Tungsten vs Lead

[Jacob102537]

I love to fish texas rigs and flip and pitch. But Iv'e been using lead for years now and I wanted to give tungsten a try. So When I saw the price of it and the quantity you get for that price I was shocked. I've caught fish on lead but I like how compact and sensitive tungsten is. Where does everybody get there tungsten from that wont break the bank?

Thanks

[00 mod]

Www.Siebertoutdoors.com

best prices and can order individual weights per size.

Jeff

[S. Sass]

Haha that is the $64,000,000,000.00 question. Tungsten is secretly gold and priced as such. 

Right now my local Walmart has some on the clearance isle. The 3/16 oz in black or green pumpkin. 4 per pack for $5.00  Other than that it's pretty much hint and peck for a deals or sales for me. 

[Darren.]

2 minutes ago, 00 mod said:

Www.Siebertoutdoors.com

best prices and can order individual weights per size.

Jeff

Wow, drop shot weights are a great price there!

Gonna have to order some up.

To the OP, welcome to the forums!
I've bought tungsten on sale at various shops,
but I'll probably buy from Siebert for my next
batch. I didn't know he sold individual weights.

[Bass Turd]

It's  great motivation to re-tie often....

[Senko lover]

Ebay has some good prices on tungsten as well if you look hard enough. 

[Jacob102537]

Thanks everyone!

[junyer357]

X2 for siebert.

Great prices and beautiful jigs with great prices too. Some of it is on sale for fathers day too there. Ive got an ordsr in for some more extreme jigs and tungsten weights myself. 

["hamma"]

Bass pro has the bullet weights tungsten screwlock worm weights, first I've seen of them, and they work great,..now i need to hit powerball to fund replacing my lead ones,...lmao

Ive noticed that not many manufacturers (if any at all) make tungsten 1/4 0z casting bass jigs, 1/4 oz football bass jigs, and jigheads,.. Is this a molding issue? I will check out seiberts

[Jar11591]

I get all my tungsten weights from www.SiebertOutdoors.com

 

Once you try tungsten, you'll never go back to lead!

[WRB]

Unlike lead tungsten is a very hard metal and any burr or sharp edge will cut your line.

The fact that tungsten cost 10-20X the price of lead is in the material and manufacturing cost. If your state hasn't band lead you have the option to use it.

Another alternative is brass, not as expensive however also larger in size than lead.

Tom

[the reel ess]

I only use them for T rigging and I only have 3/16 and 1/4 oz. But I use them with 50 lb braid so I haven't lost but one. Academy has unpainted ones at a decent price. I fish a rather weedy place and I think the small profile of these helps cut through the weeds better.

[BassThumb]

4 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Once you try tungsten, you'll never go back to lead!

He's right. Lead feels rather 'dead' after one gets used to tungsten.

The major advantage, to me, is the ability to use a T-rig to scout bottom content and composition. You can feel the transition from mud to sand, sand to gravel, gravel to rock, etc., especially with the heavier ones. 

Now, on a related topic, try some tungsten shaky head jigs. Those are game changers, too. 

[blckshirt98]

I'm hoping the prices of tungsten goes down eventually as it becomes more in demand from lead bans.  I lose way too many lead dropshot weights, using tungsten would burn a hole in my wallet.

[Jon G]

Another vote for siebert. My advice is to buy a pack or two a month if you don't want to blow a lot of money by buying in bulk all at once. 

[crypt]

got a bunch off ebay for a rally good price. just looked at sieberts and am going to order from them,great price.

[greentrout]

Have bought some at Academy and BPS when on sale. The painted ones at Academy don't hold up. The paint is easily chipped off. Think it's a good idea to check out Siebert the sponsor.

[Darren.]

Just placed an order with Siebert for 
some tungsten drop shot weights!

Great deal.

[primetime]

My Opinion on Tungsten....It is worth it for punching since any worm weight over an ounce, is too long and too big and pops open the fishes mouth imo, Sensitivity when punching is not important to me, heavy weight over an ounce is about line watching and weighting the line. 

For some reason lead punching weights are only made with the collar for skirts, I have held a 1 ounce bass pro Tunsten lead weight with collar for tying on a skirt next to a Tungsten and the size difference is not all that different. However, I only like a punch skirt maybe half the time, and I don't want a worm weight with the collar unless I am tying on a skirt.

One warning....I don't care what brand tungsten, I make sure I have some type of insert when Punching, Especially with braid which frays easy. Make sure you coat your line with some type of coating, add an insert to your flipping weight because Tungsten is dense and sharp and it will cut into your line and you will set the hook and have nothing there.....Some say it is better and more sensitive in lighter weights, I don't notice much of a difference, I find braid or Fluoro is what makes the bites easier to detect. I like brass under 1/2 ounce for flash and for sound, plus it is not sharp, same with steel. 

Seibert has the best pricing, colors, and sizes...5/16 oz weights are like gold to me, I truly believe every Bass sees 1/4 and 3/8 all day long, every time I see someone using a finesse jig, or pitching rig, and are doing well, they are using 5/16....I know it sounds minor but I notice I get more bites on 5/16 so I do buy tungsten and If I let it slide....Inserts, coatings, and I think Aaron Martins has a video about this....Beads help, but not for sliding weights.

Everyone has an opinion, and if you believe it helps you out by using a sliding 3/16 tungsten bullet weight over a lead bullet weight then keep doing it. I do not have confidence in the Jig Rig, nor have I seen anyone use one with success, but I do know that some guys love them so I would try that as an option....I just need to gain more confidence in one, I love the idea but never keep it tied on since fishing mats is all about focus and confidence so I stick with my go to rig...1 ounce weight pegged, Culprit Incredicraw, and an Owner Flipping twistlock hook so the weight stays out of my way....

[primetime]

On 6/15/2016 at 4:01 PM, Senko lover said:

Ebay has some good prices on tungsten as well if you look hard enough. 

Just be careful when buying Tungsten on Ebay...Several guys import cheap Tungsten which is only like 60/40 at best...I am not saying all of them, but if price seems lower than Seibert, I would really check his source..Make sure any Imported Tungsten if made by VIke. I would not trust any  others, Seibert seems to have the best prices, BPS has good weights when on sale, I have never found paint coming off as an issue, in fact I often think pure silver works best especially when using whites or in dark water for flash....

Some guys on Ebay are legit, but some are not, you can order Tunsten weigths overseas that state 97% and if tested they are barely 50% plus, not that it really matters, that is probably a better mix since it is softer now that I think about it....I find Tunsten to hard and cuts my line way too much, adding an insert is needed if using it all day even on 65lb braid, or 20lb Fluoro, 30lb mono....The insert kills any "Sensitivity which I feel is line related, but just my opinion, I use Tungsten, I just go overboard protecting the line...Tom Made his first sentence about how sharp Tungsten is.....He is dead on....

If you like Vike Products....Buy from Vike....They sell small amounts.

[sarcazmo]

Buy it from china for a fraction of the price.  I just placed a large order and I don't plan on buying more for years :-)  

Do your due diligence and you should be fine.

[Mike L]

I only use tungsten because of the size in relation to lead. I agree with Primtime, the sensitivity of tungsten does notning for me in the waters I fish. 

You guys who fish in and around rock, wood or hard bottom waters can find it as an advantage.

 

Mike 

[pofoghladha]

On 6/16/2016 at 8:19 PM, primetime said:

Inserts, coatings, and I think Aaron Martins has a video about this....

Yes! Search YouTube for "Aaron Martens Tungsten Weight Trick" and there are a few vids demonstrating.

I've done this to all my tungsten worm weights and it's very easy. Size 3/32 heat shrink tubing works best I've found, available at Ace Hardware among others for about $1/8pk of tubes. Each tube can cover 2-4 weights approximately, depending on weight size and your technique. I'm sure some extremely frugal guys could do 5 or 6 small weights haha. 

The nice part with shrink tube is that it flairs out, over any sharp edges of the weight created by the bored hole. But I guess the ultimate braniac question becomes: "Does the insert negate some of the tungsten's sensitivity by creating even the smallest of buffers between weight and line?" The world may never know, or someone with too much time on their hands will figure it out. For me, the biggest appeal of tungsten isn't the sensitivity factor, but the size difference vs lead.  

 

Wait, found it:

 

[Darren.]

10 minutes ago, pofoghladha said:

Yes! Search YouTube for "Aaron Martens Tungsten Weight Trick" and there are a few vids demonstrating.

That was a great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

I have watched a number of his vids over time,
never saw that one, then again, I don't normally
use tungsten for TX rigging...but will remember
this trick for the future.

[pofoghladha]

19 minutes ago, Darren. said:

That was a great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

I have watched a number of his vids over time,
never saw that one, then again, I don't normally
use tungsten for TX rigging...but will remember
this trick for the future.

No problem. You could probably get away with a regular cigarette lighter, but notice in the vid AM uses a pocket torch. I got one from REI a few years ago made by Soto for $20. You just drop in a cheap Scripto lighter (not the rounded Bic variety) and it focuses the flame nicely. I think they're similar to, if not the same as a jeweler's torch.