Tungsten vs Lead

[Darren.]

12 minutes ago, pofoghladha said:

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. 

Usually when I use shrink wrap I use a plain
old lighter, works well  Have repaired a lot
of phone charging cables thusly. 

[primetime]

The Ponds/lakes near my home have some tungsten weights on the bottom or in a fishes belly because I used to buy the BPS tungsten and fish it on braid just the way it was, and I always thought it was bad braid, my fault for not checking etc....

Then I started using inserts, a buddy coated my weights for me, and I have not had a problem since. 

I have hunted for Tungsten deals for years, tried to buy in bulk etc...Vike had the best quality imo of any company overseas but when you add in shipping etc...I would rather buy from Siebert for more options, plus I don't know how you beat his bulk Jig head prices, and bulk meaning 5 packs of Jigs that are top quality. Strike King weights are the only brands you can usually buy at retail stores other than BPS, and they seem to be fine as well. I wish I stumbled upon one of the Walmart sales I hear about where packs of weights are $5....That would make me happy.

For some reason, losing a $10+ weight bothers me more than losing a $10 lure, and since this is Florida, you actually need the big weights some days, and 1.5 oz. weights are something I treasure in my box more than anything else since they are necessary at times. I do my best to make sure I don't lose them anymore, and I have found that buying them unpainted works fine, if you want to color them sharpies work fine, after all, they are falling through water with limited visibility, Silver = flash so I think it helps at times. 

[Airman4754]

Omfishingsinkers.com

Paint them whatever color you want. 

For me personally I can't really tell a difference. I run really hight end rods with braid or fluoro. The main advantage is they are smaller and get hung up less, which is nice. 

[soflabasser]

Tungsten weights definitely have their place in bass fishing,but I won't be buying them anytime soon.Will keep using lead weights and if one day its banned in my area I will use brass weights.

[Choporoz]

I was fishing thick grass this weekend, but required a finesse-y presentation. I was quite glad I had some 1/16 tungsten bullet weights along.  They made a huge difference coming through the grass (over the lead.  Actually, spider heads were better than both, but ran through the few I had too quickly.)