The Main Point:
In this article, I have one point to make and the data to prove it: If you aren't using sinker sliders, you're at risk of losing fish and tackle.
Bare Weight | Sinker Slider |
Here's the test:
Tie a 12" piece of line to a scale and a bucket of bricks. Lift until the line breaks. (If the line breaks at the knot, try it again). Repeat three times and average the results.
Repeat the entire test with: Brand new line, line that has been fished with a sinker slider, and line that has been fished with a weight directly sliding on the line.
All line was soaked in water for 30 minutes prior to the test. All line is 20lb spiderwire braid.
New Line |
Sinker Slider |
Bare Egg Sinker |
|
Break Weight Avg |
19.2 lbs | 18.7 lbs | 12.4 lbs |
Bare Weights Damage Your Line
The line that had been fished with an egg sinker only held 66% of the weight of the line used with a sinker slider!
See how frayed this line was after just two trips:
Sinker Sliders Protect Your Line
The line from the sinker slider showed some wear, too, but not nearly as much fraying:
Weakened Line Costs You $ In Lost Tackle
Consider this: If your main line breaks, how much does it cost you to re-rig? I totaled up my current drifting rig at retail prices:
Sinker Slider: $.58
3oz Swivel Weight: $2.75
Swivel: $.11
8/0 Circle Hook: $1.43
=TOTAL: $4.87
Every time I break off my entire rig is like tossing a $5 bill in the water. If protecting your line cost less than $1, why wouldn't you?
Weakened Line Could Cost You A Big Fish
When was the last time you fish that felt really nice because your line broke? How disappointing would it be to break off a fish that could have been your personal best fish, just because you failed to use a rig that would protect your line?
I always wondered if the rough and sometimes sharp edges of egg sinkers were weakening my line. Now I know that's absolutely the case!