Tungsten Alloy Takes the Place of Lead in Fishing Sinkers

Tungsten alloy gains a great deal of popularity in fishing sinkers thanks to its non-toxicity. Tungsten is a rare element of very hard and dense metal. Lead has the density of 1.7 times of water, while tungsten 19.3 times of water. It is mined in only a few areas around the world, China is the biggest producer of tungsten. 

Some of the uses of tungsten are in the element light bulbs, counter weights in golf clubs, and fishing sinkers. Tungsten compares favorably to lead when it comes to relative weight and density. In fact, most tungsten weights are smaller and compact than lead weights of a similar weight (this varies depending on manufacturer). Compared with the lead fishing sinkers, tungsten alloy is an ideal substitute which is environment friendly and more effective than Lead sinkers. Here we have listed two main advantages that tungsten alloy possesses:  

Tungsten Alloy is Environment Friendly Material

Lead is the most common material in fishing sinkers. It’s cheap, readily available, and has been in use for more than a century. But lead first came under fire in the 1980s. Biologists blamed it for poisoning millions of ducks and geese. This happened because birds consume small rocks and gravel to help digest food. Wasted sinkers in the bottoms of ponds became a prime target for waterfowl, who would ingest the poisonous lead. Inexpensive and ecologically sound alternatives to lead fishing weights are available. Anglers can use sinkers and jigs made from non-poisonous materials such as tungsten alloy fishing sinkers.

Far Denser Than Lead,  the Best Sink Rate

Tungsten is used for fishing because of its density. Because of the density, the weights are 30% smaller when compared to a similar weight of lead. They are used as jig heads and sinker weights. They are also inserted into lures to add weight and act as rattles to attract fish. They come very small sizes for fly fishing and several pounds for deep sea fishing. Tungsten, being denser, allows for faster sinking, longer casting, and being more stable, is excellent for holding your bait on the bottom. It is also advertised as being more sensitive feeling than lead, and is less subject to snags because of the smaller size. Bass fishermen use large tungsten weights in dense cover to punch through heavy cover.

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