Beach combed sinkers.

[Dutchman]

And then chucked back in the sea. A toxic element that is increasing the lead in the marine food chain. Seems a bit paradoxical to say the least

Same about rain from the heavens running off down lead gullies off church roofs picking up lead stuff and heading to the local watercourse and then to the sea.
would you not agree!

 

[Casker]

And then chucked back in the sea. A toxic element that is increasing the lead in the marine food chain. Seems a bit paradoxical to say the least

Suggestions ?!
I started out looking for non-lead leads expecting to find plenty of alternatives, but alas ... ! - leaving aside re-purposed iron based odds & sods.

A bit more research indicates that I cannot re-use 4 of the beach-combed 'lead' weights as they weigh less than 1oz - so they are destined for the civic amenity's miscellaneous metal skip as I can't be bothering with smelting and remoulding myself.

 

[flappy]

The carp boys often use drilled pebbles.

 

[Cwab]

Will lose half dozen or more seven ounce leads per session and mutilate or lose same number of Rigs was more when using mono due to fishing very heavy ground just something you get used to if fishing that type of ground and all bottom tackle sacrificial.

 

[Casker]

Searching a bit deeper: it will have to be tungsten then as a large-weight alternative - much higher specific gravity than lead ! Not cheap though !!

Drilled pebbles, brass and spark plugs etc etc all good for smaller 'weights', but I'm thinking a 5oz, say, that is made of anything other than lead or tungsten is gonna be tennis ball size !!!

Gold would be a good option density-wise, but I hear that it is fetching around £2k/oz right now. A bit out of my price range even for casting over a 'low-risk' very clean no-snag sandy beach.

 

[Casker]

Have you considered trying another fishing spot @Cwab -

 

[Cwab]

Have you considered trying another fishing spot @Cwab -

Really only fish it as still can throw out some quality fish along with the majority of that particular coastline and enjoy the challenge and a few quality fish now and again though not for everyone

 

[Casker]

Further lead-alternative research. Checked out brass! (Some brass alloys do include some low % lead though.)
I do love AI searches .... "How long would a 150g (5.3oz) 20mm diameter brass rod be ?"
Answer: approx' 5.64cm (depending on particular brass alloy).
So a brass 5oz weight not so cumbersome as I was thinking it might be. I haven't noticed any brass fishing weights on offer though !

 

[flappy]

Further lead-alternative research. Checked out brass! (Some brass alloys do include some low % lead though.)
I do love AI searches .... "How long would a 150g (5.3oz) 20mm diameter brass rod be ?"
Answer: approx' 5.64cm (depending on particular brass alloy).
So a brass 5oz weight not so cumbersome as I was thinking it might be. I haven't noticed any brass fishing weights on offer though !

That’s because they would be about £20 each..

 

[Casker]

That’s because they would be about £20 each..

@flappy - a 300mm long 20mm dia' brass rod (say) @ an example £18.60 (local collect from a metal retailer) could produce 5x DIY cut & drilled 5oz weights - so somewhere around £3.50 per weight plus a bit for wire. Obviously some DIY effort required, but maybe something worth doing to avoid casting larger lead weights.

 

[JLD]

You need to get out fishing more.

 

[Casker]

You need to get out fishing more.

Very wet and dismal here - I reckon I can be excused a bit of fishing related "scientific" investigation.

 

[Angrybear]

@flappy - a 300mm long 20mm dia' brass rod (say) @ an example £18.60 (local collect from a metal retailer) could produce 5x DIY cut & drilled 5oz weights - so somewhere around £3.50 per weight plus a bit for wire. Obviously some DIY effort required, but maybe something worth doing to avoid casting larger lead weights.

Big lumps of lead pose no real health risk to anyone or anything it's the microscopic dust that gets ingested over the course of a lifetime that builds up in birds/fish/mammals

 

[Mr Fish]

Big lumps of lead pose no real health risk to anyone or anything it's the microscopic dust that gets ingested over the course of a lifetime that builds up in birds/fish/mammals

Yep I thought that and tbh bigger lead weights are pretty inert. It’s not like the split shot in coarse fishing that used to get eaten by birds etc.

 

[Casker]

Yep I thought that and tbh bigger lead weights are pretty inert. It’s not like the split shot in coarse fishing that used to get eaten by birds etc.

Now you say that @Mr Fish, I do also think the primary concern about lead fishing weights, especially split shot, was ingestion by creatures (all great and small).

[What ever happened to "acid rain" ? Once upon headline news! While alkaline water and lead sort of OK, acidic water and lead really not so good.]

 

[Mr Fish]

Now you say that @Mr Fish, I do also think the primary concern about lead fishing weights, especially split shot, was ingestion by creatures (all great and small).

[What ever happened to "acid rain" ? Once upon headline news! While alkaline water and lead sort of OK, acidic water and lead really not so good.]

Yes, it was a big thing for killing swans, but no doubt other water fowl too.

The substitute material put the price of shot up but tbh in the quantities used it wasn’t a huge financial hit for anglers.

But when you get up to 5/6oz of lead, there’s no viable ‘cheap’ alternative, unless you’re just making disposable makeshift sinkers to chuck in close in snaggy marks.

I used to wrap pebbles in a chicken wire cage for rock marks where only a lob was needed, but obviously they’re larger and certainly not aerodynamic.

Ironically, given their size I tended to get them back more often than not.

 

[flappy]

Why do you think they were called swan shot..??