Biodegradable Sinkers

[goldnugget]

Hi guys...I spotted biodegradable sinkers at my Big W store and was wondering if anyone out there either uses them or has used them. How quickly do they break down...I'm guessing they'd only be good for the day once their wet. Sizes seem limitted though...and I haven't heard anything about them. Anyone?

[Bill74]

can't say i've ever heard or seen anything like a biodegradable sinker before. i must take myself off to Big W for a look myself. wouldn't it be great if they were filled with tuna oil and other burleyish goodies?

[goldnugget]

Ha ha...only problem is that they'll go for sinker and not the hook. I cant remember if it said on the pack what it was made from. I may have to get a pack for when I head up to Noosa next month and see how they go.

[Cowfish13]

I think they break down after one year or something (if continously exposed to the elements). I've still got one (of a pack) that I won 6-7 years ago. Still fine.

[Fisher_90]

I think they are lead free and very popular in dams for fresh water fisho's

[Feral]

I've been using them exclusively bait fishing in dams for about 6 months.

Some dams are \"lead free\", so I go lead free on all dams now.

I use new sinkers each trip, so I dont know how well they \"re-use\". The ones that have been in my shed for 6 months look the same as they did the day I bought them, same goes for those in my tackle box. So they dont break down to soon!

They are also quite large for their weight, suit paternoster rigs fine, but I would think a running sinker might not work so well because of the size.

[goldnugget]

Well if they are good for that long then maybe I should get onto who ever makes them and see if they have plans to make some diferent sizes. They weren't expensive, just never got them 'coz I never knew anyone that used them. Thought they'd be stuffed after a days use.

[Feral]

I gotta say good on Big W for stocking them, before they did I was reduced to raiding old nuts to use for sinkers in Baroon Pocket!

[goldnugget]

I think I may have seen them at Kmart too but not sure. BigW definately have them. They are in trays (not bags) on the bottom shelf of my local store.

[Fisher_90]

My local Big W is starting to stock a heap of stuff, They also stuff up the pricing alot and if anyones after 14lb Fireline 300metres for $15 go to Big-W Taigum.

[2 wheels]

that being the case i'm going shopping

[obone]

Is their 'weight : size' ratio the same as lead, if you know what I mean.

Joel

[Feral]

no they are a lot bigger.

[faulked]

i believe these are a cast steel they came about many years ago in pomme land when they realised the swans etc were eating stones for their digestion and were picking up lead as well then later on dieing from lead poisoning .i think on norfolk island they use stones with a hole drilled through them .if im sharking in the river with big gear of the bank ill use a house brick as a sinker it might not degrade but its just cover for the fish as i normally lose the \"sinker\" when i get a hit and i dont have to cast:)

[Feral]

Now that you mention it They have the look of blast furnace slag (the froth off the top of casting steel vats),we used to use it a lot in road construction, and the pellets looked just like that before it was ground up.

I get my lead free jig heads from Canada, they are made of bismuth, so are slightly larger than the lead jig heads for the same size, and cost a packet. I think Bismuths SG is around 9.5, while leads is up around 12, but that is from a rusty memory so is likely wrong!

Because of the price I only use them where lead is actually banned (Baroon Pocket), I use normal jig heads elsewhere. When my current supply runs out, I will most likely just stick with hard bodies in lead free areas. (No plastics)

[Gazza]

Bismuth is actually being used as a lead replacement in shot for shotgun shells

I've tried these shells and no way do they smoke a clay target as good as lead

and lack the range of lead due to the weight /size ratio

I would imagine the same would run true with sinkers the larger the size the more air friction for the same weight

Gaz

[ellicat]

Except on a baitcaster Gaz;) PMSL

[Gazza]

My idea of a bait caster will beat any record just attach line Bingo no effort at all pmsl

Gaz

[Feral]

All true Gazza.

Apart from cost, its why I only use them when I have to, definately affects the casting, and I reckon the plastic action as well.

I would have thought you could have found a yank to supply you with some environmentally friendly depleted uranium for your shottie shells, that would do the job!

[Angus]

I was reading an article on new Eco Sinkers. They won the most innovative fishing products at one of the latest fishing shows.

I would certainly look at getting some for fishing any dam that is also a resevoir...

Angus