Split shot

Split shot are small weights, usually round or oval, with a slit cut through them so they can be pinched directly onto the leader without tying anything. They are one of the simplest ways to add weight to a nymph rig and get a fly down to feeding depth faster than an unweighted fly could sink on its own.

Weight amount and placement both matter for how a rig fishes. Too little weight and a nymph drifts too high above where fish are holding, too much and it drags along the bottom, snagging rocks and wood constantly. Placement above the fly, and sometimes split between two smaller shots rather than one large one, changes how the rig sinks and how naturally it drifts through a run.

A frequent beginner mistake is using the same amount of weight in every run regardless of current speed or depth, when adjusting shot up or down for faster, deeper water or slower pools is exactly what keeps a nymph in the strike zone. Non-lead, tin or tungsten shot is worth choosing over traditional lead in many areas due to environmental restrictions on lead near water.