Fishing Sinkers for Beginners: Getting the Lead Out

Some fishing gear can get complex, but a weight is a weight is a weight, right? Wrong! All fishing weights and sinkers are not created equal, and there are a number of rather specialized shapes and types of sinkers on the market which are designed for very distinct and different purposes. How will you know when to employ an egg sinker versus securing a split-shot?

Some weights clip in place, others are rigged with the line running through them, and some others pinch on the line. First, let’s look at weight you can clip to a rig or swivel.

Sinkers That Clip On

• Bank Sinkers – Also sometimes called “dipsey weights” or simply “boat sinkers,” these are some of the most commonly used fishing weights on the market. They’re available in all sizes and thanks to their oval or pear shape, snag less often than many other choices when fished on structure. However, when cast from a static position they may roll along the bottom in a strong current. That means bank sinkers are a prime choice for bottom fishermen on boats or shoreline anglers casting into calm seas, but they aren’t always the optimal choice for fishing from a static position in fast-moving waters.

  

   

• Pyramid and Storm Sinkers – These are weights that have a flat, triangular face which is designed to grab in a sandy or mud bottom and hold on tight. They’re often the best choice for surf fishermen, though in extremely heavy waves it may be necessary to step up to models that have wire arms (called “spider weights” or “Sputniks”) to enhance that holding power even more. Pyramids are also used in rivers with fast-moving currents since they hold fast to the bottom, though it should be noted that if you choose one that’s too light and the current sweeps it along, they will often get snagged in the rocks. Due to snagging they’re also not the best choice for drift fishing.

  

   

• Cigar Weights – Cigar or “torpedo” weights are shaped exactly as you’d think and come in a number of styles including some with keels, some with eyes on either end, and some with swivels or beads on either end. Some have a bend to them to prevent spinning, and are commonly called “banana weights.” In general these types of sinkers are the best choice for use as in-line trolling sinkers since they add weight while minimizing water resistance (but can also be clipped on one end to bottom rigs without any issues).

  

   

• Slip Sinkers – Commonly used for slow-trolling along snaggy bottoms, slip sinkers are essentially long, thin strips of lead (or a similar material) which get a bait down deep but rarely snag even when bounced along rocks and structure. These are most often used by freshwater anglers while slow-trolling, especially for species like walleye which love to hang out in areas with lots of rocks and boulders.

  

   

In-Line Sinkers

• Bullet Weights – These bullet-shaped sinkers have a hole through the middle, and are rigged in-line so they sit up against the lure. They’re commonly used with soft plastics and/or plastic worms, and in practice function similar to the way a lead jig head works with a plastic lure but allow the weight to remain separate from the lure itself.

  

   

• Egg Sinkers – Like those bullet weights, egg sinkers have a hole through the middle which you run your line through, but they’re egg-shaped instead of being bullet-shaped. The advantage this gives you is the ability to let the sinker rest on bottom yet still feed a fish line and allow it to run, as the line passes through the lead and the fish therefore (hopefully) doesn’t feel any resistance. It’s a popular choice for live-baiting, chumming, and other situations in which you’ll want to allow the fish to swim with a bait for several seconds before setting the hook.

Crimp and Twist Leads

• Split Shot – Small round split shot are shaped like a mini-Pac Man which you can squeeze shut over your fishing line. They come in handy in countless fishing scenarios, when a small amount of weight needs to be added quickly and easily to a bait or lure. Since they can be crimped directly to your fishing line they require little to no extra rigging effort.
• Rubber-Cores and Pinch-ons – These are long, slender weights that can be used in a similar fashion as split shot, but they’re usually heavier and have a profile that’s better suited to trolling or fast retrieves. Rubber-cores have a rubber insert which you lay your line against and then twist a few times, trapping the line inside the weight. Pinch-ons simply have flexible lead ears which can be crimped down over the line. Both can be added to a line in moments without any special rigging.

  

   

Is this a 100-percent complete list of all the different types of weights and sinkers you might encounter? Nah. There are so many different fisheries out there, and so many pieces of gear designed for very specific functions, that there are hundreds of different designs and derivatives. But these varieties cover the most popular and most commonly seen types of sinkers that you’re likely to need.