I don't like putting split shot on my leader but weight is often necessary in the spring. As I usually fish with at least one nymph imitation I came up with a heavily weighted version of a hex nymph (or wiggler to those of us who grew up fishing for perch in lake Michigan). Tied with a strip of lead wire the full length of top of the hook shank so it will ride point up and adding a 5/16ths bead and about ten wraps of wire shoved up into the bead makes it at least as heavy as a BB split shot. I then tie more tippet material to the bend and add an egg, a stonefly nymph or both. If you don't like split shot try it with your favorite big nymph pattern.