3/16oz vs 1/4oz is there a difference?

[TriStateBassin106]

These two weight sizes are my go to for texas rigs. I throw tungsten not lead but I find myself constantly switching between the two at times. I don't use 3/8oz or bigger weights because I don't have extremely heavy cover in my neck of the woods. Do you guys use 1/4oz or 3/16oz more for your texas rigs and do the fish really notice a difference between the two? 

[ajschn06]

I think I would consider those basically the same weight..... Once you add the hook and bait, 1/16th of an ounce is probably not making much of a difference in how it falls or fishes....

[river-rat]

 I usually have a 3/16 and 1/4 oz. rigged on the deck, but I will not hesitate to go heaver. For example, in the Atchafalaya Basin this time of year a standard Brush Hog with a 1/2 oz. tungsten weight is very productive even though the water depth doesn't exceed 5'. I'm trying to generate a reaction strike with this presentation.

[Jmurphy87]

2 grams if I am not mistaken, so of course a little slower fall or less action out of the appendages. That’s my opinion I could be wrong but I figured that I would try to help ?

[FryDog62]

Maybe more of a mental thing for me but I do notice a difference between those two weights. I rarely go higher than 3/16, and if I do it is usually to a jig of some kind...

[WRB]

25% difference in weight does make a difference in ROF. 

Tom

[Team9nine]

Back when I tournament fished I only carried a couple types of worms and a single pack of worm weights - 3/16 oz., because that’s what Larry Nixon threw the most from tourney reports I read. They were “just in case” baits. I always threw a jig before a worm in nearly every scenario. My short answer - doesn’t matter; go 3/16 oz., unless you want to become a worm “specialist.”

[Catt]

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

25% difference in weight does make a difference in ROF. 

Tom

 

My thoughts precisely ?

 

I will usually start with 3/16 unless the winds are above 10-12 mph, that will over ride rate of fall.

[Mobasser]

If you've ever done any carpentry work, look at this on a tape measure. 3/16 and 1/4 are almost the same. I think the same holds true with weights in fishing between these two. It cant make much difference.

[OkobojiEagle]

Different soft plastic bait sizes require different jig head weights to maintain the same drop and retrieve speeds I like to fish.  Desired depth also factors into the equation, so yes I need weights 1/16, 3/32, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 & 3/8.

 

oe

[JLBBass]

I notice a difference

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

If you've ever done any carpentry work

 

Built custom cabinets for years, cut one side whatever & 3/16 and the other side whatever & 1/4.

 

I will fire you! ?

 

[ironbjorn]

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Built custom cabinets for years, cut one side whatever & 3/16 and the other side whatever & 1/4.

 

I will fire you! ?

 

Yeah bad example. Carpentry is precision work and requires, well... Precision.

 

I understand his point though that it's a nearly negligible difference. Except for when the difference matters, of course. Fishing... Well, not much of a difference in functionality between 3/16 and 1/4 ounce. 

 

To me it depends on who you are and what your goal is. Do you have 20 setups on board a fully loaded bass boat, fishing tournaments, needing to be absolutely perfect? Have both ready to go. You don't even need to be a tournament guy. If you've got the setups and a fully loaded bass boat as an average joe and you're looking to maximize your potential, have both.

 

If you're a bank or a kayak guy, or a Jon Boat guy, all with different limitations on what you can have, not fishing every single day, for 8-12 hours a day, not looking to be a perfectionist, but rather practical, you're fine with one. My preference is 3/16. 

[leinad]

bottom line is that it's a 25% difference ; if you think thats basically the same ok. rof will be different using same bait and those weights.

 

[T-Billy]

Not much difference between the two with a big bait. Pretty big difference with a little finesse bait. Size matters. Sometimes. I carry and use both

[Tennessee Boy]

The amount of weight you have on a T-rig matters a lot.  In my opinion it matters a lot more than color.  Weight determines rate of fall and the rate you can retrieve the lure without swimming it.  More weight means you can pull the line tighter without moving the bait.  Tighter line means better sensitivity.  More weight is also necessary when wind or current bows your line and of course when you want to fish deeper.

 

I almost always have at least two rods with t-rigs with different weights.  It pretty common for me to have three.  

 

Does 1/16 of ounce make a big difference? No.   Does it make a difference? Absolutely.

[NoShoes]

I love 1/4 from a casting perspective. Ain’t a whole lot of places I can’t stick a 1/4 oz weight and plastic. 

[Tatsu Dave]

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Maybe more of a mental thing for me but I do notice a difference between those two weights. I rarely go higher than 3/16, and if I do it is usually to a jig of some kind...

What He said ^^^^^^^Where I fish 3/16 is the ticket.

[TnRiver46]

Somebody already beat me to it but the difference is 1/16 of an ounce

 

Thank you I’ll be here all week

[Catt]

40 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

If you're a bank or a kayak guy, or a Jon Boat guy, all with different limitations on what you can have,

 

It takes a whole 2 minutes to cut & retie!

 

Y'all keep thinking that 1/16 of a once doesn't make a difference & I'll keep out fishing y'all.

[Team9nine]

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

It takes a whole 2 minutes to cut & retie!

 

Y'all keep thinking that 1/16 of a once doesn't make a difference & I'll keep out fishing y'all.

 

It's not the cut and retie time, but the purchase and carry space he was specifically referring to. You'd fall under my jig and worm specialist category, so it obviously makes a difference to you, and you need to carry them all. To the average angler (bank, kayak, jon boat singled out) limited on space that doesn't want to lug around boxes filled with every worm weight and jig head in 1/32 oz increments, it isn't going to make or break him. He'll either catch a few or he won't. That small a difference in ROF could easily be made up just by a difference in line type and diameter if push came to shove. Besides, if you outfish us, I'm crediting it to your experience and skill and not your 1/32 oz heavier worm weight   

[Catt]

4 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

To the average angler (bank, kayak, jon boat singled out) limited on space

 

I am both a bank fisherman & Jon boat fisherman. I carry two boxes, one with hooks & one with weights.

 

Plano Pro Latch Utility 3500 Box

Dimensions: 9.13" x 5" x 1.25".

 

 

[Team9nine]

12 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I am both a bank fisherman & Jon boat fisherman. I carry two boxes, one with hooks & one with weights.

 

Plano Pro Latch Utility 3500 Box

Dimensions: 9.13" x 5" x 1.25".

 

 

 

I'm a bank angler and aluminum boater, too. I carry one baggie with hooks, weights AND baits  If total poundage wins, then you've got this contest wrapped up  

 

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

I'm a bank angler too. I carry one bag with hooks, weights AND baits  If total poundage wins, then you've got this contest wrapped up  

 

 

The terminal boxes are not in this photo but it is what I call my attack bag.

[Cgolf]

When I fish my local river 3/16 means I am bouncing of the rock and when I snag up most times I can pop it free. When I fish 1/4 on that same river I will snag up more than I bounce off the rocks and nine times out of ten I lose the jig when I am snagged up. So for me it makes a huge difference.