By Gary Dobyns
GYCB National Pro Staff
January 19, 2012
What ever happened to split-shotting? It was the hottest fish-catching technique for years and now, no one does it? I was fishing the other day at Clear Lake in Northern California and caught an 11lb 3oz bass off a dock corner on a 4” split-shot worm. I was play fishing, not getting ready for a tournament, just out to catch a few.
I was trying out a new split shot rod I’d made and I knew it was going to be deadly. I rigged up a DX 792 SF Dobyns Extreme with a Robo Worm and got after it. I hadn’t thrown a split-shot rig in probably five or six years. It did not surprise me that my second cast caught a 4 pounder. I went on to have a great numbers day and caught a limit over the four pound mark, the best was a six-pounder. That day really got me thinking - the forgotten split-shot technique has accounted for hundreds of major wins in the West over the years, but I hadn’t heard anyone talking about “split-shotting” in years. How could this happen? The technique obviously still catches fish, I’d just smoked them on it.
Dropshot fishing hit the scene fast and furious about 10 years ago and is the most popular finesse technique going today. Everyone uses a dropshot at some time. It’s a deadly technique and it’s here to stay, but is it always the best? In some situations, a split-shot rig will smoke the dropshot. Just think about what a split-shot rig really is. It’s a finesse Carolina Rig. We all know the C-Rig has been a proven method to catching bass for decades. The split-shot rig just takes it up a notch to a finesse version which is very effective on highly pressured fish, cold front conditions or just a plain tough bite.
The split-shot rig works well in clear water but also its rigged weed less so it can be tossed around wood and weeds. You can fish this rig anywhere, even with light line. You must get bit to catch them. I’ve busted off some good ones on light line but I’ve caught most of them. You catch none if you they won’t bite.
What equipment is most useful for split-shot fishing? I’ve found a longer rod is better. I use at least a 7’ spinning rod. My favorite is a DX 792 SF Dobyns Extreme. Oftentimes I like long leaders and this rod being 7’9” really helps with casting. As for the leader length, just think about the bait coming off a ledge or off a tree limb - the weight and bait sinks fast. The weight hits the bottom and the bait stops, then slowly flutters to the bottom. Mr. Bass just can’t stand this. Also, with split-shot rigs we sweep or drag them on the bottom. You can fish a split-shot rig fast in shallow water, so don’t think of it as always for tough conditions only. A long rod helps a lot when fishing fast.
I always like a 2500 size reel with this setup. The larger spool just handles the line better. My favorite is a Daiwa Excellor in the 2500. Line is always a big topic. I like to use P-Line Floroclear in 8lb test. I use their soft fluorocarbon a lot, too. The hook for this setup is a big deal in my book, and the best I’ve found is the Robo Re-Barb. It’s a Gamakatsu sproat style hook with a barb on it. Rig it weedless and your bait will never slip down. With a quality hook, you hardly ever lose a fish on a split-shot rig. There is no weight at the hook to shake a bait loose. As far as weights go, a #4 split-shot is hard to beat. Some guys use a Peg-It and a worm weight. One of my favorite ways to rig is by using a bobber stopper, sometimes two of them if my weight wants to slide down towards the hook. I have also started using a tungsten worm weight at times. This weight is smaller and harder, so it doesn’t get nearly as many hook ups in the rocks.
The bait is always the “deal-maker”. This part is tougher, as most guys use a 4” or 6” Robo Worm. There are lots of smaller creature baits that work well, too. Yamamoto makes a couple of killer split-shot baits, and my first pick is a Kut-Tail Worm. As the weight catches and pops free, or hits anything, the bait shoots forward in the water. The Kut Tail provides great action with the swimming little tail. It takes almost no bait movement to get that tail swimming. This bait is over looked by many anglers.
My other Yamamoto bait choice for a split-shot rig? The one no one has heard of, of course - a SENKO! This is a great way to fish a Senko, and again, many guys overlook it. They Carolina Rig a Senko or even Texas Rig it with a bullet weight, but not many think of it as a split-shot bait. I’ll just say this - TRY IT!
Flippin’, Rippin’, Dropshotting, Swimbait fishing, Carolina Riggin’, Texas Riggin’, and now we’ve got the Alabama rig. All great techniques – just don’t forget about the little proven one, the split-shot rig.
