Tungsten Vs Lead

[floridabassman]

I have been using lead bullet weights on my texas rigged plastics for years.

 

Now everybody has been telling me to switch to tungsten weights

 

I know that they are very expensive

 

What are the advantages of tunsten?

  

 

[emjaysmit]

I believe there are numerous advantages to tungsten. When fishing tungsten it is easier to feel changes in the bottom eg. gravel to clay or mud, or vice versa...When fishing rocks tungsten also deflects much easier and recoils so hang ups aren't so frequent. What happens with convensional lead weights is that when fishing rocks it tends to take and change shape as it bends and scratches, it takes shape and get's stuck in cracks and rock cavity's. It also clicks and amplifies sound much better than conventional lead. The other advantage is that you get alot more weight for the size of the weight you are fishing.

 

Main disadvantages are the cost. Having said this, a few years ago down here in SA lead was the only thing we had to fish with with. We still caught fish and it was relatively inexpensive. You will still catch fish with lead. But forking out the extra can make life easier. It's like changing the standrads with Fluoro, you swallow hard at the price tag but once you feel the advantages with most weighted applications it's hard to go back to mono. Now treat yourself with a very sensitive rod spooled with a high quality fluoro and a tungsten weight....it's like talking to fish and you will end up asking yourself how you even went without it....

 

Real life scenario, you got your first car, it drives like the best thing you ever had, it does what it needs to and you love it....you start working and you buy yourself a luxury SUV or sedan...all of a sudden it's a new world, get back in your old car and it's not quite the same again...so bottom line is if it works for you now it will carry on working for you....upgrading will mean a new game and you will struggle going back to your old ways...technology advances every day and so should we...

 

If you can't justify the money changing to tungsten then don't, it won't make you less a fisherman it will only make life that little easier....

 

Tight lines

[00 mod]

They are more dense, therefor harder and give more feedback(sensitivity).  Also because of this, they are smaller for the same amount of weight.  ie: a 1/4 oz might be 1/3 the size in tungsten than lead!

 

Jeff

[WRB]

The only reason the bass fisherman change to tungsten was due to environmental impact of lead weight, when lead was banned. Substitute metals were introduced during the lead ban period and tungsten was found to have the advantage of being heavier and harder then lead. The hardness caused and still causes line fraying if the weight has a sharp edge. Brass is another metal that is hard, not as heavy as lead and also makes a good lead substitute, less expensive alternative than tungsten.

The lead ban still exist is some states, lifted in others and if you still use lead weights, check your states regs.

Tom

[BrettD]

After I tried tungsten I will never go back to using lead.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I love tungsten, just wish it wasnt so expensive.

 

Some of my favorite shakey heads are the Tru Tungsten series. Got them on clearance so it wasnt too painful.

[Crestliner2008]

Our state of MA is one of those that have recently banned the use of lead sinkers. A mistake in my opinion, but that's a whole 'nuther matter for discussion. There is no way on this God's good earth that I would pay over a buck a piece for any kind of sinker. Been fishing a lot of years - over 50, as a matter of fact. And I just cannot afford those kinds of additional increases in cost to my favorite sport - along with all the rest of the increases we're constantly being subjected to; boat launch fees, taxes, registrations and licensing increases.

 

This is way over the top in my opinion. So I will never support the tungsten route. We've switched to brass and steel around here, with no ill effects on catch ratios. Very cost effective as well - until they ban those too! For those of you fine folks that are able (and willing) to pay the price for tungsten, more power to you. It's just against my nature to advocate for another increase the cost of this fine sport. Pretty soon, only the rich will be able to fish. And that's a shame, in my opinion.

[mtaag3]

What about brass and steel? I've seen the steel (the only brass I've seen are those pre made C-rigs) but was wondering if it would be worth it. It stings a little when loosing a C-rig set up from the shore when you have a tungsten weight on the other end.

 

Didn't mean to hijack the thread but thought it was relevant.

[.ghoti.]

I quit using sliding lead weights years ago. I got tired of having to replace most of my selection every year because the ends of the weights were being pinched shut, banging around in my boxes.

Started using Ultra Steel weights, and see no reason to change. Steel is harder than lead, and does a little better job transmitting bottom information than lead. Tungsten is harder still and does a little better job than steel, but no where near enough better the justify the cost differential.

I can buy 15 steel weights for the price of one Tungsten weight. And the steel weights have never nicked or frayed my line.

[PABASS]

Here is what I don't get about these bans, what about jigs, spinnerbaits and most baits that when you read about them contain lead, I am all for the environment but really most fishing lures that I spend time to read about contain lead.  My river has far worse problems that lead from anglers I just hope this state never passes such top down law, the fertilizer run off needs to be address first.

[WRB]

What about brass and steel? I've seen the steel (the only brass I've seen are those pre made C-rigs) but was wondering if it would be worth it. It stings a little when loosing a C-rig set up from the shore when you have a tungsten weight on the other end.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread but thought it was relevant.

Top Brass makes a full line if brass bullet weights and Don Iovino sells Top Brass custom painted in a wide selection, check them out, I use Iovino's painted weights or simply paint them myself depending on how fancy I want them or lazy I am. I do not like the bright brass finish.

A real advantage with a hard weight is the nose hole never gets pounded closed, the weight slides a lot better.

I also use the glass faceted beads with the brass weight; brass n glass makes a crawdad clicking sound.

Tom

[derekxec]

ill have to try some tungsten last night we were snook fishing and bouncing lead sliding weights off the wall to get it into a good spot and the hole closed and cut my line haha...i tried the steel but they are big for their weight but if the tungsten doesnt wow me ill go to the steel

[mnbassman23]

I usually buy tungsten due to it being much smaller and sensitive. Personally when I get to 1/4oz and less I go with lead. Do to the price I can buy bulk lead for dirt cheaper and really the weight isn't that big in those smaller sizes.