Weight material

Also known as: Weight material

Tungsten

Traits

  • Hardest and densest — smallest for the weight
  • Sharp, clear bottom signal
  • Slides off rock instead of sticking

Best for

  • Reading bottom composition
  • Rock and deep water sensitivity

Trade-offs

  • Price

Lead

Traits

  • Soft metal — sticks and drags on rock
  • Muddy, distorted signal on hard bottom
  • Cheap, easy to find

Best for

  • Budget fishing
  • High-loss water (snags)

Trade-offs

  • Anywhere you need precise bottom reading
  • Lead-banned waters

Steel

Traits

  • Hard, clean signal
  • Eco-friendly
  • Bulkier than tungsten for the weight

Best for

  • Lead-banned waters on a budget

Trade-offs

  • Size-sensitive finesse presentations

Brass

Traits

  • Medium density
  • Loud, sharp click against beads and rock

Best for

  • Sound-based combos (Carolina clackers)

Trade-offs

  • Quiet, pressured presentations