A permanent green tide generated by an over loaded agriculture make the tourists escape and condamn a growing number of Brittany beaches. Not any more Surfcasting here !

f all can be used as ballast, a notable improvement can nevertheless be the fishing comfort. One thus adds additional functions to this sinker which was useful to us to propel our baits away. I want to speak of anchoring on the bottom. The first goal is to relieve the fisherman to have to retighten his line continuously, the second function being to avoid the more or less fast drift of the line from its impact point, which would move away from the selected fishing zone.

Sinkers with brass spikes.

he most accessible and the most usual sinkers with spikes. Whole France uses it daily, it proved reliable by its simplicity: the spikes are unfolded when you start reeling in (you pull on the sinker which buried in sand). The most used start from 80 G to 120 G which cover already a broad range of use according to the various streams that one finds when pier or shore fishing. The adjustment of the spacing of the spikes poses sometimes question to the beginners, but after the few beginner's adjustments and skids of the beginning, one ends up being accustomed to form the angle of the spikes which are appropriate for a good anchoring.
Various local manufacture adapted it to the sandy or muddy bottoms, in particular with spikes lengths and diameters that are sometimes impressive.
Do not seek to beat records of distances with this type of sinkers: they are not profiled for that.
The wear of the brass legs at the body joint quickly turn it into a spikeless sinker that can be used as a rolling sinker.

Sinker with disengageable spikes

ame principle as the basic brass spikes above but here the spikes are out of stainless steel and turn in "free" position when one exerts strong drawn on the line (reel in or just pull). The spikes are maintained in gripping position by cylindrical or spherical beads in grooves made in lead body itself.
With a water drop shape as well as the very weak section of the stainless steel spikes make of it a very good line tractor to cast beyond 100 m. The gripping force can be adjusted by closing or opening the spikes angle.

Please note however that for night fishing, some items bear a small refracting sticker VERY useful to locate the sinker when on landing approach specially if you real in quickly. This small "plus" belonged to safety when fishing at night, who didn't receive a sinker in the legs in return of a stronger drawn?

There are two types of these sinkers: short stem and long stem. Many anglers only believe in the long stems version, which would release the fastener knot from sand abrasion and balance the sinker "flight". To me, I am very divided, not to say confused with these arguments: the long stem which, says one, would maintain the sinker body in the axis of the throw which is maintained itself in the axis of the line by the traction force on this one; why wouldn't the short stem sinker do it in the same way? The release of the knot from sand: at 60 or 80 m, even with tightened line at the beginning, - and you can check it by yourself -, the shock leader drags on the bottom as well as the fastener knot on the staple.





Some strong streams led some inventors to a flattened shape (see photo), introduced as better resisting to the strong transverse streams. After two years of use, they prove very effective and practical starting from a slightly elevated position. With low tide on a not very sloping sand beach, its effectiveness cannot be questioned but it is very difficult (even exhausting) to bring back these sinkers that don't take off easily of the bottom. Therefore, to employ by strong streams and rather piers or from an elevated rock element.





Another alternative to sinkers with spikes is the Gémini sinker, whose plastic head bearing the spikes is screwed on the ballast itself. This allows, in theory, all the possible combinations. It is sold in "kit sets" comprising various "grammages" and various spikes types, which one assembles according to his needs.
Practically, disadvantages appear. The first point and undoubtedly most significant to my eyes, relates to the fast wear of the plastic carry-spikes head when one brings back this lead in the rollers. The other point that embarrasses me with this type of lead is that it is necessary to rack one's brains to choose the length and the type of spikes; it appears simpler to me to have to only choose between 80, 110, 125 or 150g without adding additional choices.
In the absolute, the idea is brilliant; in practice: I remain reserved on the necessity of such a system which is connected more with a meccano. This said, the gripping and the casting effectiveness are without any reproach. Make yourself your own idea.





The last innovation of Breakaway is this built-in sinker with bait clip. The starting idea being to replace the impact shield usually added behind sinker. Small bait clip was incorporated in sinker, with release of the hook at the time of the impact on the surface of water. My opinion on this sinker is that it does not replace in any case the protection of an impact-shield, but it is difficult to go against the fashion...

with brass spikes

























Gemini type





Breakaway