How weights work.

[Pferox]

I'm thinking about writing an article on this, but want to get everybody's input on it first, because I don't use a lot of different weights anymore and want to include as many as I can.

Weight usage in salt water is important, and depending on how and where you are fishing will decide what weight you will use.  Each weight works differently, and how they work is usually your deciding factor.   Even if you are throwing a jig, or popping one under a cork or even live baiting, some type of weight has to be used usually because of the currents encountered.

One example is when I was "free lining" a freshly dead, filleted mullet on the sunshine skyway, I always pinched on a split shot, around a quarter ounce, sometimes more depending on the current. This kept the mullet down in the water enough to not look like it was surfing, and the split shot gave intermittent twitches where as a bullet weight or egg sinker wouldn't.  It gave the bait a lot more action and was successful in catching quite a few upper column species.

[Smallie_Stalker]

I would absolutely read it if you wrote it. I like to see what I can adapt out of other types of fishing and try and make it work or modify it to make it work for my fishing. 

[Bigwrench]

I would absolutely read it if you wrote it. I like to see what I can adapt out of other types of fishing and try and make it work or modify it to make it work for my fishing. 

I agree 110%.
I've been playing around with some weights myself lately just trying to get a feel for different presentations. Would be a very informative write up I bet and could be useful for freshwater anglers as well. 

[Pferox]

Recently, most weights I have been using are bottom weights, so I am going to need some input onto moving weights, like bottom bouncers, and bullet weights, because I think I know how they work, but not exactly.

[Pferox]

Here goes one.  Sliding egg sinker.  There are actually two distinct styles of this weight, one which actually looks like an egg and allows the line to pass through the middle of it.  The other weight looks almost the same, but is flat on two sides.

In current, the egg sinker will roll with the current until it finds a rest on something, then it will sink into soft bottom, or sand will cover it up, thus pinning it to its location.  If on hard bottom, or the current is strong enough to pull the weight from it's hangup, then it will release and roll around again.  This presentation is commonly used by people bottom fishing for flounder who don't want to do the chuck and reel presentation.

The Flat sided weight won't roll, but instead skip across the bottom, if the current is strong enough, although it is more known to stay where it lands, it also will bury itself in soft bottom or allow sand or silt to build up on top of it.

They both are good weights for in line moving current, like channels and the like, they will come out of many snaggy areas readily, although rocky or shell can cause some delima.  The flat sided weight interestingly will come up into the water column quickly allowing you to miss a lot of the snaggy areas, somewhat like a hydroplane.

I have found that most people carry one or the other, instead of both styles, I can't understand why because each one gives a different "action".

[Pferox]

Another sinker I use a lot in the bay because the currents are usually not as strong, and the amount of stuff that likes to catch them is higher are the line of bank sinkers.  I also find myself using them in heavier weights around jetties and areas in the Gulf that may be rocky or have structure of some kind on the bottom.

Bank sinkers are usually cheaper than many other weights you will find, and some can be easy to cast yourself.  Many are nothing more than lead with no extra wire in it making the labor easier.  The most common one is shaped like a pendulum, which makes it less "snaggy". Around here, Pencil Sinkers, disk sinkers, and bomb weights are all rolled into this category for the most part.  Of course, each one has it's own specialized use, but we can talk about them in general in one spot.



They have the widest rang in weight sizes from what I have seen, some going down to half and quarter ounce and up to lbs in weight.  Another thing to note is that these weights are used in many applications, both salt and fresh.

They will readily sink into soft bottom, but are usually easy to release, catching into grassy bottoms anchor them well also, but pulling them loose again isn't that much of an issue.  They can get into some of the nooks and crevices of rocks, but tend to come loose easier than other shapes. 

They work well when you want to slowly drag your presentation across the bottom because of their slightly snagless design, and they tend not to tangle as easily on some of those pesky presentations because there aren't any sharp angles or anchoring wires to catch line.

Many people try to use them in the surf and on the surf portion of piers.  If the currents are light and the weights are heavy, they will work, but I don't suggest it because it is way too easy for them to break loose, and skitter across the bottom tangling every other line out there in it's path.

I use disk sinkers a lot in the Bayou because they hold well, but usually release easily in most bottom structure, and to me, seem to hold better when the current picks up a little in comparison to an actual classic bank sinker.  They also hydroplane nicely, quickly lifting up you rig allowing it to skim across the top of the water above most of the snags.



In general, the style of bank sinkers are quite useful, and you can usually find a shape that fits for your particular situation, they are a good general use weight, and can be rigged in many ways.  Using a slider rig with a clip allow them to work well in a Carolina type of rig, allowing a quick change of weights when fine tuning is needed.  They also work well on drop rigs in many situations.

[Donald Garner]

Jim
Interesting article tks for putting it together.  My only dealings with salt water fishing was in Alaska for Halibut on a charter boat.  The lead weights they used look like small cannon balls they weigh 1-5lbs a piece.

[Pferox]

Thanks Don, that cannon ball weights are my next one to post up, as soon as I get some spare time.

[Pferox]

Wow have I been sluffing off, sorry.  Don posted earlier about cannon ball weights, and those are a new to me weight in my arsenal.

I have seen them on the heavy side for down riggers, and deep rigging, but a couple of years ago saw some at Boyd's in lighter weights, from 1/4 ounce (I think) up to 3 ounces in their weight bins.  The monkey tapped me on my shoulder and I bought an assortment of a few to try.

I like to use them for moving rigs, drop shots under a cork gives an interesting vertical presentation, insures the bait is where you want it to be and the ball shape doesn't affect the drift.

They are nice for dragging along the bottom in just about anything except rocky areas, I found out the hard way.

I also like to toss them out up current and let the rig be dragged to the edge of bottom structure, like grass or a shell bed.  If you get the weight right it will slowly scoot along the bottom giving a nice presentation then stopping just at the edge of the structure, but not getting tangled up in it (usually).

There are probably a lot of other ways to use this weight, and I hope to hear from those who have more experience with them in this thread.