| Sometimes, just dropping the baited hook down to | | | | metal tube is used, it may be removed or the ends |
| the bottom when saltwater fishing just don't work as | | | | just pounded to a rounded end. Haywire-twist the |
| it should, because the leader gets wrapped around | | | | shorter end of the wire into a small eye. At the |
| the main line. This puts the bait too close to the | | | | longer end, make a haywired eye with a swivel and |
| sinker-swivel ensemble and makes the fish leery of | | | | snap attached. The snap is to facilitate the tying of |
| the bait. To end this undesirable occurrence, use a | | | | the leader, so you can still do without it but less |
| sinker bar. | | | | effectively. |
| A sinker bar is a piece of sinker with short lengths of | | | | To use the sinker bar, attach the main line to the |
| stainless wire at both ends, one a bit longer than the | | | | short end eye and the leader into the longer end via |
| other. The main is attached at the shorter end and | | | | the clip. Drop the sinker and free line it to the |
| the leader at the other end. When dropped, the wire | | | | bottom: it should fall fast, sideslipping a little on the |
| separates the leader and hook-bait rig from the main | | | | way, the drop speed determined by the weight and |
| line, thus preventing fouling. Then the ensemble is | | | | the mass of the bait. If it slips sideways too much |
| held hanging off the bottom to detect bites. Sinker | | | | the spinning bait might entangle the leader to the |
| bars are best used in deep waters and when | | | | main line, so bend the longer wire some more so the |
| saltwater night fishing with lights. | | | | sinker falls horizontally. When it reaches bottom, pull |
| To make a sinker bar for fishing, you need some | | | | up a little way so the sinker hangs vertically. This |
| lead, a disposable piece of metal tube or small | | | | way you can feel the bite more quickly, though often |
| bamboo tube, a foot-and-a-half of stainless steel wire | | | | you just react to the pull on the line. |
| number 16-33 (depending on how heavy you want | | | | If you wish to use tungsten weights, get the |
| the sinker: the heavier the sinker, the bigger the | | | | appropriate weight in bar form, drill the longitudinal |
| wire). Find a small box of sturdy carton, dump sand | | | | center and push the wire through. Glue it when you |
| or earth to fill it and stick one end of the wire into | | | | get the correct lengths of both ends. |
| the middle, about six inches deep. Thread the | | | | The sinker bar can be made in various sizes, from |
| stick-up wire through the tube centering the wire and | | | | small one-ounce sizes to weights of one kilogram for |
| stick the tube into the sand to make it stand. Pour | | | | really deep sea fishing. Practicality will dictate which |
| molten lead into the tube. | | | | weights are appropriate to where and how in |
| When the lead has cooled, remove the thing from | | | | saltwater or even deeper freshwater fishing. |
| the carton then split the bamboo tube open. If a | | | | |