Use a Split-Shot to Quickly Adjust Depth of Fishing Lures

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The first time I used a split-shot fishing sinker, my Dad put a couple on my line, just above a juicy gob of red worms at our Miami neighborhood canal to make the bait hang straight down below my red-and-white bobber. Bream were the target, and an occasional small bass would nearly take the rod away from me!

In time, I depended on split-shots to sink my trusty Mann’s Jelly worm for Everglades bass, and in saltwater, those little sinkers allowed me to get my lively shrimp down close to grassy bottom under a popping cork for seatrout. And they are a big help when casting a lightweight, fresh whole shrimp to bonefish, a small soft-plastic jerkbait to tailing reds, live crabs to permit and so much more.

Sizes and Applications

Split-shot comes in sizes ranging from B (1/96th-ounce) to No.0 (¼-ounce). No. 7 (1/24th ounce), No. 5 (1/13th-ounce) and No. 3 (1/10th-ounce) are most commonly used.

Once an angler is scoring on a particular lure (whether a crankbait, soft-plastic jerkbait or a jig, but wants to get it deeper in the water column, adding weight to the line can be a better option rather than switching to a heavier lure or natural bait. Split-shots pinched onto the line immediately flush against the eye of the lure, or a few inches above the are a great option, in whatever size that is appropriate.

I’ve done this many times in the past, mainly with lipped subsurface plugs, with only slight effect on the lure’s built-in action. I recall trolling Everglades canals to locate schooling bass with the venerable balsa wood Rapala Minnow. The smallish lip did not make the lure dig much deeper than a foot at typical trolling speed. We used to add as much as three shots to the line, and sometimes 6 to 8 inches in front of the lure. That way, the lure wobbled freely, yet ended up 2 to 3 feet under the surface. And the bites increased, especially on cold winter days when the topwater bite was dead.

And the same type of shot positioning—forward of the lure—is the way to go when you want your lure, such as a plastic worm or fluke, to stay above the bottom, particularly where there is heavy grass cover. This works as well with floating plugs. As you retrieve, the shot may also produce a bit of sound which serves to draw attention to your lure.

Shot Materials

Split-shots were originally made of lead, and are still on the market, though they are eventually being replaced among anglers concerned about the toxicity lead to birds and fish.

The Bullet Weights company is among manufacturers that produce a removable tin split-shot, which is softer than other non-lead metals, making it an environmentally friendly option. There are also dozens of manufacturers of tungsten shot, a bit more expensive than lead.

Removable split-shot has been available since the 1960s, and the bevelled slot and when the shot is closed over a fishing line or leader, inserting the thumbnail or fingernail into the groove will pry the sinker open, for relocation on the line or re-use. Eventually, shot was created with tow “ears” opposite the slot to make removal even easier, though this design does tend to snag on bottom structure, grass and collects algae. Water Gremlin offers their Gremlin Green brand of tin split-shot and they are removable.

Clamshell Shot for the Flats

Adding a split-shot allows light-tackle anglers to cast farther with whole shrimp or small crab. And, if the water is deeper than a couple of feet (such as on high tide) the bait sinks to bottom a bit faster. But one of the annoying things about the otherwise handy removable shots is that the two “ears” on the solid side of the weight do tend to collect algae that is sometimes present on the blades of seagrass. Some of my favorite bonefishing flats of Miami’s Biscayne Bay can have areas of heavy “gloppy” algae due to nutrient-rich rain runoff from the mainland, especially in wet season. Without fail the removable shots become caked with the stuff. Eventually I discovered the so-called clam shell shots, and though not removable or reusable, they slide right through the grass and do not get as readily fouled with the stuff. Bass Pro Shops XPS lead clamshells come in six sizes. UxCell also offers clamshell shot. For flats fishing, it’s best to crimp this shot right against the bait hookeye.

Split-shot for Fly Fishing

Many fly fishers today have turned to metal “bead heads” which they anchor to the fly hook up against the hookeye, tied into their sinking nymph patterns for faster sink rate in swift waters, but there is still a following for shot, to sink unweighted flies.

Determining how many split-shot to use and how big (weight) is based on water depth and current speed (in the case of a stream or river). Flyfishers often eschew lead shot for environmental reasons, and often use tin shot or heavier tungsten shot. And it makes sense to choose a little less weight and fish the fly to determine the sink rate. You can always add another shot or two or go bigger. Because trout are much more likely to eat something above them than below, adding too much shot will cut down on strikes.

Among non-toxic choices, Orvis makes an environmentally friendly tin split-shot that is coated with a durable matte finish that helps keep the shot from sliding on the leader. The mottled texture won’t alert fish the way shiny shot can. Loon Outdoors offers a similar product called Black Drops.

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