Split Shot - What Bait Do Y'all Use? 2025
martintheduck reply :
Been pulling this one out of my bag of tricks to nab some fish in heavily pressured water. I usually rig it with a #4 or #5 shot 12-18inches up and a 1/0 offset worm. Run 8lb test on a Med. spinning rod.
For bait I've been using a 4inch zoom grub or a 6inch curly tail worm.
What bait's do y'all rig up when fishing a split shot? Heck, do you guys even fish a split shot? I haven't seen many people bust this rig out.
Pepul reply :
Zoom 4" dead ringer worm
Caylub reply :
What is a split shot?
Kevin22 reply :
If I am using a split shot rig it is to fish very finicky fish. I use a #3/0 or #7 which is 1/32oz and 1/16oz. A #5 is 1/8oz and if you are going that high you pretty much are carolina rigging, might as well rig up with a true c-rig.
For baits, its usually just a basic 7" c-tail or ribbon tail.
Catt reply :
Roboworm 
Cgrinder reply :
Trick worms usually.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
bb sinker, #4 hook, nightcrawler, on 8' ml mod Avid, 6# nanofil.
martintheduck reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 11:25 AM, Caylub said:What is a split shot?
Basically it's a finesse c-rig. Take a c-rig, get rid of the swivel, swap beads and bullet weights for small BB-style-crimp-on weights.
martintheduck reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 11:34 AM, Catt said:Roboworm
Straight tails of curly tails? Been wanting to try to curly tails since I've become a HUGE fan of robo straights.
Bankbeater reply :
Usually a Zoom finesse worm.
Catt reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 1:22 PM, martintheduck said:Straight tails of curly tails? Been wanting to try to curly tails since I've become a HUGE fan of robo straights.
Catt reply :
Sorry 6" Zipper Shaker
Felix77 reply :
Finesse worm or trick worm. Try it with a floating worm and you will have something interesting on your hands which catches fish. 
quanjig reply :
I've been using the KVD fat finess worm!
deaknh03 reply :
zoom lizard
bigbill reply :
Your talking about the first rig I was taught how to use back in the early '70's.
We used the longest sewing needle to thread a #2 or #4 snelled hook into a 6" black creme worm. We doubled over the snelled hook and pulled it thru the worm Where the hump is. The hook is in the middle of the hump just enough to work. You put the smelled hook at the loop in the needle and pull the hook in first then the rest of the smelled hook will follow as you pull the needle thru it. It's easy to do.
This split shot rig was in field n stream / outdoor life back in the early 70's. It just gets reinvented.
I still have the needle today. We still do this today.
You ask why does the split shot rig with the black creme worm work so good for over 40+ years?
While night fishing while using a flash lite I noticed the freshwater eels at night are within inches of the shoreline. I think the bass think our black plastic worms are eels.
Darren. reply :
You can use almost any smaller soft plastic for split shotting. Or if you're going with heavier weights, bigger hooks, any size you want to fish.
For weights, I usually use a #5.
For bait, I like GYCB Yamaminnows, Zoom Tiny Flukes, Flukes, Finesse worms, lizards, live nightcrawlers, etc.
Sometimes I'll nose rig, sometimes I'll wacky rig it if the bottom isn't too cluttered (or use a weedless hook).
roadwarrior reply :
Rage Tail 7" Thumper
MCS reply :
zoom centipede
SirSnookalot reply :
I only do it once in awhile but I see it done nearly every day, a crappie jig, but not for crappies. As I mentioned in one of the Florida threads, crappie jigs catch peacocks bass, bluegill, bass, mayans and in salt water it is one of the most used baits for spanish mackerel, moonfish, blue runners, and others.
J Francho reply :
The last time I used a split shot rig, I was using live crawfish, sometime in the early 90s. The closest thing I've used recently is a mojo rig. Any straight tail worm or fluke style bait will work with this.
martintheduck reply :
On 8/23/2013 at 12:10 AM, J Francho said:The last time I used a split shot rig, I was using live crawfish, sometime in the early 90s. The closest thing I've used recently is a mojo rig. Any straight tail worm or fluke style bait will work with this.
A live crawfish!? That's rowdy man
J Francho reply :
Specifically, recently molted or "softshell crabs" as they are called up here. Used to be the premier smallie bait up here. Not unusual for two or three guys to go through a gross of craws in a day. Now, not so much.
keith71 reply :
Try a 5" Kahlins blue pearl about 18" above the split shot on a 2/0 light wire offset Gammie.I have caught bass on a steady slow retrieve but have had great success drifting this rig on windy days across humps and points.
.ghoti. reply :
My last ditch rig. I toss a split-shot rig when nothing else is working, and I know the fish are shallow. Water Gremlin makes split shot that look like mini bullet weights. These are a lot better than round shot, most of the time.
I'l try a small sttraight worm first, then a tube, then a fluke, then give up, and try some other rig. I seem to always use the smaller plastics with split shot, but there's no reason you couldn't try some larger offerings.
The Young Gun reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 1:00 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:bb sinker, #4 hook, nightcrawler, on 8' ml mod Avid, 6# nanofil.
I want a 8' avid!!! I'm jealous
HookSetDon reply :
Keitech swing impact, zoom black trick worm
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 8/23/2013 at 2:33 AM, The Young Gun said:I want a 8' avid!!! I'm jealous
Its an AWESOME AWESOME FUN FUN rod to fish with. Wife got me it for our 10 year anniversary.
Ill at times rig a split & SK 3X super floating 7" finesse worm.
craww reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 1:00 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:bb sinker, #4 hook, nightcrawler, on 8' ml mod Avid, 6# nanofil.[/quote
That setup sounds like a blast! I've pitched whole crawlers into cover before with great results, never tried dragging one. Do the panfish get worrysome? I might let my 7yr old try that.
Glenn reply :
I always have a rod rigged up with a split-shot setup in my boat. Time of year, water clarity, depth, and fish activity determine what bait I'll use, but standards are 3" grubs and tubes, 4" curly- and straight-tail worms, 3" Senkos, and 3- 4" reapers. Sometimes I'll use a #10 corky inside the tubes to get them to float off the bottom.
martintheduck reply :
^ That's one of those ideas that is so simple, I never could have thought of it!
SirSnookalot reply :
On 8/23/2013 at 1:38 AM, .ghoti. said:I seem to always use the smaller plastics with split shot, but there's no reason you couldn't try some larger offerings.
As far as I'm concerned a split shot is just a weight, other alternatives are bullet weight weight pegged or not and a light egg sinker above a swivel which is a standard set up here.
Sam reply :
On 8/22/2013 at 11:08 AM, Pepul said:Zoom 4" dead ringer worm
Yep. In Moccasin Blue.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 8/23/2013 at 11:27 AM, craww said:On 8/22/2013 at 1:00 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:bb sinker, #4 hook, nightcrawler, on 8' ml mod Avid, 6# nanofil.[/quote
That setup sounds like a blast! I've pitched whole crawlers into cover before with great results, never tried dragging one. Do the panfish get worrysome? I might let my 7yr old try that.
At times yes but the sinker gets worm on bottom quicker and out a bit farther so it helps. Now take weight off just crawler and gills get more involved. Water I fish is rather clear so can manuver away from gills or sight target cruising bass while walking around lake. Seems like with splitshot on and in weeds the gills dont bother but bass still hit.
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