Fishing: Sinkers

Fishing in a lake or river results in the inevitable loss of sinkers because of snags on rocks or other debris in the water. Sinkers are the lead weights, tied to the end of the fishing line, to carry the baited hooks to the bottom of the lake or river.

Although lead sinkers can be purchased at fishing tackle stores, we always made our own. Dad procured a lead melting crucible and two split design sinker molds. One mold resulted in a conical shaped sinker, the other created a rhombic pyramidal design. Dad, in making his rounds as a cigar salesman would come across and accumulate the lead weights used to balance tires. I also kept my eyes open for the weights along the curbs when going to and coming from school and around the gas station near our home.

The lead weights would be put into the crucible and heated to melting on the gas range in our “summer kitchen.” Dad would hold close one of the molds and I would carefully pour the melted lead into the mold, pouring in different amounts to create a range of sizes for different fishing situations. Calm waters require only a small weight sinker; turbulent waiters as when fishing in the Niagara River required a heavy sinker. In a minute or so, the lead solidified, the mold would be opened, and the sinker pried out. The mold was closed again for another pour. At a session, perhaps fifteen or twenty sinkers would be made.