Slip Shot Rig : Advantages Over Split Shot Rig ?

[ChrisD46]

Hard to find information on above , but I believe the slip shot rig is a modern version of the split shot rig where instead of crimping a split shot to your line you are using lead or tungsten bullet weights held in place with bobber stops - it may also employ the use of a bead or two ? ... Help educate me on the slip shot rig , how to rig it , fish it and the advantages of a split shot rig ? Thanks in advance !

[Todd2]

I never crimp any weight anymore...not that it doesn't work. Grab a couple packs of Carolina Keepers, throw on a light bullet weight. Not sure if there is a major advantage but I like it. You can do a slow roll, drag it, mix it up. You can adjust your leader length on the fly, just make sure to always squeeze with some pliers, don't slide by hand.

[scaleface]

I never use   split shot . Seems like it would damage the line .  I wont chance it with mono .

[N Florida Mike]

I'm lazy sometimes and use a small one.Not that I use weight much at all.I feel like a bait sinking slower gets bit more.I mainly use a split shot when I fish a light bait , such as a baby brush hog around downed trees esp.Also in deeper water.

[Darren.]

3 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Hard to find information on above , but I believe the slip shot rig is a modern version of the split shot rig where instead of crimping a split shot to your line you are using lead or tungsten bullet weights held in place with bobber stops - it may also employ the use of a bead or two ? ... Help educate me on the slip shot rig , how to rig it , fish it and the advantages of a split shot rig ? Thanks in advance !

Sounds like a mojo rig or quite similar.

I'd fish it the same way as a split shot rig.

As far as advantages, you have to retie your
hook if you want to change to a "weightless"
presentation, whereas with the split shot rig
you just take off the weight.

I normally use Bull Shot weights for split shot,
and I never fully crimp it down. I squeeze it 
with my fingers just enough to keep from falling
off or sliding. If I take it off, there's no crimp
damage to the line.

[WRB]

The mojo style lead cylinder sinker was first made by the late Larry McCain so the weight could be crimped onto the the line and slide through rocks better than a round split shot, basically a 2nd generation split shot rig.

Don Iovino modified the mojo style split shot by using a Peg-It rubber tooth pick to peg a glass bead to use as a weight stopper and let the mojo weight slide on the line.

The rig today is called "finesse C-rig" and dates back into the early 80's as a tournament rig out west with the Carolina Keeper replacing the pegged glass bead for some anglers.

Adavantage is 1 knot and no swivel on the main line with easy adjustment of distance between weight and hook. Strike detection is improved and the rig can be used on light line with spinning tackle, very universal with all types of soft plastics.

Have been using and writing about the slip shot rig for decades. I prefer using black Top Brass Pro-Jo cylinder weight because they slide easier and add a glass bead for clicking sounds between the Keeper and weight.

Tom

[primetime]

If you don't want to damage your line with a split shot, one way that helps out for me is I take a few strands of silicone and wrap it around the line, or take some cheap mono and do the same....Then crimp the shot on the line or silicone which provides padding and do not squeeze it hard with pliers...The new bull shot is soft, you can put whatever you want that is going to protect you main line under the shot....Crimp one of those black bobber stops under the split shot if you want to add weight and not retie...I have not had issues with my line breaking...Or put the shot on heavy line and then tie a leader or add a swivel....I find split shots to be the easiest to use and change quickly, if careful, you will be alright...

 

Guys used to use Toothpicks for pegging and yes it was risky but now you have all kinds of ways to protect knots with glues etc...Just get creative to minimize damage. Crimp sleeves work well under a shot if you want it tight but I never do it since skirting works fine.

[WRB]

The late Dick Trask made the split shot rig popular out west in the early 80's by winning several bass tournaments and boats using this rig on light line. Trask only used round #4 split shot with no ears, size 1 Mustad Aberdeen hook and 4 1/2" Flutter Craft or Mister Twister curl tail worms either 6# Maxiumum line. Dick's trick to reduce line damage from crimping on split shot was to first crimp on the shot them pull about 12" of line through the crimped shot to make a groove in the shot. Next Dick would cut off any damaged line having flat spots or shinny areas, pull another 18" of line through the shot and re crimp just tight enough to keep the shot from moving then tie in the hook.

Trask caught several 10+ lb bass using 6# mono with light wire hooks, he was a very detailed angler, best finesse bass I have ever known and includes Ionino who rarely beat Trask in a tournament they both fished.

Me, I prefer the slip shot rig because the fish doesn't feel the shot weight and you have a higher strike to hooking rate by dropping the rod tip and sweep/reel set. 

I use Owner #5133 size 1/0 Down Shot hook rigged weedless on 6# Sunline Super Sniper line and have caught a few 10+ lb bass finesse fishing targeting tournament keeper size bass, so always look at the line for damage and retie using good knots because you never know what may eat a small finesse worm.

Tom

 

[scaleface]

I learned a lot about the split shot rig today , good stuff .

[MIbassyaker]

I definitely believe I feel strikes better when the line is free to pull through the weight compared to a split shot, or a pegged weight. Also, although I can't prove it, it also seems to cut down how often fish get gut-hooked. I use it to drag small plastics around submerged weeds in the summer.

[ChrisD46]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

The mojo style lead cylinder sinker was first made by the late Larry McCain so the weight could be crimped onto the the line and slide through rocks better than a round split shot, basically a 2nd generation split shot rig.

Don Iovino modified the mojo style split shot by using a Peg-It rubber tooth pick to peg a glass bead to use as a weight stopper and let the mojo weight slide on the line.

The rig today is called "finesse C-rig" and dates back into the early 80's as a tournament rig out west with the Carolina Keeper replacing the pegged glass bead for some anglers.

Adavantage is 1 knot and no swivel on the main line with easy adjustment of distance between weight and hook. Strike detection is improved and the rig can be used on light line with spinning tackle, very universal with all types of soft plastics.

Have been using and writing about the slip shot rig for decades. I prefer using black Top Brass Pro-Jo cylinder weight because they slide easier and add a glass bead for clicking sounds between the Keeper and weight.

Tom

Tom - what about using two bobber stops with a tungsten weight ? One in front and one in back of a tungsten 1/16th or 1/18th bullet weight ?

[ChrisD46]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

The late Dick Trask made the split shot rig popular out west in the early 80's by winning several bass tournaments and boats using this rig on light line. Trask only used round #4 split shot with no ears, size 1 Mustad Aberdeen hook and 4 1/2" Flutter Craft or Mister Twister curl tail worms either 6# Maxiumum line. Dick's trick to reduce line damage from crimping on split shot was to first crimp on the shot them pull about 12" of line through the crimped shot to make a groove in the shot. Next Dick would cut off any damaged line having flat spots or shinny areas, pull another 18" of line through the shot and re crimp just tight enough to keep the shot from moving then tie in the hook.

Trask caught several 10+ lb bass using 6# mono with light wire hooks, he was a very detailed angler, best finesse bass I have ever known and includes Ionino who rarely beat Trask in a tournament they both fished.

Me, I prefer the slip shot rig because the fish doesn't feel the shot weight and you have a higher strike to hooking rate by dropping the rod tip and sweep/reel set.

I use Owner #5133 size 1/0 Down Shot hook rigged weedless on 6# Sunline Super Sniper line and have caught a few 10+ lb bass finesse fishing targeting tournament keeper size bass, so always look at the line for damage and retie using good knots because you never know what may eat a small finesse worm.

Tom

 

Tom - I'm trying out 1/0 hooks (Owner straight shank round bend finesse worm hooks , Gamakatsu offset round bend worm hook and Roboworm rebarb hook) My only bait is a Roboworm 4.5" straight tail worm  in a few colors . Lake is a clear reservoir with mainly spotted bass. **Thanks for the Dick Trask and Don Iovino information ! ...Being here on the East coast in Georgia we just aren't familiar with the West coast innovators - shoot me a PM with any books you recommend from the finesse kings ... Thanks !!

12 hours ago, primetime said:

If you don't want to damage your line with a split shot, one way that helps out for me is I take a few strands of silicone and wrap it around the line, or take some cheap mono and do the same....Then crimp the shot on the line or silicone which provides padding and do not squeeze it hard with pliers...The new bull shot is soft, you can put whatever you want that is going to protect you main line under the shot....Crimp one of those black bobber stops under the split shot if you want to add weight and not retie...I have not had issues with my line breaking...Or put the shot on heavy line and then tie a leader or add a swivel....I find split shots to be the easiest to use and change quickly, if careful, you will be alright...

 

Guys used to use Toothpicks for pegging and yes it was risky but now you have all kinds of ways to protect knots with glues etc...Just get creative to minimize damage. Crimp sleeves work well under a shot if you want it tight but I never do it since skirting works fine.

Great tips !

[ChrisD46]

While Bull Shot bullet weights are popular - it appears they have a "S" shaped groove inside for gripping ? I imaging if you crimp just enough to hold then no harm to line ? What I currently have to use are plain old  Eagle Craw round lead shot in sizes : 3/0 , #7 , #5 and #4 . I'm fisihing shallow in less than 12 feet of water, so depending on wind the range of split shot sizes I have above should cover me . I believe the key is use just enough weight to hold bottom ?

*For ref - I use a 7' ML fast action rod (my Ned rig rod) with #6 lb. InvizX FC line on a 2500 size President reel .

[hoosierbass07]

A few seasons ago all I did was use the split shot rig on my spinning reels.  I use six and eight pound Sufix Elite mono and never has the line broke at the split-shot area.  I don't squeeze the split-shot very hard, I just give it a medium soft squeeze with a pair of pliers I always carry in my tackle bag.  I always carry a couple of packs of split-shots two of my tackle bags because I really enjoy split-shotting with 3/0, 2/0 or 1/0 wide gap hoops and worms, lizards and stick baits.  

[WRB]

Don Iovino's paper back book Finesse Fishing and the Sonar Connection is dated regarding sonar and has a lot of good information on spilt shot and other finesse presentations. Available from TW.

If you only use the split shot / slip shot technique P-Line CXX 6# or any premium mono line tends to float and snag less than FC. If you use the same rod-reel for drop shot and dart head jigs, then FC tends to have less belly in the line than mono.

Size 1/0 worm hooks tend to have heavier wire then size 1, both work with Robo worms 4 1/2 and 5" worms. Tinker around and use what works for you, it's a big part of bass fishing.

Remeber to set your drag at 2 to 2 1/2 lbs or you will be dissipointed someday.

Tom

 

[hoosierbass07]

I do have one spinning reel with 8 pound fluoro on it.  I've not put a split shot on that, I'm afraid to.  I have faith in Sufix mono, not in fluorocarbon.  I'm hesitant to put a split shot on finicky fluorocarbon.  

 Split-shot rig on six or eight pound mono and Robo worms or Zoom trick worms is awesome and a fun way to fish.  Only reason I got away from the split shot rig is that I found if I made a bad cast it wrapped around a branch more than a regular Texas rig.  

[ChrisD46]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

Don Iovino's paper back book Finesse Fishing and the Sonar Connection is dated regarding sonar and has a lot of good information on spilt shot and other finesse presentations. Available from TW.

If you only use the split shot / slip shot technique P-Line CXX 6# or any premium mono line tends to float and snag less than FC. If you use the same rod-reel for drop shot and dart head jigs, then FC tends to have less belly in the line than mono.

Size 1/0 worm hooks tend to have heavier wire then size 1, both work with Robo worms 4 1/2 and 5" worms. Tinker around and use what works for you, it's a big part of bass fishing.

Remeber to set your drag at 2 to 2 1/2 lbs or you will be dissipointed someday.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom - as always your tips are appreciated ! Also #6 lb. Sufix or CXX seems to be the better line choice along with the #1 size hooks (thinner wire = easier hooksets) .

[ChrisD46]

Question on weight sizes for split shot rig : I believe the range of weight sizes for a finesse split shot rig are going to be in that #3/0 to #4 size range with perhaps the #7 size and #5 size getting the lions share of use . * What are the split shot sizes you use most in say 12 ft. or less water depth for a split shot rig  ?

[WRB]

3 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Question on weight sizes for split shot rig : I believe the range of weight sizes for a finesse split shot rig are going to be in that #3/0 to #4 size range with perhaps the #7 size and #5 size getting the lions share of use . * What are the split shot sizes you use most in say 12 ft. or less water depth for a split shot rig  ?

1/8 oz (#4) is about 1/4" diameter.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

Thanks Tom - at the other end of the scale that would make a #7 size about 1/16th oz. with the #5 somewhere aound 1/10th oz. or so rounding out that 1/8th oz. size down to 1/16th oz size for 12 ft. or less water depth .

[WRB]

I use 1/8 weight 90% of the time when slip shotting from 2' to 35' unless it's windy then go to 3/16 oz for 6# line. You need enough weight to keep in contact with the bottom, if you can't feel anything increase the weight.

Tom