Catfish Angler Forum at USCA banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Letting the sinker slide or not?

Jump to Latest
20K views 37 replies 30 participants last post by  thunderchicken  
#1 · (Edited)
Many of us including myself cast, then set the rod in the holder, then reel up any slack...

The rig most of us use is a sliding rig or carolina rig which allows the line to move freely through the slide. The theory behind that is so the fish can take off without feeling the weight. Heres my question. If your line is tight, once the fish picks up the bait and swims off, the fish is going to feel the weight/tension of the rod since the slack was taken up so why use a sliding rig? Why not just clip the sinker right to the swivel or tie the sinker right to the main line? In doing this there would be no need to use extra tackle like beads... AND the main line will not get damaged from sliding sinkers...

Any insight to this? Lets hear your thoughts!
 
#2 ·
You know i have never thought about this but i fish the MO..so i gues it dont really matter if i tie it or not..But i would rather have it feel only the rod tension than the sinker and rod tension..
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#3 ·
I thought about that too... but when using circle hooks I have the best success when I lock it down so the pressure against the fish helps the fish "hook itself"... Wouldn't the sinker weight plus the tension from the rod help in hooking up the fish? I dont know... I just... dont know...?!?!
 
#4 ·
savage270 said:
I thought about that too... but when using circle hooks I have the best success when I lock it down so the pressure against the fish helps the fish "hook itself"... Wouldn't the sinker weight plus the tension from the rod help in hooking up the fish? I dont know... I just... dont know...?!?!
Click to expand...
Good point..But i wont be using circles on R&R as much this year..I had more luck on kahles..But i see what your saying!!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
I use slip sinkers, no rolls and egg sinkers from 5ounce up to 10-ounces....I have never had my slip sinker damage my line or knott, and I dont use any beads...

But I do understand what you are saying, I use circle hooks also, and would rather my fish feel the rod first, before the sinker.
 
U
#6 · (Edited)
I use J,s with sliding sinkers and my clicker on.I watch my rods pretty good and like the fish to be able to get the bait in his mouth without feeling the sinker weight.That,s the way I,ve always fished.Good question though on whether or not it actually makes a difference.I honestly don,t know if a big cat cares about the sinker weight or not.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I agree if you are using a bait clicker or a bait runner type reel and letting the bait swim off with little tension in the line.

This is my first year really using circles. I have fished with clickers and slack line before with circles and the hook up isn't as high as when my line is tight. I even get higher hook up ratios when I'm using MH vs. M rods; I'm thinking because of the extra "hooking tension/pressure". I'm trying to picture a scenario where the fish would feel the rod first before the sinker but I can wrap that idea around in my head...

Same thing with people using sliding rigs downlining or drifting in boats... Dont get me wrong, I use the sliding rig too, but i'm starting to wonder WHY am I using this rig and why it is so popular to the point where people are buying the "fish finder" sliding clip attachments and advertise them as "super smooth"; I've always just used a swivel with the clip.

For example, if the rod is set high (45ish degrees) and you're casting into deep water keeping the line tight with no slack then if the fish takes the bait it is going to feel the weight first regardless of the "sliding" of the weight...
 

Attachments

#8 ·
savage270 said:
I agree if you are using a bait clicker or a bait runner type reel and letting the bait swim off with little tension in the line.

This is my first year really using circles. I have fished with clickers and slack line before with circles and the hook up isn't as high as when my line is tight. I even get higher hook up ratios when I'm using MH vs. M rods; I'm thinking because of the extra "hooking tension/pressure". I'm trying to picture a scenario where the fish would feel the rod first before the sinker but I can wrap that idea around in my head...

Same thing with people using sliding rigs downlining or drifting in boats... Dont get me wrong, I use the sliding rig too, but i'm starting to wonder WHY am I using this rig and why it is so popular to the point where people are buying the "fish finder" sliding clip attachments and advertise them as "super smooth"; I've always just used a swivel with the clip.

For example, if the rod is set high (45ish degrees) and you're casting into deep water keeping the line tight with no slack then if the fish takes the bait it is going to feel the weight first regardless of the "sliding" of the weight...
Click to expand...
Yes thats exactly what i was going to say but u proved so wel i dont need too. Nice drawing too. U really explained it well. I agree with u. But i use Khales they are so affective and as soon as that cat starts hitting i pick uo my rod and when i feel him again i yank. It works better for me that way. I missed way to many fish on circles and will never use them again. And i tried so many diff things with circles and just dont like them.
 
#9 ·
Most folks say they tight line, but I have pretty good luck with some slack in the line, gives the fish time to get it in his mouth. I like watching the line tighten up and then the rod bend, and know they are hooked gtood
 
#10 ·
The reason to let the sinker slide is so the fish does not feel the weight of the sinker before feeling the load of the pole . If the fish picks up the bait and feels the weight of the sinker more times then not the fish will let go of the bait and depending on the weight of the sinker you are using you might not even notice a fish had the bait at all .
 
#11 ·
The answer is simple, the fish can't feel the weight. Make a Carolina or Slip rig, pull the weight toward the hook as far as it will go..then hold the weight only in one hand. Grab the hook with the other hand. You have full range of motion until 45 degree angle, then the weight is applyed. You can tighten down the lines or leave some slack in them its all up to you.

Remember that with a Carolina rig, youÂ’re actually fishing the sinker, not the bait, since that is what you will feel making contact with the bottom. The sinker controls everything. The sinker makes noise on hard bottoms, and puffs up clouds of silt on soft bottoms. I feel the rocks, gravel, logs or whatever. After time you will know instantly the bottom composition. The weight of the sinker controls the fall speed, the crawling or swimming action, and the bottom-bouncing attraction.


The rig works well because it keeps the bait on or near the bottom better than any method out there and it covers lots of ground.

Hope this helps David!!
Jappy
 
#12 ·
I keep just a slight bend in my line when i can, i can react faster when i can see the line go straight before the pole loads up. When i can do this i feel like the fish feels no pull from the line.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#13 ·
Guppycatcher101 said:
Yes thats exactly what i was going to say but u proved so wel i dont need too. Nice drawing too. U really explained it well. I agree with u. But i use Khales they are so affective and as soon as that cat starts hitting i pick uo my rod and when i feel him again i yank. It works better for me that way. I missed way to many fish on circles and will never use them again. And i tried so many diff things with circles and just dont like them.
Click to expand...
Wow I cant believe how many people have bad luck with circle hooks lol. My first 18 years of fishing were all with J-hooks and kahles, but after switching to Circles I could never go back. I rarely miss fish minus the slight pull downs when they are not aggressive which isnt often and I have yet to lose a fish once its on unless tackle gives.
 
S
#14 ·
I use sinker slides with J hooks and I use my clicker. When the fish starts off with my clicker i turn off the clicker right away and thumb the spool slighty, then with my other hand I engage the reel. When a Big Flathead has your bait in its mouth most of the time he is not going to let go. I had a guy explain to me how to set on a flathead and my hook up rate went way up. Here is what he told me. A flathead has Pads in the back of his throut right before his stomach, alot of time a flathead will hold the bait with these pads while hes swimming off but his mouth is still open. When the rod starts loading up the bait seems to want to slip out of his mouth thats when he will shut his mouth. I used to have alot of runs where as soon as i felt the slightest bit of tension I was setting and all i was doing was just pulling in out of his mouth. You can feel this alot of times cause when the baits start to slip he will close his mouth and shake his head trying to kill the bait, this is when you set! I promise you that your hook up rate will go through the roof. It did for me and alot of other guys that Ive told this to.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the replies!

So this is what i've taken from all the posts... In order for the slip sinker rig to be affective when bank fishing, there must be some slack in the line. This slack allows the leader and mainline to slide a bit with no resistance giving the fish time to get not only get the bait in its mouth but also to get the entire hook too then turn...

About the input on the catfish closing its mouth and shaking the bait to kill it... I guess thats why there's always "taps" in the rod tip before the rod loads up... ahhhhh, makes sense now!
 
#16 ·
90% of my fishing is done without a sliding sinker rig,I rig my line with a loop knot at the end and loop it to my bank sinker ,then tie another loop knot above that approx. 16" and make the loop 4-6" to loop my hook into,primitive yes,functional,very,nothing fancy here .
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 ·
I don't always tight line with a sliding ledger rig, but I do keep my reel locked. I find that some times I like to let the bait drift down stream, I can place my bait ten, twenty, thirty feet or more from my original cast with out reeling in and recasting, this is also a good method of sliding under log jams with out casting right in the middle of them, of course with a fixed weight you wouldn't have this option.
 
#18 ·
i fish both ways slip rig and non slip but i rig it up with the sinker at the bottom when i do so and i rig a slip rig on 2 and the other one i daunt then when i cache a few fish on one i switch them to which aver one they like that night but all in all both work out for me. hop this helps
 
#19 ·
223reload said:
90% of my fishing is done without a sliding sinker rig,I rig my line with a loop knot at the end and loop it to my bank sinker ,then tie another loop knot above that approx. 16" and make the loop 4-6" to loop my hook into,primitive yes,functional,very,nothing fancy here .
Click to expand...
this is the best way if you daunt like slip rigs.
 
#20 ·
I use a sinker slide for 100% of my catfishing. The reason is simple, when I need to switch sinker sizes I just unclip one and clip on the right size.
 
#21 ·
kitsinni said:
I use a sinker slide for 100% of my catfishing. The reason is simple, when I need to switch sinker sizes I just unclip one and clip on the right size.
Click to expand...
This is also my reason as well ,I like to have everything ready when I hit the water.When I cast the first rod out , I may have to change the weight to add more.If it holds good I may just put less weight on the next rod.Also with the cost of rods it is nice to be able to remove the weight from your line so it isn't hitting the rod.I don't have enough experience on larger blues to say if a fish can feel the weight or not.I will say that light biting channels can detect the weight for sure.The less weight and the least amount of resistance on your line will help.You just need to see what works for you , I know of some old timers that will put a twig inside an egg sinker as a stop , they say it is more natural looking.I have heard of people using a cigarette butt as a stop to provide cushion as well.Just experiment with different ideas until you find what you like.
 
#22 ·
to me the deciding factor would be the fishes attitude,if your into some aggessive fish,tying the sinker direct isn't going to matter when they are just hammering the bait,but when they get skittish or wary a slip-rig will allow you to pick up the rod before they bite much then follow them with the rod tip as they pick up the bait and move off,even releasing line sometimes if you don't think the fish has taken the bait fully until you are ready,engage the reel and set the hook. Using this method the fish feels nothing until the hook slams home.
 
#24 ·
Great info guys!! I use a sinker slide to adjust the weight and how deep I fish. I also thought that if the weight gets hung up I use a lighter weight of line on the weight then I can just break it off and not lose my entire rig! All in all a great post with some very useful information.
 
#25 · (Edited)
You are doing the right thing asking questions, trying different rigs until you reach confidence in what you are using is a fun/frustrating time.
My bait is sometimes heavier than my sinker, and what about KatBobbers....talk about resistance. The larger fish I've caught were very commited to the meal, sinker or not, tight line or not. In still waters, just because the line is tight, doesn't mean the leader is. In my early fishing, I used a longer leader and often caught 'fiddlers' that had swallowed the hook because there was enough slack in the leader when fishing with tight main line, sliding sinker carolina rig.
 
#26 ·
100% of the time i use a slip rig, i no longer use sinker slides for one there not cheap and two just more crap to have. instead i use crescent sinkers and put my main line through the eye of the sinker and then tie my leader with a crane swivel on. and this seem to slide through some rip rap and such better than other's i found, plus i just got two molds of them and will only be use them, unless i find a good deal on a no roll lol. tight lines justin
 
Catfish Angler Forum at USCA
posts
2.7M
members
55K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to catfishers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Off Topic Lounge All Catfishing Fishing Reels MISSOURI RIVERS TALK SOUTH CAROLINA LAKES / RESERVOIRS