Slinky sizes and side-drifting?

[Applegate]

I have been using slinkys for several years and like them for terminal gear as they seem to hang up somewhat less than the alternatives.

My question to all of you is the shot size that you prefer. There are now at least 5 sizes available, from .175 to .330 and maybe larger?

I am thinking of going with the .300 to keep it simple for the people up front to always have the same weight on (easier to count the number of shot.) With the low water we have had this fall we have been able to go down to 1 shot in the .300 size and fish shallow riffles.

Just kind of wondering what other folks who side drift for steelhead had to say. Thanks for the imput.

[Grantspastor]

I've been thinkin the same thing!

[KingFisher85]

I like the bigger size

[ultralight]

I prefer the mid sized ones. The larger ones seems to hang up more, and the smaller ones seem to slide in and out of crevis a little better. However, the smaller ones are not very fashionable.

[Fast Water]

I prefer the .175 for shallow water and .250 for higher volumes.

I have not tried the .300 shot yet. I suppose that the larger the shot the more difficult it is to excact weights.

.175_____22 = 1/2 oz.
.250_____15-16 = 1 oz.

[AnglersRental]

I hate slinkies... Cant tell the difference between a rock and a very lite bite with a slinkie. I use pencil lead and surgical tubing, Rocks are tap tap tap... bites are tug tug tug... with slinkies everything is mush mush mush.

UG

[Timber]

I'm with UG I use them but when I can get away with lead I use it. .250 in the slinky seems to be a happy medium

[rags]

Dave aka Grantspastor,
I just boxed up some of those special lures for you. I'll get them in the mail tomorrow. Slinkies? I thought all good side drifters used pencil lead.
John

[KingFisher85]

I'm with Uglygreen. I cannot tell the difference between a rock or a fish. Pencil lead I think is better, cheaper and you feel the bottom much better with it.

[riverraider]

Ah, something I can sink my teeth into.
While pencil lead has a place for drift fishing, it doesn't for side drifting (just my opinion).
The slinky has to have some length to it or it won't slink, just hang up. Especially in the low-slow flows we have now. Too long and it gets picked up by the current and gets swept up in the current. The best that I and some of my guide friends have learned is this...
Use both .175 and .210 diameter. While some of my guide friends have every length, that is too much for me. I keep the .175 in odd numbers. Specifically 3,5,7,9,11 pellets. The 3 is a little bit of a pain no matte what so as much as I hate them, the bouncing Betty type round rubber weights in 1/2 ounce almost always get the nod in this spot.
After the 11 pellet .175 dia. slinkie comes the .210 in 8.10,12.
I use the odd, even counts so that if you can't tell the size by looking, you will by counting. Also, when you tell the people you are fishing with what number to use, there is no confusion.
I started out using only .210 dia slinkies, but they simply don't fill the bill in all circumstances. Its only $13 more to buy the stuff to make both and you'll have enough to last 1-2 seasons. Pretty cheap if you think about it.
HINT: If you buy yourself a Microtorch at a smokeshop, it will melt the ends instantly and heat a paperclip to burn a hole in an end for putting in your slider snap swivel in a split second. I've tried candles and regular lighters and they just take too long when you are wanting to knock out 60-75 slinkies per hour.
Also, "Wendys" straws are the perfect fit for loading the cord with .175 pellets. McDonalds straws perfect for the .210 size. Use a barbeque skewer to push the shot down into the cord. Load about 3 feet of cord, then melt the ends. Slide the appropriate number of pellets down, melt and pinch with pliers. Repeat. It will look like a bunch of sausage links. Go back with a scissor and separate each slinky, and melt a hole (if desired) with a hot paperclip.

[Wog]

I Prefer the .250

[Thumper]

Riverraider --- wow, you are a slinky god!!! Good info. Using Leadmaster pliers to punch the holes works well too.

I am experimenting with "shrinkies"; i.e., lead pellets in heat-shrink tubing. They work great and still give you the hollow-core lead "feel".

[Fast Water]

Thumper,

Do these shrinkies "slink"?

I would like to hear more about them for sure. Could you tell us more?

I agree with UG about the sensitivity issue.

:smile:

[riverraider]

YEA!!! Tell is more about the shrinkies

[letsfish]

I'm a trans(weighter)- I too use both pencil lead and slinkies. I have found that, in general, the river bottom and the flow are the two determining factors that favor one weight over the other. In low water conditions, the weight is going to be so minimal, pinch some lead. Where flows are good but hang ups seem to abound try a slinkie, the difference can simply be flexiblity of the slinkie.Gravel bottoms, good flow go with the pencil lead.

Can I ask- what is the advantage of going with the surgical tubing and pencil lead over pinching it on your leader tag?
Thanks, Jim

[Thumper]

"Shrinkies" --- learned about them from Bruce Gipple a couple of years ago. I make them up in several sizes and lengths. They don't slink but they are rigid so they feel a lot like lead. They have the advantage of slickly sliding along the rocks, thus hanging up much less frequently than pencil lead. Unlike slinkies though, they can be instantly trimmed to any length you desire by simply cutting off the desired number of shot. Because the shot are separated by heat-shrunk tubing the shot that remain don't leak out. Kinda cool.

You can buy the tubing in bulk at many electrical supply stores. Simply cut the tubing (about double the diameter of the shot) to size, heat to seal (crimp with pliers), fill with shot, seal again, make hole with Leadmaster piers, and go fishing.

Sure wish I could take the credit for inventing them.

[go fisch]

Uglygreen said it very well and I quote

"I hate slinkies... Cant tell the difference between a rock and a very lite bite with a slinkie. I use pencil lead and surgical tubing, Rocks are tap tap tap... bites are tug tug tug... with slinkies everything is mush mush mush."

[tag-a-long]

UG,
What do you do to attach your snap swivel or barrel with rings? do you put the surgical tubing over the swivel and that holds it on? Thanks

[Fast Water]

Thanks very much Thumper.

I'll check it out.

:smile:

[Grantspastor]

Thanks a lot Rags. You're the greatest! I'll look forward to field testing those special lures.
Just got off the river...another good day...11 caught and released.

Dave

[Tilla]

Hollow core lead on a monfillament tag............That Thumper! Salted eggs in a fine mesh netting with Shrinkies from a reasonably price vessel! :shocked: Is there anyone out there that can stop him? Where's a superhero when you need one! :wink:

[Applegate]

I will admit to being slow to jump on the slinky bandwagon. UG, Timber, Kingfisher and others seem to want to feel the bottom and not the bite! :hoboy: You do not want to feel the bottom unless you lower your rod while sidedrifting.

Drift fishing from the bank is much different than having an experienced oarsman run your offering through the holding water. Done properly, the oarsman will be .99 percent responsible for the hook ups.

Each one to his own, I will keep my slinkys :grin:

[Chris Nordling]

I like pencil lead while side drifting too. It's too easy to adjust to get that perfect side-drift going.

Even though you only touch bottom every 10-12 feet, I still like the feel of the tap, when it happens.

Of course slinkies definately have their place when sidedrifting too. The main factor is what type of river bottom you're dealing with, as each has their place.

As far as attachment, I use the rubber tubing to hold the pencil lead. Or if I'm bored for a few weeks ( like now) then I'll pre- punch a bunch of different lead lengths and throw them in the boat, saving the time of stuffing them into the tubing.

Since I use a sliding snap swivel, it attaches easily to them all ; slinkies, lead/tube or the punched lead tops, whatever the conditions call for.

Chris :cool: