How Many Of Y'all Actually Use Lead When Punching? 2024
Catch and Grease reply :
I know there have been tons of "Tungsten vs. Lead" threads but I couldn't really find a whole lot on using lead to punch, if this has been discussed before please point me in the right direction.
I got a rod I can use for punching now and after school I'm probably gonna pick up some hooks and weights to try out, I only have 25$ to spend so I can't really afford 6-8$ weights... I'm mainly worried because the lake I normally fish has a lot of chain pickerel and I feel I would lose the expensive tungsten weights in just a few trips...
How many of y'all actually use lead to punch thick grass and pad mats? Seems like tungsten is about 50% smaller than lead, but can I still get away with using huge 1oz or 1-1/2oz lead weights to get through the mat?
J Francho reply :
My jika punch rigs use lead.
Joedodge reply :
I recently got some 1 ounce tungsten. Since I'm getting a lil more serious about punching. Bit I've een messing with lead no issue what so ever. It works fine. I've also used the steel weights. The only difference is size
kikstand454 reply :
Yes you can totally use the huge lead weights to punch mats. They will work fine.
Now, wheather the large profile will make a difference to the fish, the less polished weight slips through the cover as well, or the unfinished inside of the weight frays your braid. ....well. ... that's up for debate.
I prefer tungsten.
You could elimanate the polish problems by using steel. But they'd still be huge comparitively.
Catt reply :
Y'all do understand lead weights are not that bigger than tungsten. My 1/2 to 3/4 oz lead weights are smaller in diameter just longer.
I punch matted grass with 3/4 to 1.5 oz Oldham's EyeMax Jig; don't let any one tell you a jig is not effective in grass. It is they just don't know how to fish one!
J Francho reply :
I use plutonium weights. They're very small.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Around here ( yes we have BPS, cabelas, DSG)
You can't find the heavier lead bullet's(1oz) and up.. Used to be able to find large brass.. Not now, it's tungsten or pour your own I guess..
To answer your direct question: you sure can use lead to punch.. I prefer tung. your using braid so, I don't believe break offs in soft vegetation is likely, but at any-rate lead will work!
A-Jay reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 11:45 PM, J Francho said:I use plutonium weights. They're very small.
Good Idea J ~
Does that suit get hot ?
A-Jay
Alonerankin2 reply :
^^LOL, maybe JF is working on the Iran nuke deal as well.. Maybe
J Francho reply :
If by hot you mean sexy, then yes.
Catch and Grease reply :
The biggest lead bullet weights they had were only 1/2oz so I just bought two 3/4oz tungsten weights and some hooks, that's the biggest size bullet weight they had....
Joedodge reply :
For size comparison left to right. 3/4 ounce steel, 1 ounce lead, and then a 1 ounce tungsten flipping weight. They all work fine just different sizes
gulfcaptain reply :
I prefer tungsten, but if you can't afford it or can't see spending the money on them, lead is fine. Looking to jika rig fish this year and that will probably be lead.
doyle8218 reply :
I use lead and it works fine.
Catt reply :
On 4/7/2015 at 5:39 AM, Joedodge said:For size comparison left to right. 3/4 ounce steel, 1 ounce lead, and then a 1 ounce tungsten flipping weight. They all work fine just different sizes
That's 1 oz lead egg sinker which are shorter & fatter than a bullet weight.
My point I've used lead & I used tungsten with the same results. When I need 3/4-1.5 oz I go with a jig or tungsten.
Joedodge reply :
On 4/7/2015 at 7:12 AM, Catt said:That's 1 oz lead egg sinker which are shorter & fatter than a bullet weight.
My point I've used lead & I used tungsten with the same results. When I need 3/4-1.5 oz I go with a jig or tungsten.
Oh I know it is. I was just throwing rough sizes out there for anyone who cared is al
Matthew2000 reply :
I do and it works perfectly fine. The tungsten for punching really dosent mean anything to me. If I'm not focused on making bottom contact and feeling around then I'm not worried about the sensitivity side. But as far as its total mass that it's taking up I don't think that 1 mm difference is going to be the difference in me catching that fish or not. It's not going to say oh that hole looks a little to large to be something natural better not bite that craw fish.
Bankbeater reply :
All I ever use is lead.
J Francho reply :
To be honest, I'd only use lead or steel, but lead sales are banned for smaller sizes here. Sometimes I like the bigger steel when I don't need a lot of weight - it's size matches better with a big bait.
Mottel reply :
Is lead a problem if it brakes off and is now sitting in the lake?
fishwizzard reply :
On 7/19/2018 at 10:01 AM, Mottel said:Is lead a problem if it brakes off and is now sitting in the lake?
Sitting on the bottom, no. In the stomach of a waterfowl, yes.
Mottel reply :
On 7/19/2018 at 9:14 PM, fishwizzard said:Sitting on the bottom, no. In the stomach of a waterfowl, yes.
But doesn’t it emit lead and toxic chemicals into the water if it’s sitting on the bottom?
FishTank reply :
I always have liked tungsten better for punching but I started loosing to many and went back to lead. They are just too expensive.
Mbirdsley reply :
On 7/19/2018 at 10:01 AM, Mottel said:Is lead a problem if it brakes off and is now sitting in the lake?
Lead is not harmless but, it is not the boogey man that is has been made out to be. with common sense precautions it is not dangerous. Yes if high levels of lead enter the body it can mess you up and be fatal. However, it takes certain sets of circumstances for this to happen. Lead becomes dangerous once it oxidizes. lead paint for example is nothing but, oxidized lead. Lead in most cases ( I wont say never) will not oxidize in water and break down. It is a natural element found in the earth.
The only way non oxidized lead is dangerous is if you eat it ( if you were casting sinkers and don't wash your hands before drinking or eating). if you had a open wound it could possibly get into the wound if you are really carless and do not wash after words. The issues with the birds is mainly comes from lead shot from shot guns. the shot will hide in the water weeds and ducks ingest it while rooting around and eating lake weeds. Most sinkers will just get sucked up in the mud never to be seen again.
tholmes reply :
On 7/20/2018 at 9:28 AM, Mottel said:But doesn’t it emit lead and toxic chemicals into the water if it’s sitting on the bottom?
Lead is not water soluble.
Tom
Mottel reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 12:10 AM, tholmes said:Lead is not water soluble.
Tom
So why are people against using lead, and instead use tungsten?
tholmes reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 12:33 PM, Mottel said:So why are people against using lead, and instead use tungsten?
Waterfowl (bottom-feeding ducks in particular), and other wildlife can ingest small pieces of lead. They can get lead into their system through their digestive tract. It's the same reason that lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting.
Tom
J Francho reply :
On 7/23/2018 at 11:46 PM, tholmes said:Waterfowl (bottom-feeding ducks in particular), and other wildlife can ingest small pieces of lead. They can get lead into their system through their digestive tract. It's the same reason that lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting.
The species that gets highlighted by a certain group are loons. However, many times the question arises: has the banning of lead increased the loon population? The answer is always no, or we don't know. Nine documented dead loons in NY, and suddenly there is a ban on the sale of lead sinkers. There has been a huge increase in loon populations here, but that preceded the ban, and I attribute it to cleaner environments, and plentiful bait fish. The loons are almost a nuisance when fishing. I haven't actually hooked one, but it seems inevitable, with them actively hunting where many are fishing. At least NY was smart enough (huh?? lol) to limit the ban to just sinkers, not jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc., and the use of lead is not banned, just the sale. My guess is they do not have the resources to enforce it or even test for lead.
Catt reply :
What I question about lead ban is if da gonna bring up ducks, what about ducks that feed in rice fields, soy bean fields, & other grain fields.
These are the same fields we hunt doves with lead shot that are too light to sink into anything.
We shot way more rounds at doves than ducks!
Mottel reply :
On 7/23/2018 at 11:46 PM, tholmes said:Waterfowl (bottom-feeding ducks in particular), and other wildlife can ingest small pieces of lead. They can get lead into their system through their digestive tract. It's the same reason that lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting.
Tom
So if the lead gets consumed by a fish, is it not safe to eat that fish?
thinkingredneck reply :
Should be fine. To be totally safe, become vegan and starve.
I use a lot of lead and brass. Some tungsten in smaller sizes.
J Francho reply :
On 7/24/2018 at 5:44 AM, Mottel said:So if the lead gets consumed by a fish, is it not safe to eat that fish?
Fish don't typically eat lead. Loons pick up bits of gravel to grind up food that is in their crop. Sometimes a lead sinker gets in the mix. It's usually no problem, but a few end up with problems.
Mobasser reply :
Lead is still legal and available all over in my area. As Catt says , not a huge difference in size so that's what I use. I've been flipping lately- lead is no problem
Mottel reply :
On 7/24/2018 at 8:46 PM, J Francho said:Fish don't typically eat lead. Loons pick up bits of gravel to grind up food that is in their crop. Sometimes a lead sinker gets in the mix. It's usually no problem, but a few end up with problems.
A few what?
J Francho reply :
A few loon.
jtharris3 reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 12:33 PM, Mottel said:So why are people against using lead, and instead use tungsten?
Tree huggers!
CrankFate reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 11:45 PM, J Francho said:I use plutonium weights. They're very small.
But I heard the three eyed fish have better vision.
J Francho reply :
On 7/27/2018 at 1:20 AM, CrankFate said:But I heard the three eyed fish have better vision.
Use fluoro. 
Catt reply :
On 7/24/2018 at 8:46 PM, J Francho said:Fish don't typically eat lead. Loons pick up bits of gravel to grind up food that is in their crop. Sometimes a lead sinker gets in the mix. It's usually no problem, but a few end up with problems.
What are the odds any creature would actually come across a lead weight on the bottom of any body of water?
It's just like ducks eating lead pellets from shotgun shells, the only place there's lead pellets is in front of my blind... ducks need to worry about flying pellets!
J Francho reply :
Slim to none, and since what the loons are using in their gizzard or crop (whatever) is gravel, it's not our stuff that's getting included.
CrankFate reply :
On 7/27/2018 at 1:28 AM, J Francho said:Use fluoro.
Got em!
Texan89 reply :
I use tungsten for everything except drop shot and crappie fishing.
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