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What it is
Split shot are the small, round or oval weights you pinch directly onto your fishing line to help your bait or lure sink. They’re one of the simplest tools in the sinkers and weights overview, and probably the first weight most anglers ever use. Each one has a slot cut into it; you lay your line in the slot and squeeze the weight closed so it grips.
There are two main styles worth knowing:
- Round (permanent): A plain split ball you crimp on and leave. Cheap and secure, but tough to move or remove once pinched.
- Removable: These have little wings or “ears” on the back. Squeeze the ears and the slot reopens, so you can slide the weight, reposition it, or take it off entirely. A few cents more, but far more forgiving while you’re learning.
When to reach for it
Reach for split shot any time you need to add just a little weight and nothing heavier feels right. They shine in live-bait fishing, where a single shot a foot or so above the hook gives a minnow or worm just enough pull to sink naturally without killing its lively action.
They’re also a staple of finesse fishing. When a soft-plastic worm needs to fall a touch faster, or you want to feel the bottom better, a small shot pinched onto the line does the job without changing your whole rig. The classic split-shot rig is a quiet, beginner-friendly way to fish plastics. And while a true drop-shot uses a dedicated weight at the very bottom, the thinking is the same: a small, precise amount of lead to control how your bait sinks and sits.
In short, split shot are for fine-tuning. When your presentation is close but needs a nudge, they let you add weight in tiny increments until it’s right.
How to choose
Start with sizing, which runs by number and, frustratingly, varies a bit between brands. You’ll see labels like BB, 7, 3/0, and so on. As a rough rule, the larger the number on one scale (or the more zeros on another), the heavier the shot. Don’t overthink it at the counter; grab a small assortment pack and you’ll quickly learn which sizes match your fishing.
Material matters too. Traditional shot is lead, which is cheap and pinches easily. Non-toxic tin is the alternative, and it’s required on some waters, so check your local rules. Tin is a little harder and may need a firmer squeeze.
However you go, crimp with pliers, never your teeth, since lead is not something you want in your mouth. And go easy: just enough pressure to hold. Over-crimping can flatten and weaken your line right at the weight, which is exactly where you don’t want a break.
Brands worth knowing
A few names show up again and again, and any of these will serve you well:
- Water Gremlin removable split shot is the go-to removable lead shot, with the squeeze-open ears that let you reposition or reuse them.
- Eagle Claw split shot offers solid, affordable round (permanent) lead shot, often sold in handy assortment packs.
- Bullet Weights split shot is another dependable, budget-friendly assortment covering a useful range of sizes.
- Dinsmores tin split shot is a non-toxic tin option, ideal where lead isn’t allowed or you’d simply rather avoid it.
If you’re just starting out, a removable assortment plus a small tin pack covers nearly everything you’ll run into your first season.