Weight size/type for rivers

[buzbunni]

Howdy all.

I've been poppin' around on the CC HSOforum and looking in my catalog. I was wondering about the weights I should get. Does anyone use the "No Roll" sinkers? I was thinking of getting them in 3,4,6, and 8oz. Maybe this is overkill? I know DARK30(I think it's you) makes 16oz. pucks...don't know if I'm ready for that size yet.

Is there any concern over line nicking because of the way it runs thru the middle of the sinker.

Thanks.

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SERIOUSLY! It was THIS big!

[Fisher Dave]

Yup .. thats Dark30 with the hockey pucks.

Large weighs can nick the line, smash knots, etc... I try to use weights that have a large diameter hole so it doesnt smash my knot, or I'll use a bead to stop the impact.

No roll sinkers are very good, no-snag sinkers do ok, but tend to spin like a spinner on the retrieve, pyramid sinkers can be awesome, but will catch every snag in the river in some terrain, coin sinkers with the brass eyes are usualy excellent, bell sinkers are ok if there are not a lot of snags, or excessive current.. they tend to roll on me. Claw sinkers are excellent, but a bit tedious to pour, a little spendy, and take a ton of room to store.

As for the amount of weight ... any amount you need to hold your bait in place is perfect ... a 6 oz sinker is overkill if your using a fathead in 5 ft of water with a 2 mph current .. but your lucky if it will hold a 12" minnow in place in a 5 mph current in 15' of water if you have to cast any distance at all ... if your bait is drifting downstream, it will eventually get hung on something.

If all else fails steal one of Dark30's *pucks* and you should have no problem keeping your bait in place .. or the boat.

[Wiskers]

The tear drop shaped noroll sinkers are all I use with a beed.. Of course I only use braided line and it seems to work just fine for me.. of course after several days of fishing you might have to trim off the worn areas every so often.. Not a real issue here..I only use up to 3oz.. never found a mold to make bigger ones yet... I like the puck idea lol.. gonna have to swindle him out of one of them... lol

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Wiskers Guiding Service
Red River, Red Lake River & Minnesota River,for Channel Cats, Flatheads & Walleyes
Crookston, MN
[email protected]

218-280-0442

[This message has been edited by Wiskers Guiding Service (edited 04-06-2004).]

[DARK30]

Puc I make um with a Teflon core so the line is not effected by the steel. Its more of a twist on downriggers than anything (off the back of the boat in fast water)..No rolls will not only roll, they'll fly! Some situations require heavy duty. Tonight,I just had my 12# mono and a 2 oz. got a cute little Flathead on crawlers.

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Mr Special]

Hey Dark,
Last year I remember you saying something about deburring the rough spots on the no- roll sinker. What did you recomend to used?

Thanks See you On the Water

[Dennis Steele]

I prefer to use the least amount of wieght as possible.Too much weight can affect your hookset when fishing with kahle or O'Shaunessy style hooks.Circle hooks I don't think it matters too much.
The largest wieght I would use is a 5oz and that would be to anchor a lively large bait in or near fairly swift current.
I think its more important to get your boat anchored up properly and fish directly downstream of your location.Choose your anchor spot carefully and you won't need much weight at all to keep your bait where you want it.Fishing cross current can cost quite a few rigs and you do not have a dirrect contact with the fish that may happen on to your bait.
But any way,I would get a few 1 oz norolls a bunch of 2's and and a bunch of 3's,Throw in half a dozen 5oz for the big baits and you will be set.I also keep a stash of good old gremlin bell's in the smaller sizes when you need to downsize your baits for picky cats.

[Fisher Dave]

Dennis made a good point with the lighter weights ... I also try to use the least weight possible .. it often *cost* a few rigs to get it right if you do most of your fishing from shore.

In time I went from 90% of my flathead persuit from a boat .. to 90% from the shore. What it takes to peg your bait fishing directly downstream, and cross current are 2 different worlds.

[Flashman]

I normally use the 2 or 3 oz no roll, they stay put but mainly it's because Wiskers has the mold for those and a lot of lead in his garage, so when I run out I make a trip to his house and pour some more. LOL Hey Wiskers, have you poured any of those pyrmid sinkers in Perch Jerkers mold yet? When you do, pour a couple extra for me

Missed two fish at Blackdog over lunch today.

[scotty B]

I usally use a 4oz no roll (teardrop style) that has been friendly to me even by dams. Hey whiskers if you are looking for larger no rolls go to the scheels in moorhead if you dont mind the trip. I have been very satisfied with there selection of tackle 2 date. Scotty B

[Canuck]

To prevent the No Roll sinkers from smashing the knot take some 1/8" gasline hose and cut it into about 1/4" pieces and put it between the sinker and the knot. I keep these pieces of hose in a film cannister and find they are much more plyable and work better than beads.

The most weight I have used on the Red in major current is 2 3oz weights. I try and keep the weight amt to the least I can but make sure the bait is not swinging too much on the bottom.