Sinkers, bait feeders
The fishing sinker is an auxiliary component for the leader or for the float. In float fishing the sinker is used to balance the float so that it sits vertically in the water. On a leader, lead fishing items help position and secure rigs at long casting distances.
Attached to the fishing line, lead fishing components are designed to quickly fix the entire rig in the fishing position. This is essential for bottom fishing techniques, especially when targeting bottom-feeding fish, because it holds the rig firmly in place, giving us the best chance to catch. In float fishing techniques, sinkers can influence the hook’s fall through the water, which can also affect the number of presentations at the hook. The role of sinkers, therefore, is not only to facilitate casting the rig into the fishing area and to speed up its descent, but in some cases also to help with self-hooking, or to convey information about the contour of the bottom, as is the case with probing sinkers.
Sinkers can be attached to the fishing line in a variety of ways. Some are sliding, others are equipped with swivels or attachment rings, and some small fixed sinkers can be split so they are added to the fishing line by pinching/crimping.
Depending on how it is fixed to the fishing line, the weight can be classified as fixed sinker, or sliding sinker or in-line. As their names suggest, fixed sinkers are those that, once attached to the fishing line, remain in a fixed position that cannot be changed, although we should note that fixed sinkers can also be used in sliding or semi-sliding rigs. Sliding sinkers are those through which the line passes, so they can slide along the main line, although similarly they can be used in fixed or semi-fixed rigs.
Sinkers for stillwater float fishing: They have small weights, depending on the role for which they were made – as the main weight, or as fine-tuning weights for floats; they can be split for easy addition to the line, or they can be sliding.
Weights used in predator fishing – Drop Shot sinkers: They usually have either a ball shape or a long, cigarette-shaped form. Ball-shaped ones allow us to "feel" the lure better. Elongated sinkers are generally used where there is a risk of snagging on structures on the bottom, because they can free themselves more easily.
Probing sinkers: These are fixed sinkers with a special shape, usually having indentations on the end designed to transmit stronger vibrations through the line, depending on the substrate. They are retrieved slowly, keeping constant contact with the bottom, as we try to translate perceived vibrations into a map of its contours.
Main lead sinkers used in general stillwater fishing
Main sinkers: When it comes to the main sinker in general stillwater fishing, there is an even wider range of options, and the choice you make will largely depend on the spot you are targeting and the fishing style practiced. For example, grippa-style sinkers are more useful when fishing in areas with a strong current, sloping bottoms or at long distances; trilobed or hexagonal sinkers are ideal for long-distance casting, while flatter, pear-shaped sinkers are suitable for PVA bag fishing. Paste sinkers are weights that have grooves or cavities on the body intended for loading with bait paste, designed to increase attractiveness and draw fish to the hook area.
Backleads – weights for fixing the line to the bottom. Backlead-type weights are one of the most popular choices for carp fishing with the line anchored to the bottom, but they can also be useful in stillwater fishing, especially when fishing over an uneven bottom, because they help the line follow the contours of the bottom, reducing the risk of spooking fish that might avoid the hook and our rig.