How to Tie Fishing Weights

fishing image by Greg Pickens from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

When angling for fish, rig your main line, or leader, with a sinker, which is also called a weight, and drop your bait to the bottom or any other intermediary depth between the top and the bottom. The distance from the shore that you drop your line, and the depth at which you drop it, will determine which fish species have an opportunity to strike your bait. Rigging your line with a sinker is the most effective way of fishing for bottom-feeders like the bass, catfish and goldfish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Reel
Fishing line
Hook
Bait
Swivel
Sinker
Needle-nose pliers
Round pliers

Step 1

Pass an egg sinker onto your fishing line. Point the tapered end toward your fishing rod. Rig you fishing line with a 1/2-ounce egg sinker when fishing for catfish and other bottom dwellers. The egg sinker is ideal for a variety of fishing applications.

Step 2

Fasten a saltwater split-shot sinker to your fishing line or leader. Clamp or pinch the split-shot sinker to your line using a pair of clamps or needle-nose pliers. Fit the pliers over the split-shot sinker and press down to close the mouth of the sinker over the fishing line. Rig split-shot sinkers when top-water fishing or when fishing in a low current with small bait.

Step 3

Tie on a sinker rig. Tie a barrel sinker to your leader or fishing line using a fishing knot. Complete the clinch knot by wrapping the test line around the free line five or six turns. Drive the test line back through the loop and slide it under the last turn to close the clinch knot. Cut excess line with a pair of scissors.

Step 4

Rig a cigar weight set-up when fishing a sandy bottom, dropping your line in fast or rough currents, or when trolling. Tie a swivel to your fishing line using the clinch knot.

Step 5

Crimp the test line approximately 2 inches below the knot you crafted in the previous step. Thread a plastic fishing bead onto your fishing line followed by a cigar weight. Finish the rig with a second fishing bead.

Tips & Warnings

Egg sinkers typically weigh from 2 to 16 ounces.

Don't overload your main line with weights.

Resources

Fishing-Lead-JXT-XH-Sinkers: Images of Sinkers

Article Written By Charlie Gaston

Charlie Gaston has written numerous instructional articles on topics ranging from business to communications and estate planning. Gaston holds a bachelor's degree in international business and a master's degree in communications. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive travel experience.

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