Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: swimmingwiththefishes on November 04, 2013, 10:49:25 AM

Title: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: swimmingwiththefishes on November 04, 2013, 10:49:25 AM
I will probably get the usual personal preference stuff, but I'm curious to know some of the reasons people go with certain setups.

I've tried a few different ones, and can't say that I prefer one over the other, although I'm leaning towards a non-split shot setup as I find that these are finickier and don't like that they pinch the line.

I like the slip weights above the swivel using egg weights or pencil lead for smoothness of casting and simplicity but am always a bit concerned about these sometimes spooking fish.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: MoeJKU on November 04, 2013, 11:36:38 AM
Long story split shot for me. but sometimes i get lazy and chuck out pencil weight
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: mvelasco on November 04, 2013, 12:03:20 PM
line through pencil lead for me.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Johnny Canuck on November 04, 2013, 12:11:04 PM
Pencil lead sliding on the mainline but I use the thick 1/4" lead.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Damien on November 04, 2013, 12:24:08 PM
(http://fishingnoob.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/bankrig.jpg)

I add a bead between the egg/bullet weight at the swivel. 

And I use steel or tungsten, not lead.

Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Spawn Sack on November 04, 2013, 02:36:24 PM
I've experimented with all different types of lead rigging. 95% of the time I run a piece of 1/4 ich pencil lead on my mainline then a bead to act as a buffer between my knot and swivel. Same as Damien's picture only I don't use egg sinkers.

If I'm fishing a really "snaggy" spot I'll switch my set up so the lead can pull or pop off if it gets hung up. I rig this up with either a piece of mono tied to the TOP eye of the barrel swivel, then crimp the lead onto the line, or a small piece of rubber tubing onto the snap of a snap swivel.

The odd time I'll pull out the split shot. Normally when the water is super low/clear. Whether it's more stealthy or not, it gives me a bit more confidence under such conditions. I'll also dig out my clear floats and flourocarbon leader line too. Overall though I don't like split shot as I find after a while they start to slip on the line. Like I said I like fishing this way under such conditions, however I don't think it makes much of a difference really as a buddy of mine fishes foam floats, mono leader and pencil lead 100% of the time even when the water is gin clear and most of the time he has more dead fish on shore than I. However he has about 10 years more time on the river than I do so I can handle it. The odd time I out fish him it makes my day and really burns his a** :D
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: steely02 on November 04, 2013, 05:22:35 PM
Split shot for me
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: firstlight on November 04, 2013, 05:40:39 PM
Split Shot
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: zap brannigan on November 04, 2013, 05:59:39 PM
spit shot for me aswell, gives you the option of adding/subtracting weight when ever you want.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: jpar247 on November 04, 2013, 06:53:32 PM
Run your mainline thru a piece of tubing above a bead. Wet tubing insert the pencil lean when you're fishing, pull off when you're hiking so I doesnt beat your rod. Plus you can also change up the lead's weight if need be fishing different tackle
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: dave c on November 04, 2013, 06:57:50 PM
Pencil lead sliding on the mainline but I use the thick 1/4" lead.
x2
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: FishingKing on November 04, 2013, 07:06:16 PM
spit shot for me aswell, gives you the option of adding/subtracting weight when ever you want.

x2
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Suther on November 04, 2013, 08:03:29 PM
I've experimented with all different types of lead rigging. 95% of the time I run a piece of 1/4 ich pencil lead on my mainline then a bead to act as a buffer between my knot and swivel. Same as Damien's picture only I don't use egg sinkers.

If I'm fishing a really "snaggy" spot I'll switch my set up so the lead can pull or pop off if it gets hung up. I rig this up with either a piece of mono tied to the TOP eye of the barrel swivel, then crimp the lead onto the line, or a small piece of rubber tubing onto the snap of a snap swivel.

The odd time I'll pull out the split shot. Normally when the water is super low/clear. Whether it's more stealthy or not, it gives me a bit more confidence under such conditions. I'll also dig out my clear floats and flourocarbon leader line too. Overall though I don't like split shot as I find after a while they start to slip on the line. Like I said I like fishing this way under such conditions, however I don't think it makes much of a difference really as a buddy of mine fishes foam floats, mono leader and pencil lead 100% of the time even when the water is gin clear and most of the time he has more dead fish on shore than I. However he has about 10 years more time on the river than I do so I can handle it. The odd time I out fish him it makes my day and really burns his a** :D

When you do pull out the split shot, are you still running shot above a swivel then a leader? Or ditch the swivel and tie your main line right to the leader?
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Spawn Sack on November 04, 2013, 08:33:23 PM
I'll pull it out the odd time when the water is super low/clear and I'm going for picky coho. Does it give me an edge? Probably not, but I like it and it gives me a bit more confidence as I think I'm a bit more "stealthy." (as opposed to a solid piece of pencil lead...which they've likely seen 1000 times by now).

Split shot above swivel just like pencil lead only spaced out 1 inch or so apart. HOWEVER I've heard of guys putting ONE of the shot below the swivel on the leader. Rationale is if a shot is going to get snagged it'll likely be the bottom one, then you will just lose your bottom shot and leader instead of all shot and leader. I just put all above the swivel as if I'm fishing this way I'm short floating anyway and very unlikely to get snagged.

Google "split shot presentation," lots of good info. Here's one I found:

http://www.anglersinternational.com/split_shot_aticle.html

PS. Do NOT ditch your swivel. You need it to prevent line twist. The only time I'll ditch the swivel is if I'm fishing spoons or something that has a swivel attached to the lure.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Fish Assassin on November 04, 2013, 08:44:44 PM
Another vote for split shots.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: fishtruck on November 04, 2013, 09:25:58 PM
I find that using split shots will not create a wobble on my float when I drift. With pencil lead I've noticed that my float tend to lean a little with a slight wobble due to interaction of lead and current. It's just a cleaner presentation.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Spawn Sack on November 04, 2013, 09:31:44 PM
I find the crappy wrap around foam dink floats wobble and bob around - I hate them! I use DNE foam floats in 20, 25, or 30g and I find they don't wobble at all with pencil lead. I've been trying clear drift floats this year and at times I was out fishing guys near me using foam floats so who knows it could have been the float...however TWICE I have a fish spit my hook and when my float hit the shore/rocks it cracked and had to be tossed >:(
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: jordanc on November 04, 2013, 09:40:34 PM
Anytime i've cracked clear drift floats and they are not broken into pieces I will put a little super glue on the cracks and they seal.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: sugartooth on November 04, 2013, 09:55:57 PM
I use split shot when I am fishing roe or any small presentation in clear water but I like using pencil lead when using blades.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: dave c on November 04, 2013, 10:06:30 PM
I also put a bead above the pencil lead as i noticed that the lead will damage my balsa floats.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: HamidSeshadri on November 05, 2013, 08:35:29 AM

Google "split shot presentation," lots of good info. Here's one I found:

http://www.anglersinternational.com/split_shot_aticle.html


Great article...

i've always just been lazy and just put all my split shots just below my swivel... that way in the case that i snag bottom i'll only lose my leader and hook and not worry about losing the float.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: jazzhead on November 06, 2013, 08:56:39 AM
nice article, thanks! now i know why my float was pointing in the wrong direction sometimes.  gonna try some of this. :)
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: fishman254 on November 06, 2013, 10:18:29 AM
I'm toying with using the weights that have a swivel on both ends, in the 1/2 ounce to 5/8 ounce weights, depending on the weight of the lure/jig.

Unfortunately, the weight does not slide when playing a fish. But a non-sliding weight is probably better for casting?

I cringe at using split-shot as I hate to weaken my line like that.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: jazzhead on November 06, 2013, 12:53:23 PM
Run your mainline thru a piece of tubing above a bead. Wet tubing insert the pencil lean when you're fishing, pull off when you're hiking so I doesnt beat your rod. Plus you can also change up the lead's weight if need be fishing different tackle

I find this setup would have the pencil lead slipped down into the swivel after a few cast.  I use the tubing&pencil lead with a clip now instead and have several sizes on hand incase I need to change weight.  But will try split shot next though, seems to make sense with regards to presentation.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Spawn Sack on November 06, 2013, 07:53:49 PM

"I cringe at using split-shot as I hate to weaken my line like that."
I used to think this too. But it's NOT true and if pinched on correctly they wil not crimp/damage/weaken your line on bit. This is how I was shown to do it and the odd time I use split shot it works for me:

-Get a pair of pliers that is not flat like regular needle nose, but has an space/opening in the middle of the jaws (like a leatherman, etc).

-Take your split shot and align your line as close to the MIDDLE of the shot as possible, NOT all the way into the back of the opening (they will slide if you do this).

-Pinch the shot on lightly using your fingers or the tip of the pliers. Don't clamp down yet.

- Now...place the shot into the round opening part of your pliers and squeeze down around the entire shot to compress it with even pressure spread around the shot. If the line is in or near the middle and your squeeze the shot this way it will stay tight on your line, not crush the line, and not crush the shot flat either.

***If you just squeeze it on with the tips of your needle nose pliers it will likely slide around on your line. Same if the line is at the back of the gap...try to keep the line in the middle of the shot***

In the event my explaination sucks imagine trying to squeeze an orange with both hands cupped around the orange. That's how you want to squeeze your shot.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: Noahs Arc on November 06, 2013, 10:34:04 PM
I've switched to shot almost exclusively over the past few years.
Can I say my hookups have increased? Probably not noticeably.
Am I more confident though? Yep. Confidence is a major role in catching fish.
Damaging mainline with split shot is a non issue for me, (12lb maxima) it's good practice to freshen up the first 4-5 feet every couple of trips anyways as far as I'm cconcerned. Always did when I was using hollow core aswell.
Title: Re: Best weight system for short floating salmon/steelhead?
Post by: bigsnag on November 07, 2013, 06:35:53 PM
I used to fish gear I crimped split shot onto 20lb mono so the shot wouldn't pinch into the line.