We’d be hard pressed to find an element of bass fishing as much ignored as sinkers. When asked to cite the critical elements of a presentation, few anglers mention weights. Apologies to Metallica, but heavy metal gets no respect.

In their heart, though, bass experts know that in some situations, the weight used can be as important as the plastic bait it carries. In the past, anglers had few choices of weights—basically lead split shot or bullet-shaped slip sinkers—to present their favorite plastics. But as specialized techniques—California rig, split-shot rig, Mojo rig, and drop-shot rig—came along, weights were designed to match. Simultaneously, legal and environmental challenges to lead have led to sinkers made from new elements.

Dragging A Line

Any angler who’s retied a Carolina rig while trying to hold boat position on a windy point can appreciate prerigged Carolina-rig weights. Prerigged systems typically include a hefty brass or steel bell-shaped weight, ticker, and bead—freely sliding on a wire or heavy monofilament line between two barrel swivels.

Tournament pro Kathy Magers gives witness: “Prerig systems like the EZ Rig make it much easier to organize and store the components of a Carolina rig. Even better, they’re simple to use.” Try the Top Brass Ready Rig, Kalin Carolina Clacker, or Bass Pro Shops Carolina Short Cut.

Have you ever had a tug at the other end of a Carolina rig, only to have a “sure thing” hookset come up empty? After experiencing this frustration, anglers started noticing teeth marks on the lead weight of their Carolina rigs. They found bass, attracted to the mud kicked up by the terminal tackle, often struck the weight itself.

Jig Rigs

Several creative anglers replaced the Carolina rig’s terminal tackle—weight, glass bead, and a barrel swivel—with a jighead, tying a leader to the jig. Predictably, bass sometimes were hooked on both the jig and the trailing plastic. It didn’t take long for manufacturers to design jigs for this rig. Rig jigs, like J & J Lures’ Missouri Jig Rig and Lunker Lure’s Carolina Jig-Weight, feature stand-up heads that don’t topple when dragged. Some have a swivel or extra eye molded into the rear of the jighead. Tying the leader to the swivel instead of the jig hook reduces tangles.

Slinky Weights

Walleye pros and steelhead fishermen have long recognized the snag-evading advantages of bottom dragging weights in the slinky style. These weights, a woven nylon tube filled with lead or brass shot, are flexible to slide through or ride over obstacles that often catch bullet, egg, and bell-shape weights. Using them for Carolina rigging or livebait presentations saves tackle and time as their surface resists friction from the bottom and their balance is remarkably snagless.

Another innovative weight is the Lindy-Little Joe snag-defying, bottom-walking No-Snagg Slip Sinker and Rattlin’ No-Snagg Slip Sinker. The weight’s wire arm and banana-shape body design walks and rolls over wood and rock.

Finesse Weights

When fishing conditions dictate a subtle approach, anglers often downsize their offerings. While a little lead can work, brass sinkers with glass beads create sound and add a fine look to small baits.