Split Shot

[huZZah]

Anyone currently rigged for split shot?  I was thinking of setting up a rig for it but I’m unsure of what it is really good for.
 

I read about pulling through grass, but also fishing shallow empty banks. 5-6” stick worms or 4” curly tail. Not sure what exactly I should try.  I understand you want lighter line and use smaller aberdeen hook. 
 

Any suggestions appreciated. 

[Finessegenics]

Like a Carolina or Texas rig, you can really throw anything you want behind a split shot rig. But as it’s meant to be used on pressured fish, people generally fish smaller worms such as senkos, and finesse worms. I use “dropshot” marketed hose and usually nose hook the baits. I don’t think it matters where you throw em, as long as you’re around fish. 
 

Also want to add that it’s the slow fall of the bait that triggers the bites. Therefore, after casting the rig allow some time for the soft plastic itself to slowly glide to bottom. 

[huZZah]

So nose hooked they won’t get snagged on everything?  

Do you use clam dropshot or those bullshot things?

[RDB]

Just think of it as a finesse Carolina rig without the swivel/bead for shallower water and pressured situations.  I personally don’t like to use a split shot because I don’t like the line crimped.  Plus the split shot will often slide if it meets resistance.  Instead I use tiny Bullet weights and put 2 bobber stoppers above and 2 below.  That also makes it easy to change the length from weight to bait.

[Spankey]

No need for the Aberdeen hooks. You can SSrig with 1/0, 2/0 or even 3/0 hooks as necessary. Worms, craws, bugs and more. Don't underestimate SSrig.

[huZZah]

25 minutes ago, RDB said:

That also makes it easy to change the length from weight to bait.

What length do you typically do?

[schplurg]

I like using them for quickly adding weight to a rig. I use the removable kind. They have their pros and cons but I like them for that reason.

 

Bank fishing I carry two rods max and it's cool to be able to throw on a weight for a few minutes to see it it helps in certain situations. Maybe punching through a light mat or just to keep the bait below the surface in current. 

 

I also have tiny bullet weights.

[RDB]

1 minute ago, huZZah said:

What length do you typically do?

Probably 18-24” is typical for me.  If there is some vegetation, longer will help the bait stay higher.

[OG Crankster]

A split shot rig with a baby brush hog was my best producer last year.

[Finessegenics]

2 hours ago, huZZah said:

So nose hooked they won’t get snagged on everything?  

Do you use clam dropshot or those bullshot things?

I use regular old removable split shots. I don't know if there is another name for them. @RDB does make a good point about possibly damaging the line when crimping.

 

 

[Luke Barnes]

I just had an idea. I was going to rig up a float and fly type setup on a spinning rod. Basically a straight shank hook, split shot a foot or so up and a bobber. All I have to do to make it a split shot rig is take the bobber off!! Two rigs within two seconds! Yeah I'm doing this. 

[papajoe222]

2 hours ago, huZZah said:

So nose hooked they won’t get snagged on everything?  

Do you use clam dropshot or those bullshot things?

For years, I used round split-shot (without the ears). Now I use cylindrical weights and a peg.  I fish a lot of vegetation and find nose hooking a chore, so I opt for a thin wire, straight shank finesse hook. Never tried nose hooking with an Aberdeen

[Bankbeater]

I put a 4" worm or senko on a 2/0 size ewg hook, and t-rig it weightless.  I put a split shot maybe a foot up the line.  If it feels heavy while I'm fishing it I will downsize the split shot.  I mainly fish it around vegetation and wood.

[garroyo130]

Round split shot (no ears) pinched about 7-10 inches above the hook. 3/0 round offset worm hook. As long as you take care to pinch the split shot on centered and rig the bait straight, the shot without the ears won't twist your line too much. 

[WRB]

The “Split Shot Rig* is different from just crimping a split shot on the line above the hook that is common for over 100 years using live bait.

Split rig using #4 round split shot, 6 lb mono line and light wire size 4 to 1/0 worm hook. To prevent damage to the line when crimping the round lead shot the trick is after crimping slowly pull about 2’ of mono line through the shot to cut a groove.  Cut off any shiny or flatten line. Tie the hook using a Palomar knot, skin hook the worm. Skin hook is your standard weedless worm rigging except expose the hook point, then pull the point back about 1/8”, pinch the worm and slide the point forward 1/8” under the top skin of the plastic to cover the point. Slowly slide the split shot up away from the hook about 14”-24” and re crimp. 

The woth should be a finesse type preferred curl tails 4 1/2” to 6” Roboworms currently.

I prefer the Slip Shot** rig. In lieu of the round split shot use a 1/8 oz cylinder (Mojo) weight, 8mm glass faceted bead, #5133 size 1/0 Owner hook. You can peg the glass bead to hold it at what ever length above the hook to stop the weight.

A Carolina plastic keep is a option in lieu of pegging the bead.

Same line and worms as the Split Shot rig.

I use 5 kB Maxima Ultra Green line.

Tom

PS, details are important.

*Dick Trask rig.

** Don Iovino rig

[MGF]

I caught a lot of river brown bass last year on a 4" finesse worm on a 1 or 1/0 ewg with a split shot 18 - 24 inches up the line. I sized the split shot to just nick the bottom as the current bounced it along.

[Biglittle8]

This rig (split shot) works really well for drift fishing sheer drop offs along the shoreline. 

 

[ChrisD46]

On 3/20/2021 at 7:38 PM, RDB said:

Just think of it as a finesse Carolina rig without the swivel/bead for shallower water and pressured situations.  I personally don’t like to use a split shot because I don’t like the line crimped.  Plus the split shot will often slide if it meets resistance.  Instead I use tiny Bullet weights and put 2 bobber stoppers above and 2 below.  That also makes it easy to change the length from weight to bait.

* Bobber Stop -> Bullet Weight -> Bobber Stop for a "no crimp" split shot rig ... I like using tungsten 1/16th oz. ~ 1/8th oz. bullet weight about 18" above a small Zoom Centipede (GP or WM Candy) , 2500 series spinning reel , 7' ML rod , Power Pro High Viz Yellw #10 lb. + #6 lb. ~ #8 lb. InvizX leader .

[Mbirdsley]

I plan on learning and using the split shot rig  a lot this year. There is one popular lake/state park near me that has a ton of weeds in it  I think it will work wonders in.  Also good to know another finesse tactic.  I actusllied just ordered some mojo style weights in 1/16 and 1/8 

[ChrisD46]

On 3/21/2021 at 2:59 PM, WRB said:

The “Split Shot Rig* is different from just crimping a split shot on the line above the hook that is common for over 100 years using live bait.

Split rig using #4 round split shot, 6 lb mono line and light wire size 4 to 1/0 worm hook. To prevent damage to the line when crimping the round lead shot the trick is after crimping slowly pull about 2’ of mono line through the shot to cut a groove.  Cut off any shiny or flatten line. Tie the hook using a Palomar knot, skin hook the worm. Skin hook is your standard weedless worm rigging except expose the hook point, then pull the point back about 1/8”, pinch the worm and slide the point forward 1/8” under the top skin of the plastic to cover the point. Slowly slide the split shot up away from the hook about 14”-24” and re crimp. 

The woth should be a finesse type preferred curl tails 4 1/2” to 6” Roboworms currently.

I prefer the Slip Shot** rig. In lieu of the round split shot use a 1/8 oz cylinder (Mojo) weight, 8mm glass faceted bead, #5133 size 1/0 Owner hook. You can peg the glass bead to hold it at what ever length above the hook to stop the weight.

A Carolina plastic keep is a option in lieu of pegging the bead.

Same line and worms as the Split Shot rig.

I use 5 kB Maxima Ultra Green line.

Tom

PS, details are important.

*Dick Trask rig.

** Don Iovino rig

*Another "Gold Nugget" exert from Tom - you are worth your weight in gold sir ! This is very valuable split shot rigging information ... Such a cool , simple rig that is still fun to fish - I am partial to Zoom Centipede (french fry) do noting baits which I rig sideways (with the centipede ribs horizontal). The #5133 Owner hooks are a key essential  ingredient as well  ... Lastly , you owe it to yourself to read past great Dick Trask and the still talented Don Iovino for their finesse / split shot rig knowledge . 

[Bazoo]

Lots of interesting information to be gleaned here, thanks all for sharing. Thanks Tom for sharing your knowledge.

 

I'm learning Carolina riggin', and as such, I came across the split shot rig as a finesse type of the Carolina rig. I think both will be great additions to my arsenal.

[ChrisD46]

I will still use a round (no ears !) split shot in sizes : 3/0 , #7 and #5 lightly crimped on the line . The more modern easy way is to use : small bobber stop , 1/16th oz. or 1/8th oz. tungsten bullet weight , followed by another bobber stop . This way you can easily move the weight up and down the line keeping the weight in place where you want it and never experience potential line damage . 

[Bluebasser86]

I split shot rig, or probably rather mojo rig fairly often. I peg either a 1/16 or 1/8oz bullet weight 12-24 inches above a straight shank hook (Owner Cover Shot usually). One of my most effective split shot baits is a Zman SMH worm in Mood Ring color, especially around smallmouth. 

[PaulVE64]

On 3/20/2021 at 8:12 PM, schplurg said:

I like using them for quickly adding weight to a rig. I use the removable kind. They have their pros and cons but I like them for that reason.

 

Bank fishing I carry two rods max and it's cool to be able to throw on a weight for a few minutes to see it it helps in certain situations. Maybe punching through a light mat or just to keep the bait below the surface in current. 

 

I also have tiny bullet weights.

Pow.

This is river fishing.

Edited June 28, 2024 by PaulVE64

[Glenn]

I've been fishing the splitshot/mojo rig since the 80's, and still do today. I always have a rod rigged up with it....always.

 

So....here's an information dump from my brain to yours....