I recently read a few articles that were on the topic of split shotting and it mentioned how it had become a forgotten technique. I was curious who is still using it and what's your favorite bait? I was thinking about giving it a shot again as the fish are heading to the flats on Lk St Clair.
I use it all the time! In fact, here's a few videos I did on the topic.
On 4/26/2017 at 8:42 PM, Glenn said:I use it all the time! In fact, here's a few videos I did on the topic.
Thanks Mr. Bassresource
1 or 2 splits about 8" away from a tex rigged lizard. Soak that for a bit, bass love it.
I do, is in my top 10 rigs, not fished nearly as much
as the others, but I like it.
For me, I tend to go with a smaller bait, such as a
Yamamoto Shad Shape worm. I tend to throw minnow
style baits. But so many plastics will work. I've fished
small lizards, ribbon tails, etc. They all catch fish.
I splitshot shallow sandy areas quite a bit!
Will never give that up. 4"& 5" finesse worms, 1/0 & 2/0 Gammy light wire worm hooks. Big part of my fishing.
On 4/26/2017 at 10:21 PM, Spankey said:Will never give that up. 4"& 5" finesse worms, 1/0 & 2/0 Gammy light wire worm hooks. Big part of my fishing.
What's your favorite worm for that?
I used to split-shot (or mojo) a pearl blue salt & pepper 4" grub all the time. It worked particularly well on smallmouth waters. I've found that using straight tail worms (like Roboworm 6" fat) works a bit better on my regular largemouth water.
It's not a magic technique but when the bite is tough there aren't many other things I'd rather fall back on than the split shot / mojo rig.
Yupp! Smallies love brush hogs on a split shot!
On 4/26/2017 at 10:28 PM, Fishin' Fool said:
What's your favorite worm for that?
RoboWorm straight tail worms. Been fishing them for quite some time. Got hooked on them in California when I was out there in early 2000's. We're no Roboworms out east were I am. A guy out there sent me a pot full of them and I was hooked since.
Curly tail my favorite is the 4" Power Worm. They use to have a straight tail finesse. No idea what happened to them.
I'd like to have 10 cents for every Smallie I've caught on the old Mr. Twister SilkWorm 4.5, Manns 4" Dragon Worm and the old Razor Worm. These are long gone I guess. I stopped looking years ago. The Mr. Twister Exude straight tail was great also. Don't see them anymore also. I'd like 10 cents for everyone I caught on a chartreuse pumpkin version of that.
I just picked up some egg-shaped split shot for this technique. Haven't used them yet but they should work better in the gravel/rock bottoms I fish. At least that's my excuse to try something new.
I've never abandoned the split-shot rig, but gave it a major facelift.
The split-shot is replaced by a 1/16 oz bullet sinker which doesn't crimp your line.
A tiny Spro #10 Power Swivel serves as a sinker-stop.
I tie on a 15-inch leader of P-Line 10-lb CXX copolymer (excellent abrasion-resistance).
You can use a 12" leader for quicker response, or an 18-inch leader for a more finesse delivery.
Any bait can be used, whatever floats your boat:
> Zoom 4.0" Junior Fluke
> Roboworm 4.0" Alive Shad
> Reins 4.0" Bubbling Shaker
> Zoom 3.0" Baby Brush Hog
Roger
Not to twist the thread because this is a great topic but on my drop shot rigs I just use split shot for my weights. If I get hung up I'm just sacrificing a split shot. My rig pull away fairly easy and I'm not disrupting the area. And I don't loose my worm or hook. I guess ds weight have a purpose or superior in some way but I don't know.
On 4/27/2017 at 12:50 AM, RoLo said:
I've never abandoned the split-shot rig, but gave it a major facelift.
The split-shot is replaced by a 1/16 oz bullet sinker which doesn't crimp your line.
A tiny Spro #10 Power Swivel serves as a sinker-stop.
I tie on a 15-inch leader of P-Line 10-lb CXX copolymer (excellent abrasion-resistance).
You can use a 12" leader for quicker response, or an 18-inch leader for a more finesse delivery.
Any bait can be used, whatever floats your boat:
> Zoom 4.0" Junior Fluke
> Roboworm 4.0" Alive Shad
> Reins 4.0" Bubbling Shaker
> Zoom 3.0" Baby Brush Hog
Roger
I agree about the split shot crimping line which I why I do the same as you but I always thought I was just using a finesse Carolina rig
On 4/27/2017 at 1:29 AM, riverbasser said:I agree about the split shot crimping line which I why I do the same as you but I always thought I was just using a finesse Carolina rig
Very true, which can also be said when using split-shot.
Happily though, without the bola effect of a C-rig and 3/4 oz egg sinker
Roger
The split shot/mojo rig has always sounded like a mini or finesse Carolina rig to me. I've never tried it because I was always afraid of damaging the line when crimping on the split shot.
Seeing Rolo's comments got me thinking tho. You could prob also use a Carolina keeper with a small bullet weight. Swivel would work better for reducing line twist tho, but I'm lazy. Lol. I'm thinking of using it more on my finesse spinning set up that's got 10 lb braid. Hmmmm.
On 4/27/2017 at 1:38 AM, wdp said:The split shot/mojo rig has always sounded like a mini or finesse Carolina rig to me. I've never tried it because I was always afraid of damaging the line when crimping on the split shot.
Seeing Rolo's comments got me thinking tho. You could prob also use a Carolina keeper with a small bullet weight. Swivel would work better for reducing line twist tho, but I'm lazy. Lol. I'm thinking of using it more on my finesse spinning set up that's got 10 lb braid. Hmmmm.
Or Bobber stops to peg a bullet weight too.
I don't have the patience to let the bait fall on a splitshot but one guy I fish with around here uses it as his go-to finesse technique and he crushes fish when nobody else is getting bit. Very underutilized technique that can get you bit in high pressure areas.
Texas rig is 1A, Split-shot rig is 1B in my book. Both the best lures for bass fishing where I fish. If I'm serious about catching bass, I'm using one of those. If I'm board with them and want to try other things, I'm using other things. But in my book, you have the Texas rig and split-shot, and everything comes a far second.
Picked up the mojo rig last year and it's a staple now. You can use about any soft plastic on there, baby brush hogs and robo worms have been good for me. My favorite so far has been the grande bass baby rattlesnake.
Splitshot is actually one of my go to techniques. I use a zoom finesse worm or a havoc 4" bottom hopper.
So would this technique excel in high pressure, blue bird skies, calm winds to light winds, and pressured fish?
Forgotten ? I remember it quite well.
On 4/27/2017 at 9:19 AM, Fishin' Fool said:So would this technique excel in high pressure, blue bird skies, calm winds to light winds, and pressured fish?
Yes, that is true 'on average'.
However, I've encountered more than one instance when finesse fishing was NOT a cure for lockjaw.
We should've taken up golf
Roger
This is definitely one of my favorite rigs. I thought I "invented" it before my days on BR. Was fishing carolina rigs and after a few times of re-rigging it after breakoffs I decided to just texas rig a soft bait and use a splitshot to hold the bullet weight up about 18"
Over time I lost the bullet weight and just use a split shot or two. My favorite baits on a baby brush hog or zoom finesse worm. Caught a crap-ton of fish the past couple of years.
On 4/27/2017 at 8:49 PM, Hawghead said:This is definitely one of my favorite rigs. I thought I "invented" it before my days on BR. Was fishing carolina rigs and after a few times of re-rigging it after breakoffs I decided to just texas rig a soft bait and use a splitshot to hold the bullet weight up about 18"
Over time I lost the bullet weight and just use a split shot or two. My favorite baits on a baby brush hog or zoom finesse worm. Caught a crap-ton of fish the past couple of years.
Like you maybe I didn't invent it but I've been fishing a split shot, mojo, drop shot since late 70's or early 80's.
I had no idea how to fish larger baits and fish heavier. Anything I learned different was from watching Jerry Mc Guinness. I met him years ago fishing on the Delaware River. Cool dude.
I know I'm anal. Wife feel that's why people don't want to fish with me. My grandsons will, my two daughters seem to be ok with it.
But anyway I will not fish with split shot with the removable ears to remove it easier. I'm screwed if they ever stop making pure round type. I believe those ears will hang you up easier and effect presentation. I admit I am as anal as all get out.
I love split shotting, do it with everything from Senkos to Flukes to lizards/ brush hawgs, and more. Very versatile, can use it like an undersized carolina rig and just drag it, or fish it with a raise and let fall retrieve like you would a weightless worm, if you want to get your bait deeper. With senkos, it creates a nice little spiraling fall, in addition to the shimmying effect of the bait. Also great during the spawn when you're trying to keep your bait on the bottom.
I fish it almost daily. If it's under 10' deep and the bottom isn't too weedy I prefer it over a drop shot. If it's over 10' I will drop shot or go up to a 1/2oz or more conventional C-rig.
I really prefer the Trick Work to a Robo on a split shot and the opposite on a drop shot. During the pre-spawn I will use very small craw baits. Dynamite rig.
On 4/27/2017 at 1:50 AM, Fishin' Fool said:
Or Bobber stops to peg a bullet weight too.
Prob even better. Use a bobber stopper & 1/16 oz bullet weight and you're good to go. Plus, you have an easy way to adjust the leader length at the snap of your fingers. Why even bother with the split shot?
On 4/28/2017 at 1:45 AM, wdp said:Why even bother with the split shot?
Watch the videos I posted. I answer this very question, and show a system better than a bobber stopper and bullet weight.
Slip shot rig. Carolina Keepers used for a weight stopper,8 mm faceted glass bead is optional but recommended for sound attractor, Brass (paint black) Pro-Jo cyclinder weight, lead mojo weight optional, 1/16 to 3/8 oz, Owner 5133 hook or your favorite optional. Mono line lets the soft plastic float easier, FC optional.
Been using the slip shot rig since the early 80's and one of the top post spawn and summer presentations.
Tom
PS, Glenn, if you haven't tried this rig, try it!
On 4/27/2017 at 12:16 AM, Ladybass said:Yupp! Smallies love brush hogs on a split shot!
Nice! I thought I was the only one left doing this.
Try a Hula Stix with a 1/0 gammy egw offset hook on a split shot or mojo rig. You will be glad you did. I use the cylindrical mojo weights while fishing this rig.
I use split shotting a lot still. Generally I'm using four to six inch plastic worms, lizards, or french fry/centipede type baits. You can drag them like a finesse carolina rig or hop and fall them. A great thing to try in clearer, pressured water, especially when they aren't hitting bigger, more aggressive baits on casting gear and heavier weights.
On 4/28/2017 at 1:45 AM, wdp said:Prob even better. Use a bobber stopper & 1/16 oz bullet weight and you're good to go. Plus, you have an easy way to adjust the leader length at the snap of your fingers. Why even bother with the split shot?
I have trouble with the bobber stoppers slipping down the line even though I tighten them as much as I can.
On 4/28/2017 at 10:27 PM, Tucson said:
I have trouble with the bobber stoppers slipping down the line even though I tighten them as much as I can.
Carolina Keepers, plastic weight stopper designed for this presentation will hold weights to 1/2 oz easily, use 2 keepers for heavier weights 3/4 to 1 oz. You can also rubber peg the glass bead.
Tom
On 4/28/2017 at 10:32 PM, WRB said:Carolina Keepers, plastic weight stopper designed for this presentation will hold weights to 1/2 oz easily, use 2 keepers for heavier weights 3/4 to 1 oz. You can also rubber peg the glass bead.
Tom
I tied on a Carolina Keeper last night for the 1st time after reading your recommendation from a different post and they are very user-friendly! I won't go back to any other alternative. Like you've said.........one knot.
Carolina Keepers! Forgot all about them, thanks. Got some in my tackle box already.