No Roll Sinkers and why to use them?

[rushing]

What color weight do you use?

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Rainbow colored ones.

[Surreal Deal]

I'm not a fan of the silly sinker slides though. They tend to get tangled up and whatnot, in my experience.

This was my experience also last year when I gave sinker slides a test drive. I had several incidents where my leader got tangled up in the slide. I wouldn't know until I hauled in, leaving me sitting there after each cast wondering if my rig was OK or not. Who needs that kind of anxiety when you're fishing?

With that said, 100% of my catfishing experience up to now has involved casting from shore, and I'm pretty sure that the sinker slide tangles result from the physics involved in the cast more so than the current. Trolling or drifting on the St. Croix like Steve D. does, where a fellow could just let his line out gently (like some kind of a walleye fisherman), might be a different story.

[mrklean]

i had pretty good results with the sinker slides last year once in awhile i would get a tangle there but like you said most was from casting

[TruthWalleyes]

Big fan of sinker slides,

Once the bait hits the water, i hold the line with my fingers and slowly let out line so the bait is sinking straight down, and keeping the bait downstream of the sinker preventing any tangles.

[pureinsanity]

I use no rolls because I read an article that Dennis Steele a famous cat guy wrote. That was the setup he uses, so if he uses no rolls they must make me catch more fish!

[Big Cat Dad]

I use no rolls almost exclusively, however, I'm going to experiement with other sinkers this year. Talking with Tim Scott (former Procats editor) he talked about his using cannon ball sinkers because he can be more precision with his casting. He said no rolls when entering the water will sway back and forth and you can't be precise enough with them(makes sense).

He also said that often times, when fishing from a boat, it's good to let the current take the bait to the current pool or seam, rather then chucking on an 8 oz. sinker and sticking it in the mud straight up.

Also for everyone that say cats don't care about sinker weight, I would agree in many cases, however, not all cases. When Channels are finicky they most surely care about resistance, sinker weight and hook size. I would always use the smallest sinker size that the situation calls for. Same goes for hook size. I didn't always feel that way either.

[mainbutter]

Good question. I almost exclusively use pyramid sinkers or egg sinkers depending on the circumstance.

[Perch_44]

I use whatever 4oz sinkers i can get the cheapest online or on 3Bay!

[slipperybob]

I just like to put a bunch of splitshot or rubber core sinkers on the line till I get what I want. J/K

I use simple pyramids, bank, or lindy walking sinkers. I don't fish such fast currents so I don't need much more than 1 or 2 oz in weight.

[fishinJohn]

I use no rolls and bank sinkers and one advantage for me with no rolls is they don't flop around as much when I am travelling to and from my fishing spot. Several of my spots involve a walk of a quarter mile or more. Depending on the spot I may have four rods with me and I don't like to have a mess when I get there.

[TruthWalleyes]

If anyone is looking to make their own sinkers this year...I just picked up 150# of lead for $50. Pretty sure this guy has got plenty more. Mankato Area. There is a listing in gregs List. Or i can give you his #.

Good deal considering lead goes for $1.28/#

[pureinsanity]

If anyone is looking to make their own sinkers this year...I just picked up 150# of lead for $50. Pretty sure this guy has got plenty more. Mankato Area. There is a listing in gregs List. Or i can give you his #.

Good deal considering lead goes for $1.28/#

My buddy has about 300# of dirty lead he got for free. We are gonna melt her down one of these days!

[mrklean]

just picked up about 100 pounds for free and have more coming

[TruthWalleyes]

Dang, My deal doesn't sound as good anymore

[mrklean]

ha i looked everywhere and was close to buying then i asked someone who use to run a tire place he made a call for me and picked up a bucket yesterday

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Nick we need to get on the ball with melting this lead down. We should do it within the next week or two.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yeah there are a few guys with a bunch of lead. I dont need any more sinkers but I would be willin to help out now that I have an idea of how to do it.

[Ed Carlson]

No-Rolls are very versatile, my personal weight of choice for 20 some plus years now. They hold well with less snags and with less weight to do the job required.

I use the No-Roll system for many species specific applications including bottom bouncers for walleye. I make my own quick change No-Roll weight walleye bouncers with them.

Shuttle Weight systems also have there place and also offer user flexibility in application. More user friendly in sand and gravel systems, and less so in wood rich or granite based environments.

Disk, egg, pyramid, and sand weights work best in soft bottoms and loose aggregate based systems.

Snake Weights work well for mixed rock, floats, and drift fishing flats.

3 way drop off terminal rigs do the heavy work in areas where you set the bait and expect to loose the weight. Stick it, and leave it.

Lots of variables on what rigging one should use and what weights serve you best. Many times it's experiment tell you find the right rig for the conditions.

[pureinsanity]

Nick we need to get on the ball with melting this lead down. We should do it within the next week or two.

Not sure if that will happen that soon. I got a lot of house work to do. If you need some sinkers I will give you some until I find time to burn it down

[tjbassmaster]

I always have trouble keeping my bait from rolling. I have never used no rolls before and was wondering what size no rolls do you usually use?

[TruthWalleyes]

I always have trouble keeping my bait from rolling. I have never used no rolls before and was wondering what size no rolls do you usually use?

Tough one to answer.

Cut bait vs Live

4" bullhead vs 10" bullhead

Slack water vs Current

Lots of factors go into weight size. I rarely use a no roll smaller than 4oz, but i tend to fish big baits.

80% of the time I use a 6oz bank sinker on a slide.

[Gordie]

I always have trouble keeping my bait from rolling. I have never used no rolls before and was wondering what size no rolls do you usually use?

depends on current.bait size and bait selection Two differnt live baits the same size will take differnt weights to hold them down.

but there is a solution and its is have many differnt sizes of sinkers and time on the water

Sorry but somethings just have to be experienced rather than told what or how

Now if you looking for a one size fits all sinker that again is a tough one but I would go with a 3 oz that way if need be you can double up on sinkers or even cut the 3 down to achive the weight desired.

I have done this with many different style sinkers and had good success but have many different selections and sizes is IMO the best way to go.

Good Luck TJ

[tjbassmaster]

Thanks for the info! I will just pick up a good varity and start experimenting.

[Steve Foss]

I typically used 3 oz no-rolls, too. Cast some 2 oz but they stayed in the box most of the time. Bigger bait or more current, and I doubled up the 3 oz.