Author Topic: split shotting technique for higher winter waters (Read 413 times)

Josh Chenel · « **on:** October 11, 2009, 04:43:00 PM »

I know that some of us still use the old fashioned method of split shotting on the smaller creeks during high water. Many smaller steelhead waters just don't call for sinking tips or give much room to play with them even when the water is high. I still find great pleasure in the occasional jaunt up a small trib with my 5 or 6 wt. and feeling that tick, tick, tick, tick, woah, shoulda set the hook on that one!!! Who likes to dust shot? I do. Sometimes we try to complicate this game to much when all we really gotta do is get the offering in the strike zone.

Rashed Abdullah · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:43:51 PM »

Shaggy,

I use dust shot for small creeks.

r

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2009, 01:21:22 PM »

I really haven't used the tiny stuff at all. Probably just because I'm too lazy, but I certainly am using bb and bs underneath an indicator. Usually some combination of 4-6 spaced evenly starting 15inches above the fly. A lot of guys I meet streamside indicator fishing that aren't hooking fish just merely aren't getting into the zone.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:45:50 PM »

Here's a newb question, why space the shot out? What does that achieve over bunching the shot at x inches from the fly? What is the theory of spacing out the shot?

This is something that is new to me, I have always placed the shot at a distance from the fly and if more than one shot was needed it was placed next to the first.

Do you use smaller shot spaced along the leader to replace one larger shot?

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:51:21 PM »

Smaller shot spaced evenly create a natural curve in your leader from Indicator to fly aiding strike detection and presentation.

Josh Chenel · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 09:27:37 PM »

I agree Dejon I've found that shot spaced does two things for me

1. Makes casting easier
2. Leads to less hang-ups and a less restrictive drift

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2009, 08:03:49 AM »

Very interesting! It makes sense when you think about it. Personally, I have always thought of split shot as a way to sink the fly into the feeding zone. This method sinks the leader/tippet evenly.

Thanks for the info!