I have used Loon Deep Soft Weight to get my nymphs or streamers down with some success, but the soft putty has the tendency to slide up or down the leader.
What have you found to be the best product to use?
Thanks,
paff
Dinsmore shot
Don’t slide, sort of easy to get off, non-toxic, and a nice container with many sizes.
Going to try “Toobies” this year. Clever idea if it actually works.
Al
[url=http://www.feather-craft.com/2005MAster/fcpage.asp?page=26:c5c41]http://www.feather-craft.com/2005MAster/fcpage.asp?page=26[/url:c5c41]
[This message has been edited by dryflie (edited 24 May 2005).]
I use Sticky Weight and do not have a problem with it sliding. I roll the putty very tightly onto the leader or tippet and it ends up in a football shape. Of course. if you apply it over the tippet to leader knot it will never move but as I said I haven’t experienced it moving anywhere I use it.
Joe
[This message has been edited by flyfisherjoe (edited 24 May 2005).]
Nothing but Sticky Weight. Very easy to use.
Will
driflie, looked at the Toobies you linked. It seems to me that they will not add much weight vs bulk. To make it worse it looks as if air can be trapped in the tubing and give it unwanted buoyancy. The nice thing about the putty weight is it is heavier than lead, can be formed streamlined and will pull free in some snagging situations.
Joe
I purchased toobies a little while back and they seem to work OK. They can be a little hard to work with but once you get the hang of getting the weight into the tube (use some lube) they work well. Don’t hang up to much either.
Fish more, work less!
Joe, I haven’t tried them yet, the rain up this way is just killing the fishing. Our early spring fishing is primarily muddler and Dryfly fishing anyway so the real need for weight will be some time yet.
I doubt they will trap any air as the slip tube is open on both ends. I do worry about there being enough friction on the leader to hold them in place. Seems they would make it easier to add or subtract weight but I don’t know for certain yet. I do know I hate split shot and I’m not too fond of sticky weight either.
Al
I use soft weight on the tippet side of a loop to loop tippet to leader connection.
Bought some split shot this season just to try. No way can I spend that much time. Soft or sticky, you can adjust quickly.
Dear paflyfisher,
I use good old Water Gremlin lead split shot, same as I always have.
I know they aren’t environmental friendly. I know some folks say they twist your line. I know they don’t come in all the exotic micro-sizes.
Mostly I use them because I have at least 5 pounds of them lying around in assorted sizes accumulated over 40 years of fishing, and the only semi-legal way I know to dispose of them is by getting them snagged on the bottom of the river. 
Regards,
Tim Murphy
JC-
Is sticky weight still being made? I heard through a distributor that it was not, and I know the guy who made lead putty died, so it is out of production too. Can you shed any light on this one, or has the stuff you are using been in the vest for awhle?
Thanks,
Charlie
<A HREF="http://www.charliesflybox.com
]http://www.charliesflybox.com
" TARGET=_blank>http://www.charliesflybox.com
]http://www.charliesflybox.com
</A>
I use the sticky weight. I bought mine a year or so ago, so don’t know whether or not it’s still available. I guess I’ll find out when I need more.
Mike
i think hareline is coming up with a substitute (not exactly sure but i think they are). but loon has their soft lead stuff…
Sticky Weight and other putty weights like the Loon product are not made of lead. They are made from tungston which is 30% heavier than lead so you need less.
I just bought some more sticky weight the other day and see it in shops all the time.
[url=http://theoriginalstickyweight.com/:98c92]http://theoriginalstickyweight.com/[/url:98c92]
Joe
I just calles the Sticky Weight folks and they are sold out…seems they were buying it from someone overseas and that company went out of business, SO, there is no more sticky weight for a while. They said that they are hoping to start some production again soon with a new vendor, but no time frame as of yet. The guy on the phone, Bill?, was quite friendly and helpful though…
Charlie
Any of the soft putty-type weight tends to get hard and fracture when used in my local tailwaters. I go along with the Dinsmore shot…by far my favorite.
I tried the Toobies product this year and didn’t like it much. I found it cumbersome to work with and it did add a lot of bulk. I’ve been using Dinsmore shot, but don’t really like that either as you ruin them when you remove them, so now maybe I’ll try this Sticky Weight product as well. I seem to remember a post a while back comparing Sticky Weight to some of the other similar products and for some reason it was considered much better (I think the others were gooey or something to that effect), so hopefully the Sticky Weight folks work through their supplier problem.
Any on line sites carry sticky weight?I have not seen it in the fly shop anymore.
Thanks
Mike
I noticed Cabelas was not carying sticky weight anymore…now I know why…Bummmer… I tried it and liked it, didn’t want to load up 'til I tried it out. Deep Soft Weight is twice the price, if its the same quality it would be well worth it but I can’t vouch for it.
I just bought some a couple of weeks ago. I believe the last place I saw it at was a Sport Chalet, a California/Nevada chain. You might try phoning Bob Marriotts, their web site is a mess so you won’t find on there. KKFlyfishers.com may have it if you phone them. If I see some I’ll let you know.
Joe