Tungsten or Not to Tungsten?

[NavyVet]

Thanks for all the opinions and information thus far. Another question. There seems to be a significant price difference depending on which brand of tungsten you want to buy. Is brand that important? It would seem to me that tungsten is tungsten no matter which brand you plan on buying, or am I missing something?

[Choporoz]

Additionally, beware of the some cheaper stuff.  If QC is poor, the weights can have sharp edges that will shear your line.  Inserts used to be almost mandatory, but if the edges are polished, you may be ok.  Read reviews on brands/vendors and maybe buy real small quantity first to test for yourself.

[fishwizzard]

I have been buying all my tungsten weights from omfishingsinkers, they are the cheapest I have ever found. I don’t really like the hooks they use in their jigs, but the weights themselves have allways been perfect. I spot check a few out if each order for burrs or any flaws but have never found any.  

[Further North]

On 9/11/2018 at 12:06 PM, Troy1985s said:

Tungsten is more sensitive than lead.

I agree.  Every time I yell at it, it cries.

 

Kidding!

 

Just so i'm actually adding to the topic, the weights I use most often are steel...which is the opposite direction from Tungsten.  Mine are unpainted.

[sully420]

On 9/11/2018 at 2:09 PM, A-Jay said:

I have & fish both Lead & Tungsten however if there is a choice in an application, I prefer tungsten.

For me & my fishing this is how & why:

Tungsten is smaller & denser than lead and it seems to transmit any contact to my hands better than lead (especially hard cover) So when I need to penetrate cover, tungsten gets the nod. 

When I want / need to really 'feel' the both on a presentation where there is a choice - tungsten gets the nod.

btw -  The very first time I fish a rig with a tungsten bullet weight on a hard bottom - the bottom contact transmission up my line , through the rod and to my hands was SO Intense, I was setting the hook 5 times a cast - and they were NOT Strikes - just the bait clicking along the bottom - I'd equate it to the same sensitivity different between Mono & braid. 

I eventually figured it out. 

 Now when I need some weight on a rig but I'm not looking to or even want any cover penetration, (like soft / muck or weeds bottoms, I use lead; usually light(er) less than 3/8 or so). 

 Drop shot Neko rigs are about 50/50 lead & tungsten and almost always depends on bottom composition & or the presence of zebra mussels ( on the later that's lead right there - all day every day). 

YMMV

A-Jay

I agree 100%. I fish low to mid priced rods and I can definitely feel cover better. Bite detection dosen't seem to matter between the two. The price keeps lead in my box. I probably lost 30 bucks of tungsten this season to toothy giants.

[Further North]

23 minutes ago, sully420 said:

I probably lost 30 bucks of tungsten this season to toothy giants.

That's why I use tieable wire leaders...

[GReb]

6 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

I have been buying all my tungsten weights from omfishingsinkers, they are the cheapest I have ever found. I don’t really like the hooks they use in their jigs, but the weights themselves have allways been perfect. I spot check a few out if each order for burrs or any flaws but have never found any.  

Wow that is a good price. Gonna have to place an order with them