Quick way to swap sinkers?

[Pete D.]

Hey guys I have been using egg sinkers for a long time with a ton of success. Sometimes I plan on fishing shallow water, and then the overcast day turns to bluebird skies. Now most of my rods have little to no weight. Another issue I run into is if I have a few rods set up for downlines, and get hung up or have a break off, I now don't have enough lines to go deep. Rather than tie up new rigs while I am sitting right over top of the fish, I would like to venture into quick change sinkers.

What do you guys think about rubbercor sinkers? Do they cut into the line at all or weaken it in any form?
Rubbercor Sinkers

Another cool thing I have seen are the snaploc series from the same company. These actually slide on the line, unlike the rubbercor so the fish can't feel the weight as much. Any luck with these?
Snaploc Sinkers

[mwardncsu]

I believe that Travis / Catsnstripers uses those rubber core sinkers

[johnr]

I've used rubber core sinkers, learned it from Travis. I think I have some up to 3/4oz. I used them mainly on planers so I can run all freelines in the mornings and just add weight as the fishing dictated. I've never used them for true downlining, but I don't see why you couldn't.

I've never had an issue with them damaging the line, but I have had some come off while fighting fish.

[Pete D.]

Thanks for the replies. John, I would imagine that you would sometimes lose these due to fighting fish. I am glad to hear that they do not damage the line. I am looking a little harder into the snap-loc series as I can get them in 1 3/4oz which is what I use for my downlines. Not sure the rubbercor are made that large.

[johnr]

The biggest rubbercore I have seen are 1.5oz.

[Brian]

I use rubber core as well as sinker slides that I hang bank sinkers or drop shot sinkers from.

The downside to the sinker slides (and probably those snap-lok's) is that they pick up trash very easily.

I rig every rod with a sinker slide, swivel and bead so that they can all be used for any purpose and quickly switch to whatever is working (planer, flatline, lightline, downline). The only tackle I have to change on the water is the hook to match it to the size of the bait.

[Brian]

I just remembered I have also used "EZ change" slides, but I rarely use them because every rod already has a sinker slide on it.

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[Pete D.]

Brian, I use sinker slides for catfishing the tidal river and they work great for switching sinkers through different tides. I agree they pick up trash a little too easily. I got a few snaploc to try them out, and they dont look like there is a lot hanging off to pick up trash, but we will see. Thanks for the picture for the easy change slides. They look like a great option. Im going to order some.

[Pete D.]

Tried to look up EZ change slides with no success. Do you have any idea exactly what these are called? I have a ton of bank sinkers that I could find a use for if I can locate some of these.

EDIT:Nevermind, found them at Cabela's. Thanks.

[Brian]

Jun 9, 2014 14:45:29 GMT -5 Pete D. said:

Tried to look up EZ change slides with no success. Do you have any idea exactly what these are called? I have a ton of bank sinkers that I could find a use for if I can locate some of these.

They are at cabelas in the terminal tackle section

[Pete D.]

Thanks Brian. So I found some snaplocs at my local shop. I ended up taking my egg sinkers off and putting a glass bead just before the swivel, then a fluoro leader down to the hook. Now I have all free lines and can add on te weight that I want.

As for ease of use, the snaplocs are a quick change but you have to get used to them. It is kind of tedious getting them on the line. If you are not precise when you remove them you can also nick the line. Just takes a bit of practice but all in all it will serve its purpose.

Last but not least, do not ever use steel egg sinkers. The ones I had I created rust (within a two week period!!) that weakened my line big time just above the swivel. And I only fish fresh water.