padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

These sinkers are perfect for surf fishing but are expensive, anywhere from $ 4.00 to $ 7.00, or more.
After losing more than my share, I decided to make my own using 3 and 4 oz bank sinkers. Attached are some pics of what this salty genius came up with. Please don't laugh; they actually work!
Purchased 30, assorted, on Ebay for approx $ .75 ea. ( they were a bit rough, cleaned them up with a file). Found wire at Home Depot, 100 feet for $ 10.00 and I was off to the races.
Now, I will tell you there's a bit of a learning curve, especially if you're only working with a needle nose, diagonal cutters, hand drill and a small file. BTW I didn't use the colorful beads that usually come with the sputniks, couldn't find them locally, but the sinkers seem to work OK without them.
The most difficult operation, for me, was drilling holes perpendicular to the sinker. Total materials costs, $ .95 ea.
Now I won't feel the need to cuss (as badly) when I lose one. Hell, I might just give Brownsville Tony some for his B'day.

Any, and all ideas are welcomed.

Cheers

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

That's very innovative, padre! Kudos to you! You could probably find the beads in the craft section of your local Wallyworld, least that's where I get them for my Carolina rigs.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Looks good to me Padre.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

You could just drive nails into the sinker. Would be a bit harder to retrieve.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

[quote=padrebino]These sinkers are perfect for surf fishing but are expensive, anywhere from $ 4.00 to $ 7.00, or more.
After losing more than my share, I decided to make my own using 3 and 4 oz bank sinkers. Attached are some pics of what this salty genius came up with. Please don't laugh; they actually work!
Purchased 30, assorted, on Ebay for approx $ .75 ea. ( they were a bit rough, cleaned them up with a file). Found wire at Home Depot, 100 feet for $ 10.00 and I was off to the races.
Now, I will tell you there's a bit of a learning curve, especially if you're only working with a needle nose, diagonal cutters, hand drill and a small file. BTW I didn't use the colorful beads that usually come with the sputniks, couldn't find them locally, but the sinkers seem to work OK without them.
The most difficult operation, for me, was drilling holes perpendicular to the sinker. Total materials costs, $ .95 ea.
Now I won't feel the need to cuss (as badly) when I lose one. Hell, I might just give Brownsville Tony some for his B'day.

Any, and all ideas are welcomed.

Cheers[/quote

padre... a few tips : to start your holes easier, use a prick punch at the desired location, just a little tap will do it, or ..... get your self a good sized pin vise , chuck in a small drill, and manually drill in a starter hole. Or another possibility, find a machine screw with the proper thread to install in your soldering iron element. File or grind down the "business end" to a point . Use to make a starting site with that. Brass screw should conduct heat better than steel.
Got Vise Grips ? Use 'em.
When ya run outta wire, look into using finish nails. Might be even cheaper ?
I didn't even need Youtube for this one, but they're great for oddball projects.
Another thought, beads should be found at a craft or sewing supply store.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

👍👍

BeerandFishin4me Loc: South Carolina

Very creative Padrebino, I'll have to give that a try. So tell us how is the surf fishing at your favorite beaches?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

They should work fine and dandy, Padre, all of them are tough to store. Make sure Tony doesn't step on his. How has he been, I have seen many posts of his since he sold his boat? I think I will PM him to see how he is doing.

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

Thats ingenuity at work Padre !! Very nice and Thanks for sharing !!👍👍🤙🤙

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

I surf fish on South Padre Island, usually drive North and set up where there are few to no people.
Fishing is great, it's the catching that needs improvement. Winds have been high since early Spring and not very
conducing for fishing.
Went out with Brownsville Tony several weeks ago ang caught a few whitings.
Went las week and caught a 24" black tip and 35" bonnet head shark, piggy perch, some whitings (sorry no pics) and an 18" pompano. Released everything but the Pompano. Plan to go out this coming week if winds slow down.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

Thanks DC, heading to Michael's tomorrow.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

Thanks Fred, they also work good too. Need some tweaking.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

Thanks Flytier, these old bones need all the mechanical advantage they can get, the nails would nail me.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

[quote=nutz4fish][quote=padrebino]These sinkers are perfect for surf fishing but are expensive, anywhere from $ 4.00 to $ 7.00, or more.
After losing more than my share, I decided to make my own using 3 and 4 oz bank sinkers. Attached are some pics of what this salty genius came up with. Please don't laugh; they actually work!
Purchased 30, assorted, on Ebay for approx $ .75 ea. ( they were a bit rough, cleaned them up with a file). Found wire at Home Depot, 100 feet for $ 10.00 and I was off to the races.
Now, I will tell you there's a bit of a learning curve, especially if you're only working with a needle nose, diagonal cutters, hand drill and a small file. BTW I didn't use the colorful beads that usually come with the sputniks, couldn't find them locally, but the sinkers seem to work OK without them.
The most difficult operation, for me, was drilling holes perpendicular to the sinker. Total materials costs, $ .95 ea.
Now I won't feel the need to cuss (as badly) when I lose one. Hell, I might just give Brownsville Tony some for his B'day.

Any, and all ideas are welcomed.

Cheers[/quote

padre... a few tips : to start your holes easier, use a prick punch at the desired location, just a little tap will do it, or ..... get your self a good sized pin vise , chuck in a small drill, and manually drill in a starter hole. Or another possibility, find a machine screw with the proper thread to install in your soldering iron element. File or grind down the "business end" to a point . Use to make a starting site with that. Brass screw should conduct heat better than steel.
Got Vise Grips ? Use 'em.
When ya run outta wire, look into using finish nails. Might be even cheaper ?
I didn't even need Youtube for this one, but they're great for oddball projects.
Another thought, beads should be found at a craft or sewing supply store.[/quote]

Nutz4 fishing, thanx for the pointers. I like the soldering iron suggestion. Will have to try it.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

Tony's been very busy lately. Definitely PM him and he'll bring you up to speed.
I'm sure he'll be glad to hear from you