I'm curious to find out your opinions on using a split shot fluke. What is the difference between this and a light carolina rigged fluke? What about a simple texas rigged fluke with a small bullet weight on the nose?

If you are having success with this technique, how are you fishing it? Slow drag, twitch/pause, or something else? I've tried this method a little without much success, but I hear people mention it and I'm wondering if I'm not fishing it properly.

You get a completely different action than a Texas Rig because the weight on a TR will make the bait nose down.

Similar to a Carolina Rig but you don't have the bead and weights banging together.


Fish it over deeper grass to get it down quicker without changing the action of the fluke. I'm not a fan of pinch on weights because they can weaken the line, use a small bullet weight and peg it about 18" in front of the bait.

I use a good size swivel 12-14 inches above the bait (stops twist). If I think I need it to fall faster use split shot (egg shaped) above the swivel.

OK. So I've got the right idea. I used a 3/8 tungsten with two pegs below the weight. I may use the swivel to stop the twist, but then it's essentially a carolina rig. Thanks for the info.

You can use a "clam" weight anywhere along the line to change the action
Fall rate = small to large clam weight
Distance from the fluke = nose to whatever (2ft)
Allows it to do all kinds of things

Got 4 LMB keepers (2-2 1/2 lb.) and 8 "not legal size" ones this morning on a watermelon red fluke with a small lead weight about 12 inches above the lure. The tail dipped in chartreuse dye.

I also like the shiny swivel about 18" above the Fluke. I think it looks like a small fish chasing a tiny minnow to the bass. The larger swivel also gives you a little more weight and allows you to fish the bait faster while keeping it down a little deeper at the same time.

I also, occasionally, use the split-shot in very thick grass with a fluke to keep the fluke just above the thick grass.

Fish it quite often. Caught my biggest bass last year on it, a 6.40 lber. It is different than the T/C rigs, because of the action of the bait, more alive with this rig. You can fish it up and down w/o moving the weight if you know you are around fish. I REALLY like to fish the Fluke Jr. on a 1/0 cook with a small weight up the line from it. Works VERY well if they are being finaccie (sp). Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Works for highly pressured fish, a LOT, too.

tr

When someone tells you "split shot fluke", that's what they mean.

Not a t-rig, light c-rig, or swivel rig. Those also have their place, but are different techniques.

A 3/8th oz pegged weight is way too heavy to be used as a split shot rig. That s a light c-rig.


Split shot rig is a small, about the size of a bb, weight pinched 10-12 inches above the fluke. You just want enough weight to pull it down. Lighter line, 12-14 is best.

Fish it slooowww around bushes, grass, docks or any type of cover. Throw it out, let it sink, let it sit. Then stroke it lightly and do over. Most bites come on the fall and are very subtle. The line just moves off slowly.

All of this works and has it's place as a technique for different types of cover. There is somewhere on your lake that you can pick one of these and load the boat; then in the other areas you will never get a bite until you switch techniques.

I am very particle to the 1/32 Split Bullet weight on the nose of the fluke. It is always ready for missed top water strikes and spinner bait strikes. This is my confidence bait to get that fish to strike again. Follow up that strike with the Fluke that will take a spiral decent with the small weight at the nose which represents a stunned bait fish.

Just a small crimped on split shot will do it. Great technique. Like it on depose rocks too. Same with a senko thatvway.

This is by far my most productive way to fish. Put a "BB" sized split shot 10-12" above the fluke and fish it slow. The action of the fluke rigged this way is great

Can this method be used with a plastic crawl ?
Say, with a 10-12 inch leader from the split shot and the crawl ?
Then drag it along the bottom ?

Of course it will. Just remember, every day is a new day and what worked great today may go ignored tomorrow.

If you have access to a pool take some weights & baits and go experiment. Moving the weight up & down on the line changes the action of the lure, especially a Fluke.

I rig the Mag Fluke with a tiny tungsten weight on the hook itself. It slides back & forth on the hook shank as you jerk the bait. Makes the action very erratic. Plus it allows you to feel the bait better in high wind. I get them from River A Tackle.

All of the replies have made things clear. I'll try the very small split shot and see if that works. If not, I'll try it with the large swivel. Both are lighter weights then I've tried so far.

Try one of the lighter colors with a swivel in front of it. There are still a lot of fish shallow munching on spawning shad & bluegill. Fish it pretty fast, jerking it pretty aggressively.

Jerk, jerk, pause for 2 secs, all the way back. A lot of times this will trigger a reaction bite. Fun way to fish because a lot of times you can see the fish come up & get it.

Split shot is a great way to go. I do like the tungsten on the hook approach. May have to try that sometime.

This is a presentation that I grew up on at Table Rock Lake. Every year my Dad would take me to TR and fish in the river, closest part to Rogers, AR. We would easily catch over 100 kentuckies before noon doing this technique, but we used split-shot centipedes. Time was Memorial Day weekend every year. Cast up in front of the bushes, and watch the 14-16"ers fight to see which one would get to the bait first. Lots of fun back in the day......

Almost forgot about the Centipede Tom. Dustin and I have caught a ton of fish on them fished on a 2/0 hook with a nail in the tail. Causes it to glide backwards after you lift.

Bullshot is the best pinch weight I have found for this technique. It is a bullet weight shaped split shot and it goes through the grass and trash without fouling. Works great.

for those of you using swivels, what color (bronze, silver, black) and what size swivel seems to work best?

I prefer a small nail inserted in the body of the fluke over split shot. If I feel it�s not enough weight I use weighted hooks.

Just personal preference. Lord knows you can catch fish anytime a fluke is tied on, regardless of weight configuration. But 1 setup does always seem to shine above the rest each day and it isn�t always the same setup.

I've fished them in wood or weed cover with a little ring made of solder on the shank of the hook, also with a ring on the hook and a 1/16 pegged on the nose bumping it across limbs and dropping it into laydowns and tree tops . Even with all this weight they have some nice moves when they bounce off a limb and drop. But you get far better action with a weight pegged a foot or more up the line or weightless especially when using light line like 8# test. Just watch them in clear water. There is a huge difference. I'd fish them on the light line with the weight pegged in front ( or weightless) all the time if I thought I could in heavier cover or get the needed speed or distance.

I agree with sprigsss completely. Nail weight inserted at the proper place will perfectly offset the weight of the hook which allows the fluke to sink while remaining horizontal in the water. Any weight added at the nose (Texas rig) or up the line (split shot) will cause the fluke to fall nose first. Most of the time I insert the nail across the fluke, not in line with it. If more weight is needed, I will insert 2 or more pieces of the nail across the body of the fluke...this prevents the weight from coming out when making long casts and allows for more natural fluke action. Generally, if not getting bit, allow more time between twitches...even up to 10 or 15 seconds

You can also use a drop shot weight this way you can adjust the length on the fly

What type / size of nail do you use?

I used to use a nail weighted fluke but switched to adding a drop shot weight to the hook after watching both presentations in a swimming pool. The fluke with the drop shot weight on it had more wiggle to it as it is falling. It just looks better than the nail weighted fluke. Do it just like the picture Ken posted. I do that with the super fluke as well as with the magnum fluke.