Long Term Review
SPLIT SHOT IS just split shot, or so you would think, but not necessarily so.
One of the finest split shot manufacturers, in my opinion, is Dinsmores and they make quite a range of split shot styles from normal round soft shot to a resin coated cushioned green split shot. This particular type of split shot under review is egg shaped, as the name implies.
The idea came to design a split shot that pole users would warm to and use in preference to olivettes, the weightier end being applied towards the hook. I have been using it now for eight years, it is always the first shot I reach for in my match tackle box for any float fishing.
Egg shot in its various sizes on mono
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The shot is soft and so will not damage the finest of lines and like all Dinsmores non-toxic shot it is made of tin. It is also very black in colour with a slightly shiny surface achieved, I am told, by chemically etching the colour directly to the surface.
The advantage this gives is that the colour is bonded to the surface and not simply sprayed or rolled on and I much prefer darker shot than the pale grey stuff that some manufacturers produce. You'll also find a little indent at the opening to help you get your fingernail into it.
Prices vary, depending on which selection box and how many partitions you purchase, but they are very competitive with other styles and makes. Example (or should that be 'EGGsample') prices are eight compartment dispenser £10.50, five compartment dispenser £4.75.
Can you believe that in America they sell this shot for fly fishing?
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Jeff Woodhouse's VERDICT
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As I said, I have been using it since it was first introduced about eight years ago. I have two large selection boxes on the go, one in my tackle box and the other indoors in my pole rigs make-up box. My difficulty is getting hold of it so when I see it on display I usually buy a few spare tubs of the most popular sizes.
I do use other Dinsmores shot in my other kits, mainly because that's what I purchased before the Egg shot came out or simply because I fancied trying it. So I do use their standard non-toxic shot and also their green resin-coated shot (and there lies yet another story of radical thinking and development!)
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