The only way I can throw my 1/16 oz jig on my abu garcia ambassadeur baitcaster is if I put a split shot squeeze on weight a few inches about the jig head. Can the fish see the split shot and not take the bait or does it not matter?

Do you have a spinning rod?

Casting light baits is their forte.

Not only is casting such a light bait better with a spinning rod, its a lot easier to get that "unencumbered fall" of the jig. just be sure to watch your line. Light weight jig fishing isn't really anything like fishing a big, heavy cover jig or football jig.

I use 1/4 oz saltwater bucktails on spinning for bass..............they're terrific.  We call em feathers

I doubt that the split shot will matter, but if you are always going to use a split shot then you should just buy a heavier jig.  You need to use lure weights that are in line with the rod that you are using.  I'm guessing that you're rod is too heavy, plus as others have said that light of a bait is difficult to cast on a typical baitcast combo.

Yes it can deter the fish from biting the bait, not because they can see the split shot, beacuse it changes the rate of fall, add a split shot and the bait no longer weights 1/16 oz.

Bass can be strange creatures somedays and part of the mystery is why they can be so selctive sometimes about what tickles their fancy. I 've seen it happen so many times that I 've lost count, one day they want the rate of fall lets 'say a size 5 split shot imparts to the bait, change for a size 3 split shot and they don 't want it, other days whatever you throw at them is fine.

Split shot doesn't hurt the action or the chance of a bite usually. However I would throw anything under 5/16 of an ounce on spinning tackle. If the cover is light you can use as light as 6 pound test. In areas with some cover, bump up to 8 - 10 pound.

Why not just go to a sligtly heavier jig.

My partner throws 90% of his plastics using a split shot rig, he is constantly adjusting the space between the shot and the bait, until he feels he has the best rig for what he is fishing, works very good for him.