Learn

Sinkers, compared.

The right sinker holds your bait where you want it. The wrong one rolls out of the gully. Weights are common ranges, not rules.
  • Pyramid sinker drawing
    Saltwater

    Pyramid sinker

    A heavy, flat-sided sinker that digs into the sand and holds in a moderate wash.

    Best for: Sandy beaches with moderate current, and as the standard sinker for pulley rigs.

    Weights: Commonly 4 to 8 oz (110 to 225 g) for surf.

    Strengths

    • Digs in and holds well
    • Casts cleanly
    • Cheap

    Watch out for

    • Can drag in a heavy wash
    • Can snag on rocks
  • Grapnel sinker drawing
    Saltwater

    Grapnel sinker

    A bomb with bent wire arms that hook into the bottom and grip in strong wash.

    Best for: Strong currents and heavy surf where other sinkers roll.

    Weights: Commonly 4 to 8 oz (110 to 225 g).

    Strengths

    • Holds in strong currents
    • Keeps the bait in place

    Watch out for

    • Can snag on rocks
    • Wires can bend or break and need replacing
  • Bomb sinker drawing
    Salt and fresh

    Bomb sinker

    A round, streamlined sinker with an eye at the top. Casts a long way and rolls in current.

    Best for: Running rigs on fairly calm beaches, and for distance casting.

    Weights: Commonly 2 to 6 oz (55 to 170 g).

    Strengths

    • Streamlined for distance
    • Rolls over weed rather than snagging

    Watch out for

    • Does not hold in strong current
  • Flat sinker drawing
    Saltwater

    Flat sinker

    A slim sinker with a low profile and a large surface area that sits on the sand.

    Best for: Flatter sand with small baits and light tackle.

    Weights: Commonly 1 to 4 oz (30 to 110 g).

    Strengths

    • Low profile
    • Good for light rigs

    Watch out for

    • Holds poorly in strong current
  • Breakaway sinker drawing
    Saltwater

    Breakaway sinker

    A bomb with bendy wire arms. The arms hold in the current and fold away when you wind in hard.

    Best for: Gullies with a moderate to strong current.

    Weights: Commonly 3 to 6 oz (85 to 170 g).

    Strengths

    • Holds, then breaks free on retrieve

    Watch out for

    • Arms can catch in weed
    • Needs checking regularly
  • Method feeder drawing
    Freshwater

    Method feeder

    A cage or flat feeder packed with groundbait. It is the weight and the feed in one.

    Best for: Carp and kurper in a dam margin or a fishery, where you want to draw fish to the hook.

    Weights: Commonly 20 to 60 g.

    Strengths

    • Brings fish to the hook
    • Self-hooking when set up with a short link

    Watch out for

    • Needs re-packing every cast
    • Messy
  • Carp lead drawing
    Freshwater

    Carp lead

    A pear or flat-pear lead that sits on a lead clip so it drops if the line breaks.

    Best for: Carp fishing with hair rigs on dams and lakes.

    Weights: Commonly 2 to 4 oz (56 to 112 g).

    Strengths

    • Self-hooks fish
    • Releases on the clip when the line breaks

    Watch out for

    • Can be heavy to cast
    • Needs a lead clip
  • Drop-shot weight drawing
    Freshwater

    Drop-shot weight

    A small tear-drop or cylinder weight with a clip, tied to the end of a drop-shot tag.

    Best for: Drop-shotting for bass over structure and clear water.

    Weights: Commonly 3.5 to 14 g.

    Strengths

    • Holds the bait in one place
    • Cheap to replace if snagged

    Watch out for

    • Only for finesse presentations