Your terminal tackle for fishing consists of many pieces, and sinkers are one of the most important pieces to the setup. A sinker or weight helps to keep your bait or lure under the surface of the water. Some refer to sinkers as ‘weights’, but many anglers insist that there’s a key difference: sinkers are associated with live-bait fishing and weights are associated with artificial lures. For this guide, you can assume they’re one-in-the-same.
Indeed, sinkers give your bait and/or lure a fighting chance at reaching your target species, and the rougher the current, the heavier your sinkers will need to be in order to fight the friction. While the simplest of sinkers will have little in the way of detail, there are a variety of sinkers nowadays that are designed to handle just about any situation. Keep in mind that once you need a sinker that’s as heavy as your catch (like if you’re trying to fight an extremely turbulent current), then it may be time to hang up your rod for the day or try a different fishing spot.
This guide aims to simplify the choice process based on a variety of factors including environmental, preferential, and target specifications. With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our extensive inventory of sinkers at Outdoor Shopping.
Materials
The majority of sinkers are comprised of lead, although recent environmental concerns have raised concerns for manufacturers, pushing them to start finding other metals that are less harmful if abandoned in waterways. Sinkers are by in large formed by pouring hot metals into a pre made mold. Non-toxic alternatives to lead sinkers are sometimes required by local health codes and restrictions, so you’ll find many sinkers now comprised of:
Brass
Tungsten
Steel
Bismuth
Types of Sinkers
Split Shot
Size/Weight | Ranges from the size of a BB to the size of a raisin. |
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As one of the most well-known types of sinkers, many new and young anglers were introduced to sinkers with split shots. A groove running the full length of the sinker allows a line to slip into the middle wherein the groove is then pinched shut to keep the sinker attached to the line. Float fishermen will taper the speed of the bait as it floats down a stream by utilizing split shots placed below the float as well.
Rubber Core Fishing Sinkers
Size/Weight | Comes in a wide range of sizes and weights. Some use a small 1/8 ounce version for live bait offerings while others may add a large sinker when trolling long-lines to help baits run at greater depths. |
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Grooves in the center of the sinker hold line like a split shot, but a rubber core with tabs protruding out each end of the groove helps to hold the line in place when the rubber is twisted, allowing the user to insert a line and release a line just as easily for sinker reuse. These sinkers also tend to be more elongated and oval-shaped than split shot counterparts. The rubber helps prevent abrasions and nicks to the fishing line as well, helping to maintain the line’s integrity and ensure that even a fighting fish in the approved line weight category won’t break the line itself.
Bell Fishing Sinkers
Size/Weight | Comes in a wide range of sizes and weights. |
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These sinkers are also called bass castings and resemble a tear-drop or bell shape (hence the name) with a brass loop or lead eye at their tapered top wherein line can be fed through or tied to the sinker. The eye is often made of brass, but plastic models are available and some feature snaps, allowing anglers to clip-on or remove sinkers from the line without retying.
Pyramid Sinker
Size/Weight | Heavier weights for keeping bait down during fast currents. |
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With an inverted pyramid shape, these sinkers sink quickly and don’t roll along the bottom due to their flattened sides. Sandy or muddy floors are the perfect place for these sinkers to bury themselves in the soft sediments as well.
Bank or Reef Sinkers
Size/Weight | Heavier weights for keeping bait down during fast currents. |
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Like pyramid and egg sinkers in terms of their usage on rigs, the top of this sinker usually features a lead-molded eye (rather than a brass loop). These tapered, egg-shaped sinkers feature hexagon sides instead of a smooth round surface and will also resist rolling or snagging on rocks.
Walking Sinker
Size/Weight | Comes in a wide range of sizes and weights. |
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Resembling a rectangle with rounded, outside edges, this sinker's bottom is slightly wider and larger in size than the top, holding more weight. The top features an eye for the line, and the bottom is slightly rounded and bent upwards. The result is a weight distribution that positions the sinker with its round edge on bottom allowing it to easily glide over rocks, and this greatly reduces its chances of snagging on the bottom. The semi-flat design also prevents it from rolling along bottom in fast currents.
Egg-Shaped Fishing Sinkers
Size/Weight | Comes in a wide range of sizes and weights. |
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These egg-shaped sinkers allow the weight to roll along the bottom with minimal snagging. These sinkers slip on the line, which is threaded through a hole that runs lengthwise. The sinker can be used with a rig, and some anglers hold the sinkers in place using a split shot instead of a swivel.
Cone Sinkers and Bullet Shots
Size/Weight | Comes in a wide range of sizes and weights. |
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These are threaded through the line with the narrow point facing the rod (like egg sinkers), and the cone shape allows for these sinkers to glide easily through weeds and/or heavy cover. Weedless hooks are recommended when using these sinkers since you’re likely fishing in a weeded area.
With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our extensive inventory of sinkers at Outdoor Shopping.
