called The Split Shot Rig by Craig DeFronzo that I want to commit on, however can't because I am not on Face Book.

Any bass fishing article about split shot presentation should acknowledge the man who invented it; Dick Trask. I suggest Craig do a quick internet search "Dick Trask, split shot". Several articles about the late Dick Trask and his split shoot presentation.

Tom

[deep]

There is a article in Fishing Techniques called The Split Shot Rig by Craig DeFronzo that I want to commit on, however can't because I am not on Face Book.

Any bass fishing article about split shot presentation should acknowledge the man who invented it; Dick Trask. I suggest Craig do a quick internet search "Dick Trask, split shot". Several articles about the late Dick Trask and his split shoot presentation.

Tom

 

 

Last I heard, Craig DeFronzo moved to Florida, and was busy fishing swimbaits! The article is probably pretty old.

 

Off topic, but Tom, please tell us how we should decide on the length of line between the sinker and the hook on a slip-shot/ split-shot/ c-rig?

 

Even more off-topic. There are two Lunkerville episodes featuring Craig.

[WRB]

Dick Trask, as I recall, started his split shat at 14" above the hook and adjusted up and down from from that length. The worms Dick used were the original thin curl 4" Mister Twister Phenom and changed to Flutter Craft when the Phenom changed to thicker tails. Trask boiled his worms to soften and made sure the bodies were straight. The split shot rig consisted of 6 lb mono, #4 split shot, #4 Blue Mustad straight shank worm hooks, honed for sharpness. Today we have black needle sharp hooks off the shelf and soft curl tail Roboworms, Flutter Craft is available at a few tackle shops out west.

In the article Craig states use a 4" Roboworm, they make a 4 1/2", not a 4" could be a typo.

I start my slip shot rig with the weight at 24" above the hook, works better for me with small 4 1/2" worms on 6# line, with size 1# 5133 hook. Big worms over 9" shorten the leader length and start at 12", better strike detection with shorter leader.

What I remember about Trask was his boat control skill, he could stay on a isolated small spot off shore in wind and white caps and catch bass without moving, like he was anchored before GPS, amazing!

Never fished with Trask, lots of time chatting with him at the boat ramp in the afternoon.

Tom

[deep]

Sounds good, thanks.

[primetime]

I have been putting a split shot in front of my worms for over 20 years and I started doing it one day on a lake in Upstate NY when I was in High School as the normal Weightless 7.5" Power worm or Culprit ribbon Tail that was effective on the Long Island lakes which were mostly shallow (Under 6-8') was not getting bit and after putting a split shot above the worm 24' above, we started having alot of success once the bait hit the bottom.

 

 I never changed how I fished the worm and still used the lift and drop technique so the worm was falling as much as possible since that is when I felt and still feel most strikes occur, so I pretend the weight is really not on the line and fish all split or slip shot rigs in this way to this day for the most part. I have never cast out a split shot rig to this day and simply reeled very slowly as many suggest with this technique, and I also use it in front of any type of soft plastic regardless of if it is a floating bait or not. If I have a floating worm  I will  often rig with a small hook, and add a very large shot above the worm so it lands and stays above the weeds, so I fish it as if it is a dropshot at times, since that is essentially what the presentation looks like if you barely move it and simply shake. We have alot of bottoms here in Florida that are covered in silt and weeds, and during the cold weather I notice that if I peg a weight, or if I use a shaky jig head, the bait ends up vanishing in the silt and dead weeds, which can be 3-4" thick. I now use 2 bobber stops and a Mojo sliding sinker or usually a simple tungsten bullet weight in 3/16-1/4 if the worm is smaller than 6", and 1/2-3/4 if deep water and with a larger worm in the 10" range and I often need a swivel and I use the Invisiswivels which are fluorocarbon to avoid line twist problems and provide stealth which I feel is critical.  I guess this is all essentially variations of the Carolina rig without the sound, although a sliding weight does alter the drop speed and action of the worm and I experiment to figure out what the fish want, and if I have a sandy hard bottom, I then use the more tradional techniques as I know the bait will not vanish in submerged vegetation.

 

Bottom line is I fish the split shot rig which I now modify with bobber stops so I can adjust leader length based on situation(Plus the bull shot and soft shots still damage line and slide no matter what I do) and leader can be 3"-3 feet, but I never fish it like a carolina rig and simple reel slowly. I am thinking I should give it a try as everyone suggests simply casting and reeling slowly with a 4" worm, but I have never viewed this as a light line technique or finesse presentation only, and simply use it as an alternative to using no weight or a sliding weight. I used it so much when I was younger I am just most comfortable with this rig called a "slip shot" and have had fantastic days fishing almost any size and type of plastic on both spinning and casting gear and on tough days I feel this rig is the best way to fish a finesse worm regardless of the style or type of bait as I love to rig a senko behind a shot and fish it with a lift drop mixed with some twitches to see what the fish want, and a large 6" Senko is not out of the question.

 

I have read many articles on this type of fishing and also the one mentinoned (Especially since Craig is from Long Island and I recognize all the lakes and RIvers he mentions ( I never have met Craig, but I like his articles and approach to fishing of light line with smaller baits). I feel too many anglers get caught up in putting techniques in a "category" when with a few modifications and experimenting in clear water or a pool you can create some modiications that work for you that may not be the norm to others. I am alway's looking to figure out how to give fish a new look especially with the ridiculous pressure the lakes get on weekends....

 

Anway,sorry for the long ramble, I always enjoy reading your posts as your knowledge of Bass fishing is clearly very extensive and I have learned alot from reading your posts over the past year. You have a deep understanding of the history of Bass fishing and the industry which is something I enjoy learning about and have researched many of the names and techniques you have mentioned in the past. I was reading about the "Do nothing Technique" in a chapter from a book of "Bassin Secrets" from 1986  and Jack Chancellor (I hope I spelled it right) talked about using 1 oz weights in 10' of water with 4" worms to catch big Bass all year round which I though was one of the best tips in the book....

[F14A-B]

Boil them in water, started that a long time ago..

It's been a good thing.. Straightens up plastics & defiantly softens them. I never read it or heard it. It just seemed logical. Some guys lately I have heard, microwave them!

Oh the softening of the plastics was a nice surprise & not expected.

[WRB]

To put the time period in perspective, I first met Dick Trask in May 1974 during a seminar on The Cosmic Clock in Burbank. Trask was very interested in the seasonal period theory and water temps asking lots of questions.

Dick was just beginning his run of tournament wins that would continue more than a decade.

The first bass angler that I knew of boiling worms was Bill Murphy back in 1969, DeLong worms were like tent pegs until you boiled them!

Tom

[gulfcaptain]

Tom, you pobably have forgotten more then I will ever know.  As someone else stated, it's always an eye opener when you post as you bring lots of knowledge and facts as well as some of the history in the bass fishing world lots of us never even new about.  Thank you.

[bigbill]

The date and era is pretty much correct. My cousin George and his dad were avid readers of field & stream and outdoor life. He took me fishing after a black bear hunting trip. We both had some spare time left. He took a black 6" cream worm with a number 2 smelled hook with the biggest sewing needle. He took the leader in half through the opening in the hook. Then he put the needle with the leader looped in the needle through the worm. The hook stopped at the worms body and he pulled out the smelled leader out of the worms nose. At the loop on the smelled hook we put a split shot. This was in October 1973. We caught some awesome bass on this new to me split shot rig. I have no clue who came up with the idea but my cousin is on top of this game even today. That God he reads those magazines and articles.

The drop shot rig I used in saltwater as a kid for flounder and blackfish. Back in the 60's. I guess it got it's name in freshwater. A short leader was more popular in saltwater.

My point is nothing is really new it's old school stuff getting a renewal. Me and my cousin used this stuff because it works. Split shot rig fishing is a long process when it's done right. I like to grab a sandwich during this time.

We used the split shot rig from a row boat. We would oar far enough the weed beds till they disappear. We anchored the boat and cast as far into the weeds as we could. Be ready as soon as the rig hits the water. If not let it fall and sit, in five minutes move it slowly about 12". Then repeat over and over again and cast again when it's at the boat. In between as the worm sits watch the line for movement. If the line is moving set the hook. I like using this rig because it gives me time to relax, chill, and sit, fish.

[ChrisD46]

Primetime : I really like the idea of the bobber stops with weights instead of the bullshot and split shots clamped to the line for two reasons : 1 ) less chance to damage the line and 2 ) ease of making adjustments up and down the line ... Lastly , Tom : it's nice to go back and read split shotting / Dick Trask references to keep a useful bass fishing technique going strong .

[bigbill]

1974 feels like yesterday. 40 freaking years ago.I was 24yo.

[WRB]

You all know who Aaron Martens is, Aaron credits Dick Trask for his bass fishing skills,and to this day he will tell you Dick was his mentor.

Putting a split shot on a leader with live bait isn't anything new it goes back centuries. Winning tournaments with 6 lb line and 4" smoke curl tail plastic worms started with Trask, his boat control in high wind was and is without equal. Everyone was fishing the bank, Dick was 200 yds off shore fishing a deep hump or suspended bass. In the competitive world of tournament bass fishing Trask excelled and his competition suffered. During the 90' the split shot rig was dominate, it was the green weenie era, I loved it as very few other anglers were fishing jigs.

Tom

[Darren.]

Thanks for the info, Tom. I use the split shot rig often, 

and I also enjoy Craig DeFronzo's articles. Dick Trask

is not a name I see much these days.

 

I love going back to older fishing books and articles,

some things my Dad gave me. Uncle Home is one such

guy I looked up to.

[WRB]

Dick Trask stopped tournament bass fishing in 1996 and passed away in Oct 2001 from diabetics at age 53.

Tom