Ok, so I have heard the reasons, seen the ways with the plastic sliders, swivel way and tied off dropper. Now, if the weight has a loop that won't go over the main line swivel, can I just put it above the main line -like the egg drop ones??? Or, may that hold the line down farther up the line than I want? and is there a bonus for the tied off dropper, it still seems to get tangled up. It still seems to tangle around my main line.

Angg-
What do you mean by loop? As in a dropper tied with a loop? I've tried them all. There are a billion ways to skin a dog, but, for my taste a small snap swivel clipped through a hole in the flattened end of the pencil lead or bank weight works perfect. (Buy the special pliers with the punch built in- sportco has em) Just use a little snap swivel (Like two sizes smaller than your main line barrel swivel) and the lead usually pulls off (~80%) if you snag the wieght.
I also put a small bead between the sliding swivel/weight and main line barrel. That helps stop the snap swivel from wearing on the knot at the main line swivel (a bumper of sorts).
Want a photo? Just ask!

Here is what I have done with good success.

Put a small snap swivel on the main line. Then put a small bead on. Tie the main line to a good quality swivel and then tie the leader to the other side of the swivel.
I then attach a slinky weight to the snap on the swivel.

Since slinky weights very seldom hang up I don't tend to lose much terminal tackle. I started doing this one day on the Carbon while fishing for kings a few years ago. I instantly doubled my hooked to bottom setting ratio by almost double. IE: Half as many hooksets on rocks/twice as many hooksets on fish.

After doing this for an hour and hooking (legally in the mouth) 15 fish to my buddies 1 he switched over and had similar results. Of course most of those fish got away as they were just too big to stop once they headed downriver. We did get two nice chrome fish each though.

Interesting

Happy to get some replies! YES, Phreak , a photo would help my fishing effort. I was actually asking about plunking sliding weights, and tried many variations today. BUT, I am done and off to attempt the drifting again. So,these are drifting slidings. I have a hard time with the hole punch but can break up lead before I go. I'm not a total wimp, but I have a hard time punching lead in the middle, it's a pain for me, but can prepare before. Is the plastic tube thing old hat now? I will follow any advice, but have been known to monkey rig my line as to what I think may work. (big mistake sometimes). Thanks again for the replies, I am always listening!

Slideing leaders on a plunking line can be killer under the right conditions.

Tie your main line to a barrel swivel, and to it tie about eight inches of ligher test to your pyramid sinker. Cast it out, take up all the slack and set your rod in the spike.

Then take your eggs, spoon, jig or plug (my fav) on about a six foot leader tied to a snap swivel. Open the snap, clip it on your mainline and let it slide down the mainline towards the bottom. It takes a little practice to nudge your offering down the line to the bottom. Getting up a little high on a bank above the river helps also. I sometimes add a splitshot at the top of the leader which helps sink my plug.

This sliding rig can be very effective.

I got a sure fire way to make "slinkies". A guide taught me this little trick and it is awesome.

I tie up a bunch of swivels (latch type or barrel) and leave a little 2.5-3" tag of 20# test. I use a palomar know to affix the line.

I normally tie up about 25 of these. I use twenty # test. I then take the hollow pencil lead and run the line through the lead. Taking a pair of side cutters I then X the lead by crushing it, but NOT fracturing it.

They are easy to make, CHEAP, dont snag easy and if you do the lead will "slide" off the line. This little trick will allow you to vary the weight indefinitely.

Thanks Andy
Paul

I got a sure fire way to make "slinkies". A guide taught me this little trick and it is awesome.

I tie up a bunch of swivels (latch type or barrel) and leave a little 2.5-3" tag of 20# test. I use a palomar know to affix the line.

I normally tie up about 25 of these. I use twenty # test. I then take the hollow pencil lead and run the line through the lead. Taking a pair of side cutters I then X the lead by crushing it, but NOT fracturing it.

They are easy to make, CHEAP, dont snag easy and if you do the lead will "slide" off the line. This little trick will allow you to vary the weight indefinitely.

Thanks Andy
Paul

When you're plunking with the slider, you need a dropper to keep your offering slightly off bottom.

When drifting with a slider, just slide a snap swivel up your mainline, so that the snap hangs straight down. Now, tie a barrel swivel on the end of your main line. Tie your leader to the other end of the barrel swivel, and put lead on the snap of the swivel that's sliding up your mainline. It's best to just get some Leadmaster pliers and punch your own.

I only run the sinker-slides (the plastic tubes) when I'm fishing a plug with a dropper, or bait with a dropper from a boat.

When you're plunking with the slider, you need a dropper to keep your offering slightly off bottom.

When drifting with a slider, just slide a snap swivel up your mainline, so that the snap hangs straight down. Now, tie a barrel swivel on the end of your main line. Tie your leader to the other end of the barrel swivel, and put lead on the snap of the swivel that's sliding up your mainline. It's best to just get some Leadmaster pliers and punch your own.

I only run the sinker-slides (the plastic tubes) when I'm fishing a plug with a dropper, or bait with a dropper from a boat.

When you're plunking with the slider, you need a dropper to keep your offering slightly off bottom.

When drifting with a slider, just slide a snap swivel up your mainline, so that the snap hangs straight down. Now, tie a barrel swivel on the end of your main line. Tie your leader to the other end of the barrel swivel, and put lead on the snap of the swivel that's sliding up your mainline. It's best to just get some Leadmaster pliers and punch your own.

I only run the sinker-slides (the plastic tubes) when I'm fishing a plug with a dropper, or bait with a dropper from a boat.

I got a sure fire way to make "slinkies". A guide taught me this little trick and it is awesome.

I tie up a bunch of swivels (latch type or barrel) and leave a little 2.5-3" tag of 20# test. I use a palomar know to affix the line.

I normally tie up about 25 of these. I use twenty # test. I then take the hollow pencil lead and run the line through the lead. Taking a pair of side cutters I then X the lead by crushing it, but NOT fracturing it.

They are easy to make, CHEAP, dont snag easy and if you do the lead will "slide" off the line. This little trick will allow you to vary the weight indefinitely.

Thanks Andy
Paul

I still like to use the lead/tubbing. Using a #7 snap swivel I tie the mainline and litre to either end of the barrel swivel and then attache the tubing to the snap. This has worked great for me over the years and I like the ability to trim the weight to the exact amount. It's also easy to change.

I've never liked sliding weights as I figure knots get enough abuse. Not sure if it has cost me many fish though????

To avoid damaging your knot simply ad a bead above the weight

To avoid damaging your knot simply ad a bead above the weight

Fresh from vacation with more questions! Shore zinger, are you telling me to put my bait-hook-plug above the weight? opposite of what I've heard, or are you just confusing me? I'VE only heard of putting the weight on a swivel above the main line. I've used droppers too and they just twist around my line. I just attached them above the main line last time, but no fish so I'm open to ideas.

Ok, probably should be new question, but I am happy to try to ask those who use sliding weights for now. I'm at the ocean, I am fishing the incoming tide on the mouth of the river. I found one man in the whole town that would admit they fish and tell me how they do it. He told me about plunking herring or plugs, but with a float and I thought I understood. I did get my bait off the ground away from the crabs, but it was totally entwined when I brought it in. I kept re-rigging-thinking of how the water was showing it underwater. No matter what I tried, my hooks would still be flowing the wrong way. The tide was coming in, and my hooks were flowing back behind the lures and bait. Or upriver if that is more clear. S o I am waiting on fish (and I did see salmon coming in) and my gear is flowing forward of them unlike a normal river where they are swimming up and my line is flowing back.. I am sure there is some obvious answer, but I swear I re-rigged things a hundred different ways. I did much better with the less finicky crabs, they were my only catch except for a few cabezon(I think).