4 . ark fishing no chip insert tungsten punching weight
$ 3.99 – 10.99 | tacklewarehouse . com
You might be able to get away with dragging or pitching a lead sinker . But when it comes to punching a soft-plastic bait through matted vegetation or other heavy cover , tungsten is a must . A 1- to 2-ounce lead weight might be as large as your creature bait , resulting in an unnatural presentation and low hookup rate . While flipping weights can also be used to punch , this weight from Ark is designed specifically for punching , with a collar that will hold a punch skirt in place . It features an insert to prevent line wear and a heat-finished , matte black coating that won ’ t chip or erode . It ’ s available in six sizes from 3 / 8 ounce to 1 1 / 2 ounce .
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5 . epic baits tungsten barrel weight
$ 6.99 – 13.99 | epicbaitsfishing . com
If you throw a Carolina rig , reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Matt Becker advises switching to tungsten to take your ball-and-chain game up a notch . A tungsten barrel weight offers a couple benefits over lead : It ’ s louder , attracting fish from farther away even without a clacker , and it offers more sensitivity , so anglers can tell whether they ’ re dragging through soft bottom , rock or grass . Epic ’ s version is once again engineered to eliminate line fray . It ’ s offered in four sizes , from 1 / 4 ounce to 1 ounce .
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6 . strike king tour grade tungsten swing football head
$ 7.99 – 11.99 | strikeking . com
Tungsten offers many of the same benefits in a swing head as in a Carolina rig weight . In this case , the increased sensitivity is particularly important , as it can be challenging for an angler grinding a wobble head through cover to discern what ’ s a bite . One plus of Strike King ’ s model is that you can easily attach or remove any hook to perfectly match the size of your bait . The head comes in four sizes , from 1 / 4 ounce to 1 ounce .
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7 . queen tackle l . s . tungsten jighead
$ 8.99 – 11.99 | tacklewarehouse . com
As the jighead minnow technique has exploded in popularity , so has this ball head . While sensitivity isn ’ t quite as important when it comes to mid-strolling , the smaller diameter of tungsten makes for a more natural presentation , when a heavier head is necessary to reach bass in deep water . Many anglers also believe the density of tungsten makes for a brighter return on forward-facing sonar . The Queen Tackle jighead is offered in a variety of hook sizes and features a 90-degree line tie and a bait keeper that works well with ElaZtech . It comes in nine weights ranging from a tiny , 1 / 32-ounce version up to 1 ounce .
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8 . epic baits tungsten tear drop shot
$ 6.99 – 8.99 | epicbaitsfishing . com
Becker acknowledged there are times anglers can get away with lead drop-shot weights , especially when targeting individual fish with forward-facing sonar . But for those who drag drop-shots around rock , the increased sensitivity of tungsten can be beneficial . Becker especially prefers it when bed fishing , as he can feel when his weight enters the gravelly substrate that usually comprises a smallmouth bed . Epic offers three styles of drop-shot weight — cylindrical , round and tear drop — but the tear drop is most versatile . It also comes in a tie-on version , which Becker prefers ( and also uses for free rigs ). Even when using a weight with a line-grip swivel , he advises tying a couple overhand knots ; casting off tungsten weights or having them fly off the line when fish jump can get expensive in a hurry .
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