I am going so try split shotting for the for the first time tomorow.  How about a crash course in it.  I have a 6'6" med spinnign setup with 6lb P-Line CXX.  I was planning on useing some 2/0 Gamakatsu worm hooks and I have pumpkinseed/ watermelon and bubble gum finesse worms.   What is the best way to retrieve the bait.  My local lake is down almost 30" so 80% of the lakes surface has grass and weeds on the surface now.  The water is probably ranging from 4-8 feet now.  If I do hook one how do i get him out of the grass on light line?

You can use it now but if I were you I would hold off untill all that grass dies in the winter and then pull that rig back out.  Your setup sounds fine.

maybe around drop offs on weed edges. in my expirience, this is amore open water technique, usually in deeper water for finicky fish. fishin this rig in weeds and such is not a good idea with 6 lb test, unless you know somthing i dont. you get a good fish deep enough in weeds, he aint comin out, lol

With 6lb test, I wouldn't use a anything bigger than a 1/0 hook.  Fish it on the outside edges of the grass, not in it.  Fish it just like a worm, or with a slow, steady retrieve.  When the fish bites, don't "cross his eyes", just "sweep set".  That is, reel fast while pulling.  This is why you need smaller hooks - sharp, needle-like hooks work best.  A 2/0 hook requires a hard hookset, and on 6lb test, you risk breaking the line on the hookset.

First, do you NEED to go to 6lb?

If you feel you do, try a wire weedguard hook. With a good honed point, these will set much easier than a T-rig. And, as Glenn suggested, stay #1/0, or #1.

Well, he is using 6lb CXX, which is probably breaking at 11-12lbs or so.  I've worm fishing using a heavy action rod with 8lb CXX and have never had a breakoff.  Back on topic; I alternate between a drag and 'stutter' retrive.  I drag it a few feet...wait a few seconds...then move it another few feet by using a quicker and shorter drag technique (stutter).  Stuttering is performed the same way as you would if you were going to just drag your bait (only one stroke), but you do it a little quicker and pause twice during your stroke.  Of course catching fish isn't this mechanical, and you have to experiment.  I'll mix in some shaking and other stuff trying to solicit a bite.  The split shot rig works very well, but the shakey head has overtaken it.  You might switch it up and catch a few  .  Don't ever forget about the Slider...you will surprise your buddies with a limit in no time.  

^^shhhhh!.....dont talk about the slider!

Come on now!  Someone tell us what the slider is.    You know your secret is safe with us.

cwb60

Someone mentioned the slider????

Come on now! Someone tell us what the slider is. You know your secret is safe with us.

cwb60

The Slider is a 4" finesse worm with a tiny paddle tail. It is rigged on a Slider jig head that is straight and flat, with the intention of gliding the little worm through the water column. The Slider worm was invented by Charlie Brewer over 30 years ago, and is credited with being the first finesse worm and finesse technique for bass fishing. I had never heard of it back in the early '90s during a tournament in which I was a non-boater. I was just getting throttled by my boater, and after he had his limit, he tossed me a couple of these slider worms and a slider head and just told me to cast it out and leave my rod tip high and just very slowly swim it back to the boat. I had my limit in about 30min and took second 8-). Lesson learned!

I've been fishing Zoom Finesse worms on Spider Slider heads for several years now.  It is quite possibly the most productive tchnique I've ever used.  I like the 1/8 oz head with a watermelonseed worm flipped around docs using a 7' M/F rod and 10# test (flipping is best since I can barely cast it on this rig).  If I have a go-to bait, this is it.  

I went out for an hour tonight and my Zoom Finesse Worm (Watermelon/chart) on a 1/16 oz Spider Slider produced the only fish. A <1lb bass under a fishing pier.  May have had more luck but the light rain turned heavy and it started to lightning. >

I think split shotting has been postponed for me for a while as I can not even get my boat on the lake since it is down so low. the only public launch is unusable

I'm new to bass fishing,and so far I have learn alot from this forum. I was wondering how exactly do you fish a slider and when & where would you want to use it.

There are several different slider heads.  The one I use is the Spider Slider, which has a faceted bullet weight.  The hook is shaped so the worm is easily texposed on it.   You can fish it any number of ways depending on what kind of worm you put on it.  I like to use the 1/16 oz head and a Zoom Finesse Worm and flip it around docks.  It sinks very slowly in a slightly tail-up manner.  As it sinks is glides.  If you drop it vertically is spirals down.   I catch most fish on the initial drop.  

The Spider Slider is definitely finesse head.  It's light and excels with smaller worms.  I fish them on a 7' medium/fast rod with 10 lb test, and on a 7' medium/fast spinning rig with 8 lb test.  Anything heavier is too heavy.  

Is the hook size determined by the weight of the head or can you choose different size hooks with the same weighted head. If so what size hook to you recommened for 4" finesse worm

Micro,

Are you using the Widegap Spiders with the black nickel hooks or the Classic Spiders.  The original Spiders have very lightwire hooks.  The Classic slightly heavier and the black nickels are standard worm hook thickness.

Anybody interested in Slider fishing should visit their site, http://www.fishingworld.com/Slider/ order their catalog and consider their $6.50 book with your first order.  I love their stuff and those little vibratail grubs are killer post front producers.  Buy lots because panfish will rip the tails off them.

Split shotting is, to me, a scaled down finesse version of carolina rigging, except I don't "search" with it.  I mainly fish it shallow but have taken bass down to 22' on this rig.  1/0 hook max, or smaller.  Prefer round shot, not the removeable shot with the "ears".  Or, sometimes I use a rattling brass bullet pegged with a rubber peg.  Favorite worms have been Producto 4" Tournament worms and Kalins Western worms.

Like any other finesse method, it's fun fishing.  I use spinning rigs with 6lb XT and Medium/Fast or Medium/X-fast rods.  I use short "pops" on the retrieve to get the worm up off the bottom then let it settle and shake it a bit before the  next pop.  I've never done any good dragging a split shot rig.