Grapnel sinker

[JRFisherman]

Forum. Question here about grapnel sinker. I am making my own grapnel sinkers. The stem eye or longtail eye you set in mould before pouring the lead. Is 1.5mm wire a good diameter? Is 1.5mm wire a strong enough diameter to where the stem eye won't open up fighting a big fish from the beach? or do I need to go up in size for stem eye?

 

[nantes]

there is nothing pulling on there when u fight a fish

 

[Fly-aholic]

JRFisherman wrote:

Forum. Question here about grapnel sinker. I am making my own grapnel sinkers. The stem eye or longtail eye you set in mould before pouring the lead. Is 1.5mm wire a good diameter? Is 1.5mm wire a strong enough diameter to where the stem eye won't open up fighting a big fish from the beach? or do I need to go up in size for stem eye?

Hi JRFisherman,
1.5mm is more than strong enough. I use a spring steel stainless wire of 1.6mm. That is what I get get at the time. Once you have casted your sinker and bait, not much pressure on the wires except in very strong current. I have fished an 8 ounce grapnel sinker with 1.6mm wire and a yellowtail head (1.2kg's) in a very strong current and the sinker held very well. This was done when sliding the bait with a non-return clip. You will be well served with your 1.5mm wire. I have decided not to use stainless steel wire anymore as when sliding the bait, the sinker will dig into the sand so much sometimes that it brakes off. I use spring steel and when rusted I replace it.

 

[JRFisherman]

Fly-aholic wrote:

JRFisherman wrote:

Forum. Question here about grapnel sinker. I am making my own grapnel sinkers. The stem eye or longtail eye you set in mould before pouring the lead. Is 1.5mm wire a good diameter? Is 1.5mm wire a strong enough diameter to where the stem eye won't open up fighting a big fish from the beach? or do I need to go up in size for stem eye?

Hi JRFisherman,
1.5mm is more than strong enough. I use a spring steel stainless wire of 1.6mm. That is what I get get at the time. Once you have casted your sinker and bait, not much pressure on the wires except in very strong current. I have fished an 8 ounce grapnel sinker with 1.6mm wire and a yellowtail head (1.2kg's) in a very strong current and the sinker held very well. This was done when sliding the bait with a non-return clip. You will be well served with your 1.5mm wire. I have decided not to use stainless steel wire anymore as when sliding the bait, the sinker will dig into the sand so much sometimes that it brakes off. I use spring steel and when rusted I replace it.

Thanks for response. Do you see the 1.5mm eye holding up and staying closed if the grapnel sinker was fixed (or stationary/Not sliding) on the wire section of casting leader?

Might even try 1.6mm wire to play it safe....

 

[Fly-aholic]

JRFisherman wrote:

Fly-aholic wrote:

JRFisherman wrote:

Forum. Question here about grapnel sinker. I am making my own grapnel sinkers. The stem eye or longtail eye you set in mould before pouring the lead. Is 1.5mm wire a good diameter? Is 1.5mm wire a strong enough diameter to where the stem eye won't open up fighting a big fish from the beach? or do I need to go up in size for stem eye?

Hi JRFisherman,
1.5mm is more than strong enough. I use a spring steel stainless wire of 1.6mm. That is what I get get at the time. Once you have casted your sinker and bait, not much pressure on the wires except in very strong current. I have fished an 8 ounce grapnel sinker with 1.6mm wire and a yellowtail head (1.2kg's) in a very strong current and the sinker held very well. This was done when sliding the bait with a non-return clip. You will be well served with your 1.5mm wire. I have decided not to use stainless steel wire anymore as when sliding the bait, the sinker will dig into the sand so much sometimes that it brakes off. I use spring steel and when rusted I replace it.

Thanks for response. Do you see the 1.5mm eye holding up and staying closed if the grapnel sinker was fixed (or stationary/Not sliding) on the wire section of casting leader?

Might even try 1.6mm wire to play it safe....

Hi JRFisherman, the 1.5mm eye will never open. It is not possible to pull hard enough with your rod and line, even if you straight stick the rod, and with 80 pound braid to open the 1.5mm wire eye. If you consider that the force applied is inline with the shaft of the eye you cannot open the eye with 80pound force. Take the sinker, tie 80 pond to the eye and tie the other end of the braid to a fixed point. Pull like crazy, the braid will part before the eye opens.

 

[JRFisherman]

Thanks Fly-aholic....