After a week of playing chuck-and-duck for sockeye and coho, I left a number of my partner’s slinky rigs on the bottom of the Kenai and want to replace them. Instead of using split shot as stuffing, I was going to buy a box of shotgun shot; what size do you leadslingers recommend? Also, what size parachute cord? Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Scott
Scott, I am not familiar with Slinkies but years ago I produced some weights with lead shot in parachute cord. I am pretty sure I used BB shot, which fit nicely. FYI, If you decide to buy regular BB’s they will probably be steel.
Scott-
You may already have this information but, if not, the attached chart maybe helpful. It shows the sizes of various sizes of both lead and steel shot, along with the number of pellets in a typical load. If you can find a waterfowling buddy from whom you can get a couple shells in a couple different sizes, you would have enough pellets to make a lot of slinkies.
I use 550# cord and #4 lead Buck Shot. Make them from 4 shot to 10 shot in the slinkey. I made a splitter to cut the shot so I can use the same shot to make split shot for steelhead fishing in the great lakes.
Jerry
How about some pic.s of the splitter and how y’all rig / use the Slinkies, as they are rarely used in our part of the country…
Thanks
Surprised to not find this in the Fly Tying area but I can’t even find a “slinky” description by searching FAOL.
They don’t acknowledge the term. What are they? Thanks.
Ray,
A slinky is a length of tubing, often parachute cord, stuffed with weight of some sort (split shot, shotgun shot, ball bearings) sealed on both ends with a snap swivel on one end. Tie that to your line (I used tag end of surgeon’s knot the fly was tied to) and it takes the rig down in a hurry - the design helps avoid snags.
Regards,
Scott
I made something similar years ago only with a heavy mono loop in one end to use as an end of line weight to get the fly down, lessen the frequency of snags and eliminate the need for split shot which I hate to use.
that must be one snag filled river because slinkies are used to minimize hangups and losing tackle. I used 3/8" paracord when I made them.
It is snag filled but that was what I thought I said, it was to prevent the fly from snagging.
I used to use paracord but found that eventually the shot works its way through the sides. I have since switched to heat shrink tubing. works great and are strong.
Sorry, uncle jesse, didn’t see your post, I was replying to the original post.
No foul, no harm, we all need to remember that the comment after out last post may have occurred a nano-second after ours, whch was never seen by the last guy.
You can use regular Crossman BB’s in standard 550 parachord. Not quite as heavy, but one milk carton of BB’s goes a long way.
This thread got me thinking about whether I should be trying this for trout fishing. I’ve never tried them, but I’m thinking of a larger stream around here with some deep, rocky, runs where I tend to use multiple shot and get hung up a fair amount. What are the your thoughts on the pros / cons of slinkies vs. more standard split shot rigging?
I’m mixed on them. I’ve used them in the past for spin fishing for steelhead/salmon. They work great. I’ve used them with the fly rod and while they work they seem to cast horribly for me, and I struggled with tandem rigs and a slinky. Could just be my “wonderful” casting stroke doing that though. LOL I tend to lean more towards a loop-to-loop 4 foot sink tip, a short leader and a single large split-shot when deep plunge pools are the rule. It casts much better for me and gives me more control.
I to have used them drift fishing for Steelhead. I never considered using them with a flyrod due to casting issues.
For rocky runs, you might try a drop shot rig. Put your split shot on an extension of your leader below your fly. When the shot get hung up, you can often pull them loose. They slide off the end of the leader and you only loose the shot.
