Additional Lure Weight

[Rhardy]

After years of only using spinning gear, I have bought my first bait caster combo. It is rated for lure size of 1/4 oz. I have only had it out once this year but want to spend more time fishing with it. I understand that casting lighter lures adds another realm of complexity, and honestly I am just starting. 
 

So here is my question. I fish a river that is on the smaller size so I used a lot of 1/8 oz lures when spinning. Would it be feasible to still use these lures and add additional weight for casting purposes. I was thinking of adding an 1/8 oz bullet weight by using a barrel swivel and then adding about 3’ of leader. This way I would keep the weight off of the lure but give me enough weight for casting. 
 

What are your thoughts with this idea? Good, bad or indifferent. Thanks. 
 

Rex

[Cbump]

I don’t like It. If you want to throw the tiny lures, use your spinning gear. Step up to bigger lures for the casting gear. 

[Rhardy]

16 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I don’t like It. If you want to throw the tiny lures, use your spinning gear. Step up to bigger lures for the casting gear. 

Thank you. I have been duplicating some of my lures in larger sizes. Thus far the curly tails and rebel craws. Guess I may need to add some more. 

[brophog]

Go with the above advice, for sure. Trying to use a weight and swivel like that has a major tendency to helicopter in the air and that can make things even worse.

 

Also note that the lure ranges on rods are sorta educated guesses and sometimes the top and/or bottom of that range are not very accurate. With a baitcaster, if the rod doesn't load up and/or the spool is too heavy to start up quick, you'll have a tendency to overpower your cast to 'make up' that difference. This leads to a jerky, erratic cast and that's a big source of backlashes.

[Rhardy]

6 hours ago, brophog said:

Go with the above advice, for sure. Trying to use a weight and swivel like that has a major tendency to helicopter in the air and that can make things even worse.

 

Also note that the lure ranges on rods are sorta educated guesses and sometimes the top and/or bottom of that range are not very accurate. With a baitcaster, if the rod doesn't load up and/or the spool is too heavy to start up quick, you'll have a tendency to overpower your cast to 'make up' that difference. This leads to a jerky, erratic cast and that's a big source of backlashes.

Thanks. Next outing I may try one of the smaller lures, minus the weight, to see how it goes. I am not optimistic though. 

[FrnkNsteen]

Most rods give you a suggested lure weight range, so it wouldn't just be 1/4oz. Typically 1/4 - 3/4oz for a mediym action or 3/8 - 1 oz for a medium heavy.

 

I suggest starting with a lure in the middle of the range, so if it is the 1/4 - 3/4 range, start with a 1/2 lure. Keep in mind that is the whole lure weight, so think 1/4 weigbt with a 1/4 oz worm, or a 3/8 oz jig with a 1/8 oz craw trailer.

 

 

Lure ranges on rods are not standardized, but are a suggestion. Picking the middle of the range is usually a pretty good starting point.

[Hytekrednek]

you may be able to add some of those stick-on lead dot or strips to your bait to help. Just try to balance the weight. I have also drilled a hole and inserted a piece of a nail in some crankbaits for extra weight. I have better gear now and dont have to do this much unless I want to make a bait suspend. When I was younger, I did what I had to to get the baits to the fish.