How do YOU fish the split shot rig?

[OmegaDPW]

Let me preface that I've fished the split shot rig for about 40 years. It's what I learned with and is still my go-to rig. I dabble with Texas Rigs, wacky rigs and free rigs- and have fished weightless stuff quite a bit over the last couple of years- but for confidence, I go back to a weedless rigged bait with a small (or two) split shot about 2 feet up the line. Most of my baits are 3 or 4 inch straight tail worms as I'm basically a finesse guy and just want to catch fish.

 

I have always just tried to keep contact with the bottom on the retrieve. The other day I started watching some videos on-line about split shotting and numerous ones show the guy fishing (Bill Dance being one) popping the retrieve back to the boat. The underwater footage shows the bait looking more like a Ned Rig than what I normally do. So, I'm curious how others fish the split shot. Thanks in advance! 

[PaulVE64]

Most effective for me has been a short erratic pop but I also employ a sweeping drag and everything in between.

[Bird]

Very similar technique, the mojo rig.

I use a floating worm and 1/8 tungsten weight and mainly drag the bait.

 

[frenchy]

Funny how we get away from some of the old tried and true tactics we used to use with the advent of all the new baits and techniques around. I used to fish that technique all the time years back and my rod was a 6' Fenwick Mach III 2 piece combo and just dragged it around and slight popping action when needed, and that would usually entice a strike, caught a lot of fish using that. I still have that setup in the rod rack, I should pull it out and put it back in use.  

[RRocket]

It depends on the bait being used how I fish it.

 

If it's a sinking bait, yes..I'll drag it around the bottom. But now and again I pop it off the bottom then let it sink. Fish often hit on the way down. Wait till back on bottom and repeat the process.

 

If I'm using a floating bait (Z-man), the bait naturally wants to float up the column. So dragging it pulls it back down to the bottom. No need for a pop here...just stop moving and let the bait float back up for a few seconds. Wait, and repeat. You can also do some wiggles while the bait is floating to give it some extra life.

[garroyo130]

Zoom Trick worm, 1 - 3/0 split shot (7" from the hook), 3/0 offset round bend hook

 

Cast, let it sink to bottom, fish with short sweeps of the rod

[rgasr63]

17 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

Zoom Trick worm, 1 - 3/0 split shot (7" from the hook), 3/0 offset round bend hook

 

Cast, let it sink to bottom, fish with short sweeps of the rod

This  

[Mbirdsley]

i use the mojo rig ( basically split shot rig ) 1/0 or 2/0 hook, 4 inch yum dinger and usually a 1/8 mojo sinker.  i either drag it very slowly or give little pops like i would on a t-rig 

[Shadow1]

One thing I do is peg a bullet sinker instead of crimping a split shot. Learned this 7-8 years ago when a friend had his line break at the split shot, and he lost what was for sure a 5lb bass. As for how I use it, if the fish are aggressive I'll pop it then drag it. They are off or pressured, I'll slow sweep it. I use it all the time. My lure of choice is a 3.5" or 5" black hellgrammite.  It's an "old school" technique. My uncle taught it to me 30 years ago.

[WRB]

Slip Shot rig. Cylinder weight-glass bead (optional) Carolina stopper and hook. Adjust the stopper for leader length.

Finesse I use 5# Maxima UG copoly line, 8mm faceted glass bead and Owner 5133 hook size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on soft plastic.

Worms; Roboworm 4” Sculpin, 4 1/2 curl tail, 5 and 6” straight tails.

US Co. 3 1/2” Reapers and 4” Screamer ribbon tails.

If you use a #4 round split shot make sure you crimp the shot onto your line then pull about 2’ of line through the shot to cut a groove into the lead, cut of the damaged line, tie on your hook and lightly re crimp the shot about 18”-24” above the hook.

Mono or copoly line stays off the bottom FC sinks and drags on the bottom. Hand pour worms float, injection molded worms sink.

I prefer keeping my soft plastic off the bottom if possible.

This is a slow drag presentation with weight bumping the bottom in-parting action to the worm. The bite maybe a tick but with a crimped split shot the bite is a rubber band slow pull. Slip Shot eliminates the weight so you feel strike easier.

Tom

[GRiver]

I don’t know what it called but I like to lift the rod up two times, then watch it sink while reeling up the slack. Speed varies, depends on the season. For me this is a major line watching method, sometimes  you’ll see the line moving to the side, way before you feel the tug. 
 

[papajoe222]

For me, a split-shot rig is a downsized version of a C-Rig and I fish it almost the same way.  The difference in my presentation is shorter sweeps of the rod, only moving the sinker a foot or so, and longer pauses.  My biggest concern when using it is keeping it on the bottom using the lightest weight to do so. Thus the short movements.

[ChrisD46]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Slip Shot rig. Cylinder weight-glass bead (optional) Carolina stopper and hook. Adjust the stopper for leader length.

Finesse I use 5# Maxima UG copoly line, 8mm faceted glass bead and Owner 5133 hook size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on soft plastic.

Worms; Roboworm 4” Sculpin, 4 1/2 curl tail, 5 and 6” straight tails.

US Co. 3 1/2” Reapers and 4” Screamer ribbon tails.

If you use a #4 round split shot make sure you crimp the shot onto your line then pull about 2’ of line through the shot to cut a groove into the lead, cut of the damaged line, tie on your hook and lightly re crimp the shot about 18”-24” above the hook.

Mono or copoly line stays off the bottom FC sinks and drags on the bottom. Hand pour worms float, injection molded worms sink.

I prefer keeping my soft plastic off the bottom if possible.

This is a slow drag presentation with weight bumping the bottom in-parting action to the worm. The bite maybe a tick but with a crimped split shot the bite is a rubber band slow pull. Slip Shot eliminates the weight so you feel strike easier.

Tom

Good to see Tom weight in on this topic - an old school,  yet deadly technique (split shot rig) out west. I will add that in the 1/0 or 2/0 size , the Owner 5133 makes for a great light wire split shot rig. Also , the split shot weight suggestion (cutting a line groove) will help protect your line .

[rangerjockey]

1/4 oz shot 12-18 inches above a 1/0 hook and a Zoom fish Doctor.

[ChrisD46]

*You may find this below split shot weight list useful for deciding split shot rig weights (from heaviest to lightest) :

 

#2 Size : 1/4th oz.

#4 Size : 1/8th oz. 
#5 Size : 1/10th oz. 
#7 Size : 1/17th oz. 

3/0 Size : 1/25th oz. 
BB Size : 1/50th oz. 

[OmegaDPW]

@ChrisD46 Thanks so much for this. I never really knew what each shot weighed. I normally just keep the 4, 5 and 7 in the tacklebag. 

 

 Thank you all for the replies! Really interesting reading for me. I may throw a few pops in the slow retrieve from now on and see what happens. 

[Bankbeater]

If the bottom is fairly clear I will drag the bait, but if there are snags on the bottom I will hop it back slowly.  I also like to hop it back through the coontail, if I can get away with using a small enough weight.

[RipzLipz]

Used to drag t-rigged nightcrawlers around on 4lb test mono with BB split shot for smallmouth & walleye on ultralight rods. #4 Eagle Claw gold Aberdeen hook eventually gave way to a #1 or #2 Owner 5101 light wire offset hook. Don’t recall exactly which hook model, was 35+ years ago before buying things online was even a thought. Was deadly for spawning fish, but tend to have gotten away from that sort of fishing. Can catch monster bluegill & redear (shellcrackers) with that technique as well.

[OmegaDPW]

27 minutes ago, RipzLipz said:

 Can catch monster bluegill & redear (shellcrackers) with that technique as well.

 

 Yep, while I love to catch bass, bluegill and crappie are still my passion. I'm fishing these finesse worms with 6lb line and a ML rod if not lighter. I just got in some #4 and #6 EWG hooks just for the gills. Had some #4 RB hooks but it didn't look like there would be enough gap between the worm and hook for the majority of my baits. Can't wait to give these a shot!

[RRocket]

36 minutes ago, OmegaDPW said:

 

 Yep, while I love to catch bass, bluegill and crappie are still my passion. I'm fishing these finesse worms with 6lb line and a ML rod if not lighter. I just got in some #4 and #6 EWG hooks just for the gills. Had some #4 RB hooks but it didn't look like there would be enough gap between the worm and hook for the majority of my baits. Can't wait to give these a shot!

You'll also have some #8 EWG shortly!!

 

I'd also size down on your line to 2-4lb for panfish. Preferably with L or UL rod.

[OmegaDPW]

14 hours ago, RRocket said:

You'll also have some #8 EWG shortly!!

 

I'd also size down on your line to 2-4lb for panfish. Preferably with L or UL rod.

 

 I can't wait. You telling me about them led me to start looking at my usual haunts and how I found these #4 and #6. #6 was as small as I could find. 

 

 I've got some 4lb test but usually only use it in clear water a couple times a year. My local spots are chocolate milk right now and I fish everything from Senko style baits on a 3/0 hook to these little things with the same rod most of the time. Just keeps it easier. I'm all about simplicity- and to some degree minimalism but that goes out the window when I see new worms to try out. 

[GoneFishingLTN]

On 1/28/2024 at 7:24 PM, WRB said:

Slip Shot rig. Cylinder weight-glass bead (optional) Carolina stopper and hook. Adjust the stopper for leader length.

Finesse I use 5# Maxima UG copoly line, 8mm faceted glass bead and Owner 5133 hook size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on soft plastic.

Worms; Roboworm 4” Sculpin, 4 1/2 curl tail, 5 and 6” straight tails.

US Co. 3 1/2” Reapers and 4” Screamer ribbon tails.

If you use a #4 round split shot make sure you crimp the shot onto your line then pull about 2’ of line through the shot to cut a groove into the lead, cut of the damaged line, tie on your hook and lightly re crimp the shot about 18”-24” above the hook.

Mono or copoly line stays off the bottom FC sinks and drags on the bottom. Hand pour worms float, injection molded worms sink.

I prefer keeping my soft plastic off the bottom if possible.

This is a slow drag presentation with weight bumping the bottom in-parting action to the worm. The bite maybe a tick but with a crimped split shot the bite is a rubber band slow pull. Slip Shot eliminates the weight so you feel strike easier.

Tom

Gold right here, what power rod do you use and what are your common weights?

[WRB]

My late son used a signature Iovino  Phenix Split Shot rod in today’s terms 6’10” MLF rod w/Stradic 1000 reel.Today I am using St Croix Victory 7’1” MF spinning rod w/ Vanford 2500 reel that is more a utility combo. 
Tom

[Glenn]

Hard to believe it's been 9 years since I made these:

 

 

 

[primetime]

I haven't been on here in a few minutes, kind of took a break from bass fishing after 2020 for various reasons, but have started to get back on the water again in the last few months and glad to have caught the bass fishing bug again. (It blows my mind how much different bass fishing tackle has changed and also hasn't at the same time if that makes sense). 

 

I had to comment on this question because I love the split shot rig and have always favored it since a little kid due to the simplicity of rigging it and also because I mainly fish shallow water and throw a ton of weightless plastics(Less than 10') usually less. If I need to get them down a bit deeper, or faster fall rate, it is just easy to add a split shot. 

 

 

I get most strikes on a senko or worm on the fall, so I try to get the bait to fall as often as possible and a split shot will allow you to cover more water imo. If possible, a slip shot rig is better as Tom Mentioned, can't damage line, but you really can't fish a split shot rig wrong. If you find the right spacing and weight, then I would stop and re-tie with swivel and leader etc. if it makes sense.

 

I split shot rig 12" worms and swimbaits, creature baits etc.....I also love a small floating bait behind a split shot. Then I just cast and cover water until I figure out how they want it. Often times dead sticking works and I figure that out accidently as I tend to fish to fast most of the time.