what's your choice..pencil lead, slinky, hollow core, solid core?

[CHUMSALMON]

i personally almost always use hollow core pencil lead. Grew up fishing that way and probably always will, i've tried all the other methods and have always gone to good old hollow core pencil lead. what about the rest of you?

[chuck 'n' duck]

I used to use hollow core exclusively, and it was a regular occurance loosing 10+ drift rigs per trip. I swiched over to making the thin slinkies and drastically reduced that number. I do occasionally go back to pencil lead for the feel (tap) and when I need to get down fast.

CnD

[O'City Fisherman]

Growing up I had very little choice but to use hollow core. But since I gotton a little older and I can afford it I make my one slinkies. I use differaunt led sizes/weight for the water that I am fishing.

[ampersat]

i go with hollow core pencil lead (i believe it is the 3/8 oz coil). it's easier to adjust my weight as needed. i never seemed to have the right weight of slinky when i needed it. i used to lose a lot of rigs with pencil lead, but now that i've gotten a better idea of how to weight for a given run, i go through a lot less. (when in doubt, go lighter and pitch further upstream). i pinch it down on a piece of line tied into my swivel on the mainline side; when it hangs up, i can usually pull it off the line it's pinched onto and keep the rest of my rig.

[Snapset]

This is not as simple as it seems. First, it is generally a little easier to differentiate between a bite and a tap with a slinky, especially in fast water with larger than gravel sized rocks on the bottom. Second, the density, and sink rate are much greater on lead than Slinkers. This has a significant impact at the 2 extremes of 3 variables, Casting distance, depth, and water speed. The result is this:
In slower, shallower water, especially broad flats where you have to cast a long distance, use a slinker. The extra weight will help you cast farther while the reduced sink rate will keep your gear from plunging deep into a snaggy rock bed.

In deeper and or faster holes where you are having trouble getting your gear to the bottom, use pencil lead. Keep your lead straight, and if it still doesn't drop fast enough, use a bank sinker, it wil drop faster than pencil lead.

Solid lead is slightly more dense than Hollow, of course, but I don't feel it makes much difference. I did make my own lead pliers for solid lead, because usually my fingers are too cold to get it under the surgical tube. It was easy to do; I just drilled a 3/32 hole through both handles of a pair of needle nose pliers just below the pivot (Not as much leverage in the jaws), then with the handles together tacked a piece of 3/32" stainless rod in one hole, such that the end just barely penetrates the hole in the other handle.

[Chinookman]

I like to use Slinkies and pencil lead. I like the fact that the slinkies dont grab the bottom as much as pencil lead and hang up. But pencil lead has advantage that you can cut it so it just the right amount of lead . So it taps the bottom but that takes practice. I am only 18 but its what I first started using for my drift weight. But I use slinkies more now than pencil lead now.

[BUGLEMAN]

I use hollow core lead. I like the instant varriability of wt. In a new hole I start a little heavy and cut it down as required. After hearing your theories they make sence!

I notice that I usually use less lead than most sometimes by 1/2. I throw a little higher in the hole but get at more natural drift and more bites I think. The key is to freespool as it is sinking instead of making the rig pull the whole mainline down. I hold the rod high and take up the slack as my gear gets down to me. I wonder if that slack is preventing me from sticking thier mouths but I think it is more about reaction time and feeling the take as I am getting much better at.

I think mainline drag during the sink is something that alot of drift fisherman overlook especially in low water situations.

I have more theories on the drift but will save that for later as this is a lead post.

Happy fishing [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]

I have recently gone back to hollow core. I like the distinctive feel of it versus the feel of a slinky. I will still use slinkys in certain circumstances like a very snaggy drift but I think my main drift lead will be hollow core.
Stew

[Stz ll]

Slinkies suck. They don't hang up as often but when they do they usually are history. I find hollow core pencil lead hangs up more but I get more back when using it. I also don't like not feeling the bottom when drift fishing with slinkies. This is only my opinion however. It really is a personal preference.

[Beek]

I mainly use shot, but when fishing fast water I like pencil lead in surgical tubing just above the swivel. When the lead gets stuck up, it pulls out of the tubing and yer
back fishing.

[smilesforu]

I use slinkies, custom slinkies and lead stuffed into surgical tubing. It all depends on the presentation I am using and the water I am fishing.

[Sparkey]

I driftfish in a manner very similar to Bugleman. I tend to use less lead then I need and throw upstream and feed line as my gear sinks to the bottom. That is why direct drive is a must!!!

I believe I pick up for fish across from me as the lead is dead drifting then on the swing.

[willierower]

When drift fishing I use 3 different kinds of wieght. Slinkies, solid core lead and the snagless Darth Vader looking thing my wife likes to make.
When using solid core lead I like the 3/16 over the 1/4 inch stuff. I use lead master pliers and mash and punch a hole in one end. I attach the lead to a snap swivel, most of the time when it gets hung up the lead will pull off. I use lead where the bottom is really grabby. Slinkies dont last too long in real snaggy areas.
Tou will have to look at the things my wife makes. These wieghts rock. I will bring some with me to the Floatilla III.

[Pilar]

Slinkies are cool. They slide right over most snags. As far as the feel, I agree. You give up the 'tink, tink' sound you get with pencil lead. It doesn't matter though if you fish with a nice graphite rod. You can learn to feel a fish mouthing your offering.

You can adjust the slinky weight if you make a 'lead sausage'. That is a parachute cord about 10' long with shot in it. Put a space about every 6" or so for slack. I have a few slinkies premade but usually make them on the bank. You need a hot lighter and a leatherman or pliers. Count out the beads, cut it off, burn and pinch. Once you find the length, make a few.

We fishers leave an awful lot of lead and gear in the popular drift holes. My buddy collects it by the bucket full when he dives those holes in the off season. That's the main reason I favor slinkies. You lose about 1/2 as many.

[ 09-14-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[parker]

I'll use both slinkies and solid lead. Just depends on the what/where/when/why. Most all rivers are fished somewhat differently.

Be versatile.