Tungsten vs. Lead

unchained186 · March 23, 2011, 07:40:10 AM

Quote from: screwballl on March 15, 2011, 01:51:23 PM
Personally I have seen zero difference between the 2 so I plan to stick with lead as long as they are legally sold, and when they start phasing them out I will buy my own lead making setup and continue doing it that way. I see this as a eco-nut forcing government intervention into personal lives by using falsified and cherry picked data to claim all this lead is poisoning the fish and water ways, yet in reality, the lead lost is such a tiny amount that it leads to less than 0.000001% variation from naturally occurring lead found in most plants, sediment, silt and animals anyways.

As it relates to fishing, I think this is more of a confidence thing. From my perspective, I see this as a psychological viewpoint: you know you spent (aka wasted) more money on tungsten so you lead yourself to believe it is worth the money by claiming it has better sensitivity.
In reality, there has been test after test showing there is no difference aside from the density difference. Tungsten has a higher density so the same weight can be half the size of its lead counterpart. Otherwise there is zero difference in the feel or sensitivity of one versus the other. This sensitivity is based on the line and rod, not the weight at the very end. The weight does not transmit anything, it is there as its name implies, as a weight, to weigh something down.

WOW!!!

unchained186 · March 23, 2011, 07:48:49 AM

Quote from: -Shawn- on March 21, 2011, 02:19:30 PM

Using Braid mainline and a Tunsten weight on a Crig is whole other world with what you can learn about the bottom. Lead has a VERY dead/dull feel to it, where the feel with tungsten is very crisp.

Boy is that right on the money when I started using braid main line tungsten weight that c-rig went into a whole different world dragging along feel the bottom change hit the brakes and get ready to set the hook
and with the braid I always get my weight back

-Shawn- · March 23, 2011, 11:41:00 PM

Quote from: unchained186 on March 23, 2011, 07:48:49 AM
Boy is that right on the money when I started using braid main line tungsten weight that c-rig went into a whole different world dragging along feel the bottom change hit the brakes and get ready to set the hook
and with the braid I always get my weight back

AMEN!

catt · March 24, 2011, 06:51:11 AM

I'm ambidextrous; I can catch bass with either

bigjim5589 · March 24, 2011, 08:02:04 AM

Shawn, I took a look at the weights I have, and they're made by Yum. They're a composite and are soft like lead, perhaps that's why they feel the same to me.
I have some others I'll try that are very hard.
Right now I'm sitting in the hospital, my wife just went into the OR, it's going to be a long day! No fishing for me for awhile!

Jim

-Shawn- · March 24, 2011, 08:26:49 AM

Yes Sir that would be the problem. I tried some of those and hated them.

Keep us posted on how everything goes today . We will be praying for her!

Camden · March 24, 2011, 08:55:21 AM

something i have found is make sure you check the percentage of tungsten in the weight. most are not 100% (as this would be even more expensive) most are a tungsten heavy alloy in which powdered tungsten is held together by a mix of a lower melting point metals. most are mixed with nickel like the lake fork tackle has been doing for awhile.
nothing wrong with the process but make sure your getting a higher percentage content on your tungsten.

bigjim5589 · March 24, 2011, 09:15:21 AM

I once read something someone posted that said the tungsten was melted down like lead, but after checking the melting point of tungsten is as high as steel, so realized that wouldn't work!

The Yum weights are some type of plastic & tungsten which is why they are soft.

Camden, that's a very good point!

Camden · March 24, 2011, 09:30:20 AM

exactly. the melting point on tungsten is 3965 Kelvin. which is why most of the weights made out of tungsten are made from the powdered form and bonded with other materials.

Fishingfun86 · March 24, 2011, 10:32:10 AM

I use a Carrot stick Gold with a shimano core 50mg, with 17lbs flouro and have tried both lead and tungsten and tungsten works best for me. I can feel a lot more. I use a real like 1/16 and 1/8 tungston even in windy conditions and the feel for me is unbelievable. I can feel if a bass farts next to the bait with this setup. (Maybe a little bit of exageration). I have to agree though everyone is different. One thing i have found while using tungsten is that i don't seem to get hung up as much, mainly because i can feel everything much better. With lead I tended to get stuck a lot because i had trouble feeling sticks and stumps. I have been using the same tungsten weight for 2 years now and havent lost it yet and rarely get hung up. But "to each his/her own" whatever works for you and keeps you on the water is what you should fish with.

coldfront · March 24, 2011, 06:49:45 PM

Quote from: Fishingfun86 on March 24, 2011, 10:32:10 AMI have been using the same tungsten weight for 2 years now and havent lost it yet

are you sure you're tossing that thing where fish live?

(sorry, couldn't resist)...two years on one weight might be some kind of record!

Fishingfun86 · March 25, 2011, 08:46:20 AM

Quote from: coldfront on March 24, 2011, 06:49:45 PM
are you sure you're tossing that thing where fish live? (sorry, couldn't resist)...two years on one weight might be some kind of record!

LOL yes im sure. Cant count how many fish ive caught using it. Caught four on caddo lake monday pitching to cypress trees and lay downs. The point I was trying to make is that I do get hung up but i don;t sit there yanking on the bait and bury the hook in whatever im stuck on lol. I go get it or change the angle at which i try and work the bait loose. I chalk up not loosing/breaking off bait to keeping good line on the reel, re-tieing the knot frequently and not acting like im trying to swat a bee with the rod when i get hung on a stump lol.

coldfront · March 26, 2011, 09:24:18 AM

Quote from: Fishingfun86 on March 25, 2011, 08:46:20 AM
LOL yes im sure. Cant count how many fish ive caught using it. Caught four on caddo lake monday pitching to cypress trees and lay downs. The point I was trying to make is that I do get hung up but i don;t sit there yanking on the bait and bury the hook in whatever im stuck on lol. I go get it or change the angle at which i try and work the bait loose. I chalk up not loosing/breaking off bait to keeping good line on the reel, re-tieing the knot frequently and not acting like im trying to swat a bee with the rod when i get hung on a stump lol.

you make an excellent point...never hurts to be intelligent in one's approach...

Kuntry Jr. · March 30, 2011, 05:59:39 PM

If the paint comes off, spraypaint it. It's quick and easy, not to mention fun!