[team760]

Ive been noticing and experiencing a huge problem with the plastic sinker sliders...now ive only seen this problem since weve been using braid line and havent seen it happen yet with mono. the problem is that the line cuts into the slider causing you to either lose the slider and weight or cuts your line altogether..this has happened only when weve set after a run...ive lost numerous sliders and weights when ive brought up the flattie...ive also seen a few others get their line cut as soon as they set the hook...mangles(chad) or monster cat(tony) could tell you about it too. after one run and set missed, monster cat brought up his line and we checked it..the line had cut half way into the slider and was about to cut his line totally....we all use different brands, weight capacity and styles of braid, so i dont think its brand specific...and yes some of us use the bumpers too....just thought id throw this problem out there to either warn you or maybe see if its happening to you too....im going to stop using the sliders and probably go with a 3 way swivel set-up....tight lines.....T.

 

[monster cat]

Yes they suck its a sorry feeling knowing you lost a couple of good size fish due to a sorry product but they have already been tossed hey i just got off the cabelas website and they got some pretty cool swivels with a clip that might work good if you wanna check them out their rated for 117 lbs

 

[catfishchris]

Well fellas I've used the sinker slides for years and have never had them cut my line. Maybe you were using sinkers heavier than what the slides were rated for. I've used them with up to a 20 ounce bank sinker and haven't had that problem. Maybe the fish are bigger in California! Eventhough I've caught a 72 and an 84 pound blue with sinker slides on my braided line. Good luck in the future.

Chris M.

 

[SyKo450]

I started using these as sinker sliders

 

[daystarchis]

I started using these as sinker sliders

I do the same. They work great!

 

[Mr Jaws and Catfish]

I've never had this problem and I always use sliders on 65lb and 80lb Spectra Pro.

But I am no longer users sliders at the Alamo any more because they get stuck on everything.

Over this past weekend I started using only the pyramid weight and a large/heavy swivel to prevent the eye of the pyramid getting stuck on the eye of the swivel. This setup helped reduce snags significantly.

Hook + Mono Leader + Swivel + Pyramid Weight

 

[SyKo450]

I lost 8 pyramids in one night at the Mo once, never going back to them...

 

[monstercatcher]

I hate losing weights too I try to find a good spot but sometimes it hard don't know whats at the bottom of river.

 

[playin4funami]

well not to be a smart alek but pyramid sinks are designed and meant for sand bottoms, where they do an excellent job, they sure don't work well in the rough stuff as they are designed to catch on anything. heres a link to the slides I use from ebay, from hong kong, cheap and based on a regular swivel with a plastis and rubber cover to protect your line and still have the steel swivel loop around your line, the snap swivel is kinda small but easily worked around if you use big bank sinkers etc with molded eyes.http://www.catfish1.com/forums/f51/...ultDomain_0&hash=item4aa0fae8a7#ht_1652wt_858http://www.catfish1.com/forums/f51/...ultDomain_0&hash=item4aa0fae8a7#ht_1652wt_858

 

[Mr Jaws and Catfish]

The Alamo has an extremely muddy bottom, which is why the river is brown and has sediment flowing in it. And the reason why people are getting stuck at the MO is because of the debris and structure in it, i.e., trees and trash.

 

[shania]

From the sound of things - If I was ever lucky enough to fish the Mo - I would only use "No-Roll Sinkers"
Because (& I maybe wrong on this):thinking: - when you are using no-rolls - once you start reeling in your line - come in fast & don't stop reeling - it should rise to the top of the water fasterer than a Pryamid sinker would.
(At lease you would think so) lol
:wink:

 

[mako cat]

I don’t remember where I saw this first. But I’ve started making my own sinker sliders.

Get a couple of inches of black drip irrigation tubing, stick a nail through the tube, slide an appropriate size snap swivel around the tube, twist the eye of the snap swivel with a pliers so it crimps the tube.

The advantage is that this is cheap, easy, and if the tube wears away the snap swivel will still hold the lead. Put a bead between the drip irrigation tube slide and the leader swivel and remove the nail from the tube J

 

[gilmafam]

Sounds good to me Bert....

From the sound of things - If I was ever lucky enough to fish the Mo - I would only use "No-Roll Sinkers"
Because (& I maybe wrong on this):thinking: - when you are using no-rolls - once you start reeling in your line - come in fast & don't stop reeling - it should rise to the top of the water fasterer than a Pryamid sinker would.
(At lease you would think so) lol
:wink:

I would add that the water clairity is a result from the return ditches that return the irrigation water back into the river.

Granted it is a stained and muddy water and choked full of snags... but the reason for the caught sinkers is from not getting the sinker off the bottom and away from the debris as you suggest. My thoughts on a rig would be a sacraficaial lead and leader to the sinker....

My sinker mold make reverse pyramids with the eyelet at the other end, and thus comes in with less hanging up. I would continue to use the sinker slide ..... but use a sinker leader off of that.

 

[m slayton]

it keeps the bait outa the mud n grass and junk and you can tie weaker line to the sinker so its now a break away rig and you can put super heavy mono on the sinker line and make 40lb power pro able to cast a 6-8 ounce sinker ....

also guys loosing rigs in the rocks look for the anti snag or pencil sinkers made to slip in and out of the rocks our bottom bouncing gl and fear not the 3 way rigs !!!! lil more time in re- riggin or set up but i perfer it over any other method and if you wanna get people scratching there head like "wth is he doing" you can make your hook line a lil longer and add a crappie cork "a small spec fishing bobber" this will help keep the bait un tangled from the sinker line and keep the bait in a tighter patter then just flopping around there in the current and tangling or keep the hook line short as in 4-6 inches no tangles

 

[gilmafam]

it keeps the bait outa the mud n grass and junk and you can tie weaker line to the sinker so its now a break away rig and you can put super heavy mono on the sinker line and make 40lb power pro able to cast a 6-8 ounce sinker ....

also guys loosing rigs in the rocks look for the anti snag or pencil sinkers made to slip in and out of the rocks our bottom bouncing gl and fear not the 3 way rigs !!!! lil more time in re- riggin or set up but i perfer it over any other method and if you wanna get people scratching there head like "wth is he doing" you can make your hook line a lil longer and add a crappie cork "a small spec fishing bobber" this will help keep the bait un tangled from the sinker line and keep the bait in a tighter patter then just flopping around there in the current and tangling or keep the hook line short as in 4-6 inches no tangles

One other method that I have used is a "swim feeder" container that hold the weight.and is where the scent is placed and is on a 3 way or sinker slide with a dropper for the weight. (You have the main bait on a short leader)

my swim feeder is something that comes to the top fast, and with the pole held high, can be pulled over stuff in the water and then lifted over stuff as well....

It is best to throw it out and leave it.... knowing that when you reel in, and only when a fish is running do you set the hook and crank fast and hard to keep the fish off the bottom and off the snags.

 

[Snagged2]

When fishing a good current,, I use a modified 3-way rig,, basic feature is a sacrifice weight leader,, but, it allows the hook and bait to be "lifted" by the current, dependent upon the length of the weight Line,, I use anywhere from 18-24" depending on the "seaweed" etc..

the hook is usually about 12-18" out... from the sacrifice weight line, and above the trash on the bottom...
It's been very effective for me in the mainchannel of the CO river, as well as the canals, etc..
also, I'll use a float, with the weight Terminal,, and let the bait/hook, drift with the current 12-24".. Still experimenting with that one!!

 

[gilmafam]

Thanks for the post Greg.....

When fishing a good current,, I use a modified 3-way rig,, basic feature is a sacrifice weight leader,, but, it allows the hook and bait to be "lifted" by the current, dependent upon the length of the weight Line,, I use anywhere from 18-24" depending on the "seaweed" etc..

the hook is usually about 12-18" out... from the sacrifice weight line, and above the trash on the bottom...
It's been very effective for me in the mainchannel of the CO river, as well as the canals, etc..
also, I'll use a float, with the weight Terminal,, and let the bait/hook, drift with the current 12-24".. Still experimenting with that one!!

I agree with you on the paternoster rig.... The Alamo is a difficult place, and I would think twice on the rigging if I kept loosing gear....I think the Desert Cat Rat is the most experienced on the water, but may be wrong......Some say they have done it for years....

 

[island joe]

Sounds good to me Bert....




I would add that the water clairity is a result from the return ditches that return the irrigation water back into the river.

Granted it is a stained and muddy water and choked full of snags... but the reason for the caught sinkers is from not getting the sinker off the bottom and away from the debris as you suggest. My thoughts on a rig would be a sacraficaial lead and leader to the sinker....

My sinker mold make reverse pyramids with the eyelet at the other end, and thus comes in with less hanging up. I would continue to use the sinker slide ..... but use a sinker leader off of that.

Im using a similar mold and sacrafacial lead too. I also agree putting the ring on the poit reduces the amount of snags.