KG Loc: Treasure Coast, Florida

During tide in an inlet, in narrow spaces, the current is so strong that even really heavy sinkers end up unable to stay in place.

I tried a pyramid sinker, hoping it would bury itself in the sand, but it acts like a sort of parachute, with insane drag.

I've seen sputnik sinkers at stores. But not sure if they actually work or would just end up getting hooked on something. Not to mention it's a huge contraption.

I normally use 1oz sinkers to fish with. But in strong current even 5oz of combined multiple sinkers isn't enough.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Checkout No Roll sinkers online

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

KG Loc: Treasure Coast, Florida

Nice! Thanks. Didn't know those exist. I've give this design a try.

Which side should it be put on? Narrow towards the rod, right?

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Good question…they may be slightly more aerodynamic the other way, but it probably won’t matter!
Try both and let us know if you notice any differences. We all like to learn!

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

Flat or sputnik seem to work the best for me in heavy tide. Sputnik seems to work better than the flat but they are More costly and quite a contraption to throw. Good luck!

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

JackM Loc: North East Florida

A 5 or 6 Oz. sputnik sinker should help. If that won't hold maybe it is time to change locations. The Sinker Guy makes good quality sinkers up to 6 Oz. https://thesinkerguy.com/

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

On some Inlets, they talk about using 8 Oz. Sinkers down in Ocean City, Maryland. to even get to the bottom.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

My dad and I made our own sinkers and expected to lose some in Red River during the flood stage.

I don't have any advic about the best, or most efficient in strong currents.
However, if you have access to a source of lead, you might be dollars ahead by "do it yourself"

We lived in an oilfield and had a source of thread protectors taken off of different pipes and other threaded equipment. That way we could adjust the weight by the amount of lead poured into each.

In smaller sinkers, we dug out all the topsoil and when we reached the clay below that, we would poke a hole the size of our sinkers desired and then in the bottom of that hole, a copper wire bent double and forced down in the bottom, for tying you line on. Then when we had maybe 30 or 40 of these holes prepared would then pour molten lead in and have a supply of sinkers. Because we knew we would lose some. Just Sayin..RJS

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

In rethinking this, the few inches you may (or may not) lose on the cast may pay off if you have the smaller end pointing toward you in the (unheard of) event there is no fish on the end of the line. The weight might have a better chance to make it back during the retrieve? Good luck…whichever way you choose!

KG Loc: Treasure Coast, Florida

I wasn't thinking aerodynamics and I wasn't thinking retrieve. I was thinking hydrodynamics while suspended/sinking in current. Chances are, the end that's facing towards the rod will be the end facing the current head on. After all, when you cast (or just lower the bait) it gets dragged away from you by the current. So it's always "looking" towards the rod. So it makes sense to orient the sinker thin/narrow side towards the rod. It would be nose into the oncoming current. It would minimize drag. At least, that's my thinking.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Get the a lot of cu=ent in the surf. Always use storm sinkers. 6 ounce is my normal just to load the rod, 8 isn't rare and I've thrown as heavy as 16, but don't try that with a normal surf rod. When the current is rolling, none of them will sit still.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Fishing from a boat in current, I use cannon ball sinkers on a swivel (I have tried almost everything made). They seem to drop straighter and have less drag than any other shape. Do no add more sinkers as that adds a great deal of drag surface. Swap out and go to a bigger sinker. I (my clients) fished regularly and dropped one hundred to three hundred feet in strong current using 16 to 32 oz. sinkers. I now fish mostly forty to sixty feet. I use .75 oz. to 8 oz. sinkers. If I can not hold the bottom on a drift with 8 oz. in 60 ft of water, it is time to move. When the current gets to swift to fish at about a 2 knot drift, I can always find a place with less current. I expect bait fish are doing the same. Note: the wind can create a perceived current much faster than the true current. A conflicting current and wind makes life a nightmare. If the conditions call for it when guiding, I often used the motor to stay over the weights for my clients, to create a near neutral current. Remember, guides don't get to pick which days and conditions they fish, yet they still catch fish. Sometimes it is necessary for two people to switch back and forth as skipper/guide (operating the boat) to make fishing feasible. Keep in mind, I am speaking of a boat in current or wind. Rivers and surf are a different story.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Bapabear: Your correct. Point the rod at the water. release tension and as soon as the sinker hits bottom, stop the line. Then raise the rod level and the fish can see the bait without the sand, ect covering it. Learned that over 50 years ago.