| Fishing weights used to be made of lead, but in | | | | than lead, which means that you can have a |
| 1986 lead was banned in the UK for use as any | | | | similar weight to lead, but for roughly half the bulk. |
| part of the overall fishing accessories. In ancient | | | | This makes tungsten fishing weights less |
| times, and even into surprisingly modern times | | | | conspicuous and more efficient. Unfortunately |
| too, stones have been used to weigh down a | | | | though, tungsten is quite a lot more expensive |
| fishing lure. Soft stone, such as steatite, can be | | | | than lead, but this is really its only drawback. |
| easily shaped and will work well. These days | | | | However, some environmental groups have raised |
| anglers in the UK use non toxic fishing weights. | | | | questions about the long-term effects of tungsten |
| The materials vary, but they have no poisonous | | | | in water. It is not known for certain whether it is |
| qualities. | | | | safe or not, and while it appears to be reasonably |
| Weights and sinkers can be bought in any good | | | | benign, there are those who say we need to be |
| fishing tackle shop, and are usually shaped in a | | | | sure - lead free fishing weights also need to be |
| teardrop. Sometimes they are also made in a | | | | non toxic weights. The interesting thing in this |
| diamond or egg kind of shape. If fishing is to take | | | | respect is that it is really quite easy to create |
| place among weed beds, then a cone or bullet | | | | your own natural and definitely non toxic fishing |
| shaped weight that can force itself through the | | | | weights. |
| obstructions is likely to work best. Needless to | | | | In the USA they call them sandsinkers. They are |
| say, weights for fishing are available in different | | | | small fabric containers that hold sand as the |
| sizes and therefore different weights. They can | | | | weight. The fabric can be large or small, depending |
| range from a few grams to a few kilograms, | | | | on the need, and can be sealed off to keep the |
| depending on the fishing needs. | | | | sand in place. An old baby sock is actually ideal as |
| For light weights, steel or brass works quite well. | | | | the fabric. All you need after that is some sand. |
| But where heavy weights are required, these | | | | This arrangement is perfectly friendly for any |
| materials tend to become too bulky to maintain | | | | environment, and it works well as fishing weights |
| the level of weight needed. Tungsten has become | | | | too. It has the added advantage of being very, |
| popular with anglers for this reason. It is denser | | | | very cheap and easy to make. |