Wanna give Tungsten a shot.

[TriStateBassin106]

Hey BR, 

 

Very interested in picking up some tungsten sinkers to replace my aging led weights I have left over from last year. can somebody recommend brands for me? something that isn't outrageously overpriced but something that has quality and sensitivity to it, I also don't fish very deep bodies of water so what would be a good weight size I could get away with for pitching and flipping with a baitcaster? 1/4th maybe? look forward to the responses!

[Teal]

I buy the cheapest I can find.  I dont worry about paint jobs or brand names.  I havent had any bad batches or anything.  I typically keep a small stock of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.  I have a handful of heavy sizes. 3/4-1.5

 

Just to try it out, get you some 1/4 and go for it

[yosef]

Omfishingsinkers.com I place an order at the beginning of each year. Sucks living in a lead free state but they are definitely the cheapest I have found. Usually shipping is between 1-2 weeks but would say it’s going to be much longer since it comes China mail .  Also every time I get the $5 ebay coupon code I usually get a pack of tungsten weights for free  with it 

[TriStateBassin106]

18 minutes ago, yosef said:

Omfishingsinkers.com I place an order at the beginning of each year. Sucks living in a lead free state but they are definitely the cheapest I have found. Usually shipping is between 1-2 weeks but would say it’s going to be much longer since it comes China mail .  Also every time I get the $5 ebay coupon code I usually get a pack of tungsten weights for free  with it 

how is the sensitivity of the weights? 

[Mjmj]

33 minutes ago, yosef said:

Omfishingsinkers.com I place an order at the beginning of each year. Sucks living in a lead free state but they are definitely the cheapest I have found. Usually shipping is between 1-2 weeks but would say it’s going to be much longer since it comes China mail .  

^^^^^This^^^^^^^^

 

8 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

how is the sensitivity of the weights? 

Tungsten is usually 97%. All the tungsten I have used seems the same. 

[I/MBasser]

Siebert outdoors has a great selection.  A little more expensive than omfishingsinkers but would rather support American company.  Plus I don’t want anything from China shipped directly to my home.  

[wisconsin heat]

2 hours ago, I/MBasser said:

Siebert outdoors has a great selection.  A little more expensive than omfishingsinkers but would rather support American company.  Plus I don’t want anything from China shipped directly to my home.  

I also highly recommend Seibert for Tungsten, not only an American company, but they are a site sponsor here so you're supporting the community. He's got great prices and high quality product ?.

 

As far as sizes, my favorite sizes are 3/16, 1/4, and 3/8 oz - which based on your shallower bodies of water is what I think would be good for you too. You can also pick up some heavier weights if you plan on punching through vegetation, I usually use 3/8-3/4 oz to do this, but if your vegetation is really really thick you can use even heavier weights - some Florida anglers use up to 2 oz weights when punching grass!

[Smalls]

Jigshack.com is pretty cheap, and has a wide variety. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

I wouldn't pay as much attention to the depth of the water as I would the cover that you're casting in, around and through.  I use anywhere from 1/8 up to 1oz in as shallow as a foot or two.  

 

If you can afford it 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 should cover most situations you would encounter.  You will notice that the weights are considerably smaller than the lead you are currently using, and much more sensitive.  Most are 97%. 

 

Another vote for @Siebert Outdoors Good prices, excellent customer service and always answer any questions I have.

[Bird]

I use Croch 1/4 for lakes, price is right. 

[Mjmj]

12 hours ago, I/MBasser said:

Plus I don’t want anything from China shipped directly to my home.  

75% of tungsten comes from China 

[fishballer06]

1 hour ago, Mjmj said:

100% of tungsten comes from China 

Fixed that for you

[Mjmj]

Thanks. ( I agree ) when I googled it, is stated 75% and I didn't really want to get into a debate that someone says " well it said on Google "

[Ogandrews]

Unless I’m punching or just flipping around heavier grass I find myself using 1/8 and 3/16 the most, depending on lure size. I always like to go with as light as I can get away with as I feel like I always get more bites with a lighter weight, but that could be a personal confidence thing. I do a decent amount of punching in the summer and my most used size is 1oz although I have used up to 1 1/2. Like others said you won’t need to use quite as heavy of a weight, if you were using 1/4 of lead then go with either 1/8 or 3/16 of tungsten for the same rof.

[I/MBasser]

2 hours ago, Mjmj said:

75% of tungsten comes from China 

That very well may be.  But by the time tungsten is shipped to an American company, stored and then sent to me based on my order I have nothing to worry about.  At this point I'm just not comfortable ordering a product that is shipped directly from China.  I'm sure it would be safe based on the time it takes to hit my front door, but just not comfortable with it yet.

[TriStateBassin106]

2 hours ago, Ogandrews said:

Unless I’m punching or just flipping around heavier grass I find myself using 1/8 and 3/16 the most, depending on lure size. I always like to go with as light as I can get away with as I feel like I always get more bites with a lighter weight, but that could be a personal confidence thing. I do a decent amount of punching in the summer and my most used size is 1oz although I have used up to 1 1/2. Like others said you won’t need to use quite as heavy of a weight, if you were using 1/4 of lead then go with either 1/8 or 3/16 of tungsten for the same rof.

Do you know anywhere I can get them in 3/16 and 1/8? I checked sieberts and they don't have tungsten in that size

[Siebert Outdoors]

4 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Do you know anywhere I can get them in 3/16 and 1/8? I checked sieberts and they don't have tungsten in that size

Check out my Rocket weights.  I'll have 1/32 through 1/2 in those.  I have Black, Green Pumpkin and No Chip(1/16 and up).  Flipping weights start at 1/4

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, I/MBasser said:

That very well may be.  But by the time tungsten is shipped to an American company, stored and then sent to me based on my order I have nothing to worry about.  At this point I'm just not comfortable ordering a product that is shipped directly from China.  I'm sure it would be safe based on the time it takes to hit my front door, but just not comfortable with it yet.

Drop the package in a bucket of bleach bought with the money you saved.  

[WRB]

What separates a good tungsten bullet weight from a bad weight is the through hole edges are smooth in lieu of sharpe.

It's the aquatic plant growth the determines weight for punching through it, not water depth. Standard sliding bullet weight Texas rigged soft plastics no reason to use more then 1/8 to 3/8 oz weights. You will be surprised that tungsten weights are 1/2 the size of lead weights.

Tom

[I/MBasser]

15 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Drop the package in a bucket of bleach bought with the money you saved.  

Can't find any bleach 

[fishwizzard]

2 minutes ago, I/MBasser said:

Can't find any bleach 

Gas would work but that will likely strip the paint.  

[TriStateBassin106]

3 hours ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

Check out my Rocket weights.  I'll have 1/32 through 1/2 in those.  I have Black, Green Pumpkin and No Chip(1/16 and up).  Flipping weights start at 1/4

Thanks Siebert!!

[TriStateBassin106]

On 5/6/2020 at 3:05 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:

Check out my Rocket weights.  I'll have 1/32 through 1/2 in those.  I have Black, Green Pumpkin and No Chip(1/16 and up).  Flipping weights start at 1/4

Siebert How many weights come in the rocket pack?

[txchaser]

Does anyone still make no-chip green pumpkin ones? SK used to make them, but I don't see them anywhere.

 

It probably doesn't matter, but I really liked the matte GP vs black.

[Siebert Outdoors]

11 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Siebert How many weights come in the rocket pack?

I sell them per piece.