- 1). Find the spot on your fishing line where you wish to attach your split shot. When fishing in rocky, gravel-bottomed streams, a split shot positioned about 18 inches below your hook keeps the hook off the bottom, reducing the number of snags. Fishing on a muddy, soft bottom allows you to put the split shot above the hook on the line, with the distance from the hook usually set at least 12 inches.
- 2). Select the right weight of split shot for the situation. Fishing in strong current may require multiple larger split shots to keep your presentation from going downstream too rapidly, while fishing where the water has no movement permits you to go with a much smaller and lighter split shot.
- 3). Pinch the two fins on the split shot together using a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Refrain from using your teeth to avoid chipping a tooth. Pinching the ends with the pliers forces open the opposite side of the split shot. Do not pinch the ends so tightly that they meet.
- 4). Hold the split shot with your thumb and forefinger so that you have access to both sides of it. Run your fishing line through the opening created by your pinching action on the split shot's opposite side. Hold the line in the crevice created so that it is as close to the center of the split shot as possible.
- 5). Wrap the line around the split shot so that it runs between the two fins on the other side and back through the crevice once again. You should have two wraps of line in the crevice now. Pinch the split shot closed with your pliers, keeping the line in the now-shut crevice. By wrapping the line twice around the split shot, you prevent it from being able to slide up and down your line when you cast and retrieve.
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