Split Shot Worm Rig

[RenzokukenFisher]

Hopefully this is the right forum for this but wow I've just started using the split shot rig and I can't believe I neglected it for so long. It seems like it falls to the wayside with chatterbaits, frogs, jigs and many other lures taking the spotlight, but so far this rig has been dynamite for me. I'd love any tips and pointers on how to best fish it and if its viable for bigger bites (I have a feeling it is). So far I've only been using it with my ultralight with 6lb test and 4 1/2 inch roboworms. Caught me a 3lbr the other day and I can only imagine its potential with different modifications. What are your thoughts on this old school rig?

[islandbass]

I’ve been meaning to try it for the longest time but haven’t just gotten around to it. I think one of the things being a shore angler, it’s light weight can pose an issue into needing to be able to cast farther. This could all be in my head however. 
 

My 7’ Okuma UL celilo is would be the perfect rod for this job. 
 

May I ask how far up are you attaching the split shot from the hook and how many split are you using?

[scaleface]

I have never used a split shot for bass fishing out of fear of damaging the line. I'm thinking of trying it with a small weight and bobber stop or two.

[Spankey]

For river smallmouth split shot is my most common worm rig. A curly tail and straight tail RoboWorm and many others in that finesse size have always been productive. I prefer a straight shank light wire worm hook. 
I’ve been on a FlatWorm kick the last couple of seasons. Don’t fish it exclusively but I rig many ways, jig head to nose hooking with a mosquito hooks. Good Fishing. 

[Glenn]

I use it all the time.  I started using it in the mid-80's and haven't put it down yet! Here's a few videos to get you started:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

For Roboworms or finesse worms I use Owner # 5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 down shot hook, light and very strong when weedless hooking drop shot and slip shot rigs. 
Tom

[casts_by_fly]

I grew up using it.  My dad was a nightcrawler fisherman for a long time.  Same rig- 1-4 BB split shot about a foot up from the hook and a big old nightcrawler.  Fish it along laydowns and rock ledges for walleye and bass.  Sometime in the 80's he started fishing artificials primarily but the same rig with a 4" zoom centipede or a ring worm is deadly.  Insead of a #6 fine wire with the nightcrawler we would use a 1/0 light wire gamakatsu EWG with the plastics.

 

My dad still fishes a worm that way.  When the bite gets tough for him its a magnum swamp crawler on a 4/0 with one or two BBs.  He catches a LOT of bass that way.

[OmegaDPW]

It's what I grew up with and still use if I'm not fishing weightless. A large curly tail lizard is one of my favorite baits to throw on it. I don't fool with weights on stickbaits too much, and that's about the only two bass baits that I throw often. 😉

[Skunkmaster-k]

I normally use a light wire 1/0 offset worm hook and a purple Zoom finesse worm. This technique catches a lot of fish. 

[ChrisD46]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

For Roboworms or finesse worms I use Owner # 5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 down shot hook, light and very strong when weedless hooking drop shot and slip shot rigs. 
Tom

Great tip from Tom !! This  hook is an awesome split shot rig hook … The modern version I use is no split shot - but instead a 1/16th oz. tungsten bullet weight separated by a rubber bobber stop in front of the bullet weight and  one behind the bullet weight snugged up tight . As required you can slide the bullet weight up or down the line but usually 18” to 24” from the soft plastic is a hood starting point . 

[RenzokukenFisher]

10 hours ago, islandbass said:

May I ask how far up are you attaching the split shot from the hook and how many split are you using?

Honestly I've been split shotting with a 1/16th oz, just one, splitshot up the line about a foot from the hook. You can also increase the length getting like 2ft up im sure no problem.

4 hours ago, Glenn said:

I use it all the time.  I started using it in the mid-80's and haven't put it down yet! Here's a few videos to get you started

 

Thanks Glenn gonna dive into these!!

 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

For Roboworms or finesse worms I use Owner # 5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 down shot hook, light and very strong when weedless hooking drop shot and slip shot rigs. 
Tom

 

I'll need to try that downshot hook Tom thank you!

[TLHSS]

Like in Glenn's video, if I'm not fishing a senko weightless, I'm using a split shot rig.  It's actually my #1 confidence bait technique.  It just catches fish (at least in my area).

[RenzokukenFisher]

2 hours ago, TLHSS said:

Like in Glenn's video, if I'm not fishing a senko weightless, I'm using a split shot rig.  It's actually my #1 confidence bait technique.  It just catches fish (at least in my area).

I hear ya! Its really growing on me. In my area people prefer to drop shot so I think this is just a little bit different presentation than they are used to. That split shot up the line gives the worm a cool action, almost like a fluke or something if fished fast.

[33oldtimer]

Had to do a quick split shot rig the other days as I underestimated the wind and a weightless stick bait wasn't cutting it. Caught a couple of fish after putting on a split shot weight about 8" up the line. I have a dedicated 'mini Carolina rig' with an 1/8 oz weight to drag around lizards and creature baits in the summer in a pond I fish that's about 8' deep. 

  Split Shot Rig is handy in certain situations. Better than a Texas Rig when you want to keep plastics off of the bottom.