Page 26 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine May 2023 Revised

The Split Shot or Light

Carolina Rig

This rig can be fished shallow or
deep and consists of a soft plastic, This setup more closely resembles
a split shot, and a smaller, light- slow crankbait fishing than it does
er wire hook. The lead pinch weight soft plastic fishing. Much of the
can be along the line anywhere from action comes from the soft plastic
8”-24” above the lure. You can also itself. So, if you need more action
replace the split shot with a small try a different soft plastic. Addi-
bullet weight, bead, and swivel. tionally, this technique is good for
Regardless of which, the bait gives targeting bass that are shy or not
the impression of something being aggressive as the bait swims just off
helpless. It is also a great way to the bottom of the lake floor or atop

cover lots of water. Oftentimes the the grass mat.
bit is so subtle that all you see is
your line swimming away. The perception some anglers have of
the split shot rig includes, it’s
While we listed the leader as any- too slow, it’s difficult to feel, it’s
where from 8” to 24”, the length of too hard to cast, or it only catches
the leader can sometimes interfere small fish. The point missed is that
with casting because it is just too this technique can be highly produc-

long. A leader that is too short tive in locating concentrations of
inhibits the bait movement. It is stubborn bass and especially strag-
something you must play with based glers. It is equally important to
upon the conditions and how the fish understand that an angler fishing a
respond. Most commonly an 18’ leader split shot is not fishing for the
is a good happy medium. Another con- same fish as everyone else around.
sideration is to use a spinning rod It can be lethal when fishing behind
setup because of the light nature of someone else or when fishing high-
this technique. You can get a longer ly pressured bodies of water. It can
case with more accuracy. also be a great choice when there is

26 Lady Bass Anglers Association
The Split Shot or Light Carolina Rig