Weights

[The Great Wallsendo]

What's the difference between 10oz,12oz or even 1lb weights? (apart from the obvious 2oz-4oz LOL )

Would you need arms and back muscles like Thor or is it a case of personal preference? Or is it more scientific? and to do with the strength of the tide etc?

[KeithB]

Tide and the class of your rod, I use a 20lb rod with 10oz sinkers, but use 12oz or 1lb sinkers with a 30lb rod.

[mark]

I've got some 1.25Kg leads for the deep lochs in scotland. absolutely nacks hauling that plus a pound of bait back up 500 feet!!

[The Great Wallsendo]

I've got some 1.25Kg leads for the deep lochs in scotland. absolutely nacks hauling that plus a pound of bait back up 500 feet!!

You fishing for Nessie with all that?

[davem2005]

Weights are one of the most important things with regard to where you actually fish within the column of water beneath you.

I fish a lot at anchor and as such its important that your bait is in the area of the sea that you intend to catch. I my case its getting skate baits down to the area where the fish are.

We regularly change the wight over the course of a tide and it can vary from 4 oz to nearly 3lb. This may sound big but we often have a bait weighing 4lb on the hook to put it in perspective.

The situation on the drift is different. if the boat runs with the tide and against the wind the drift can be slow, but this can change several times during the day.

As a general guide an 8oz perk or lead will get you to the bottom quickly and give you a good chance of catching. But if you find that the line pays out and is well away from the boat you should release line till you contact the bottom again. If you still find you cant stay at the bottom its time to up your weight to make the lure stay on the bottom where it is working at its best. A skipper will often comment on the speed of the drift and keep an ear open for what he says. under 1knt is easy going and and weight under 10 or 12 ozs will work fine. when the drift gets up to 2 knts region forget it and go in the cabin for a coffee. IMHO.

At anchor is different thing altogether. Most baits are best fished on or very close to the bottom. It all depends where you want your bait...under the boat..300 yards behind...or out to the side 50 yards away. When uptiding I find 6 oz grippers work in almost all tides.

It all depends what you want to catch .

Cheers
Dave

Bait fishing is different

[Oblickta]

I use 6/8oz with a 20lb rod but usually have to go heavier when the tide is at it's fastest. If you cant feel the weight bouncing off the sea bed (fishing on the drift) without being a mile down tide then you need to fish a heavier weight. If you use braid you can fish a bit lighter cos the thinner line doesn't offer much resistance in the tide and a lighter weight will hold your bait on the bottem.

beat me to it Dave lol