thumb|Three types of small lead sinkers

thumb|Method feeder, a special type of sinker that holds [[groundbait]]

A fishing sinker, plummet, or knoch is a weight used in conjunction with a fishing lure or hook to increase its rate of sink, anchoring ability, and/or casting distance. Fishing sinkers may be as small as for applications in shallow water, and even smaller for fly fishing applications, or as large as several pounds (>1 kg) or considerably more for deep sea fishing. They are formed into many different shapes for diverse fishing applications. Environmental concerns surround the usage of lead and other materials in fishing sinkers.]]

A large variety of sinkers exist, whose specific use depends on the fish pursued, the environment, the current, and personal preference.

Materials

thumb|right|A pyramid sinker made of [[lead, nowadays widely regarded as too toxic a material]]

An ideal material for a fishing sinker is environmentally acceptable, cheap and dense. Density is desirable as weights must be as small as possible, in order to minimize visual cues which could drive fish away from a fishing operation.

In ancient times as well as sometimes today, fishing sinkers consisted of materials found ordinarily in the natural environment, such as stones, rocks, or bone. Later, lead became the material of choice for sinkers due to its low cost, ease of production and casting, chemical inertness (resistance to corrosion), and density. However, lead is known to cause lead poisoning and enter the environment as a result of the inevitable occasional loss of fishing sinkers during routine fishing. With a wide range of adverse effects including losses in biodiversity, changes in community composition, decreased growth and reproductive rates in plants and animals, and neurological effects in vertebrates .]]

References

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  • Do lead fishing sinkers threaten the environment? (from The Straight Dope)
  • Toxic Tackle (article by Aquarium Monsters Australia)
  • Let's Get the Lead Out (article by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)
  • Stone plummets discovered in Canada