Split shot
What is a split shot?
A small round weight with a slot in it, pinched onto the line with pliers. The simplest way to sink a bait.
Split shot at a glance
- Attaches by
- Pinching, no knot
- Standard placement
- About 12 in above the hook
- Materials
- Lead, tin, bismuth
- Lead restricted in some waters
- Removable type
- Has ears to reopen it
How does a split shot work?
There is no knot involved. Lay the line in the slot, squeeze it shut, and the weight stays put. That makes it the most beginner-friendly weight there is, and the fastest to adjust when you need a bait deeper or shallower.
Where should you put the split shot?
Pinched about a foot above the hook, a single shot sinks a worm without killing its natural drift. Add a second one if there is current or wind, and slide them closer to the hook for a faster, more vertical fall.
Two smaller shot spread apart sink at the same rate as one larger one and hang up less, which is worth knowing on rocky bottom.
Lead, tin or bismuth?
Lead shot is being phased out in some places over waterfowl toxicity, and tin and bismuth versions are now common. They are slightly larger for the same weight and softer to pinch. Check local rules before assuming lead is legal on the water you fish.
Removable shot has small ears on one side that let you open it again with a fingernail, which is worth the extra cost because it means you can change weight without cutting and retying.
Use pliers, not your teeth. Lead shot is soft enough to bite and there is no version of that which is a good idea.
What this means when you’re choosing
- Removable, eared shot rather than plain, so changing depth does not mean retying.
- An assortment box rather than one size. Matching the weight to the current is most of what this rig does.
- Non-lead where local rules restrict it, and check before you fish rather than after.
The common mistake
Reopening a shot on the same piece of line
Adjusting depth by opening a shot and pinching it back on the same spot crushes the line twice in one place, and that is where it breaks on the next decent fish. If you need to move a shot, open it and slide it to fresh line, or cut back and retie. The damage is invisible, which is why this keeps costing people fish.
Common questions
Where do you put a split shot on the line?
About a foot above the hook for most bait fishing, which sinks the bait while leaving it a natural drift. Slide it closer to the hook for a faster, more vertical fall, and add a second shot in current or wind.
Does a split shot weaken the line?
Pinching one on crushes the line slightly, and reopening and re-pinching in the same spot does real damage. Move the shot to fresh line when you adjust it rather than reusing the same point.
Where this comes up
The guides that use split shot and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . Split shot is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.