Sandhill Meadows Tackle
(907) 299-3530
News and Reviews
"Flex-O-Sink" Your Fish: A unique way to reach the depths with bait and lures
- Albert Yendes
I was once informed that no matter the job, there is a proper tool that will accomplish the task more efficiently. Just as there is truth to that train of thought, the idea behind it could also apply to fishing. Specific situations require specific tackle or fishing will become a futile endeavor. But even in that collection of odds and ends which comprise your fishing arsenal, there may be times when nothing seems to be a ppropriate for the conditions. I cannot count the number of times I have started a sentence with "If I only had..." I have witnessed fishing partners devising some of the weirdest concoctions that have ever been attached to monofilament. Surprisingly, some of them proved to be quite effective. But instead of waiting for a bolt of genius to strike, I prefer to be armed to the teeth before the fact.
The difference between the drop and the sinker is that the sinker has swivels at both ends of the cord, while the drop has only one. The sinker, with its two swivels, can be used as an in-line system, or it can be dangled just like the drop. Both vary in size from 1/8 to 1 ounce and are used according to the swiftness of water, the trolling speed or by the depth desired. For most of my use, I prefer 1/4 or 3/8 ounce sinkers.
The trolling method used for stripers begins after they have been graphed on a depth finder. Usually, an ounce sinker is used and enough line to drop the floating bait (Rebel or Rapala types) right through the school. The same is true for walleye, except they are normally taken off a sandy or rocky bar. The weight is allowed to ride the bottom and trail the lure on a leader of a couple feet. Stream fishing requires lighter weight, just enough to keep the spinner running beneath the surface. Another method is to use the drop or sinker as a sliding weight when fishing for catfish.
We all know that the thermocline attracts fish, but it is difficult to retrieve a lure and keep it running through this layer. The thermocline generally parallels the bottom of a lake, following its contour if the drops or inclines are not too steep. The deeper the water, the further the thermocline is from the lake floor, but for typical fishing situations, it will range from 2 to 4 feet from the bottom. Fish gather in this comfort zone and with the congregation of more fish, the chances for a strike increase.
[Sandhill Meadows Tackle] may have a little apparatus which deserves a spot in your tackle box. Resembling a shoelace with a weight problem, the "Flex-O-Sinker," or its counterpart the "Flex-0-Drop," can solve the problem of needed heft without the nuisance of unwanted snags.
Hollow nylon cording filled with shotgun pellets gives the sinker a snaky quality, enabling it to slither over and through almost any obstacle. Thus with the proper rigging, the Flex-O-Sinker can increase a fisherman's versatility--getting depth on baits that normally run shallower than the conditions warrant and the ability to fish structure and weed beds without the normal time-consuming hang-ups. Not only do snags waste time, they can become expensive when lures decide to remain behind.
The only products that the company presently manufactures are the two weight systems. Since the first ones were assembled, the business has increased nine-fold and has some of its most supportive fans in walleye and striped bass aficionados, but they can be an aid in all types of fishing.
"The Flex-O-Sinker can increase a fisherman's versatility--getting depth on baits that normally run shallower than the conditions warrant and the ability to fish structure and weed beds without the normal time-consuming hang-ups."
