Bank Sinker

The bank sinker is one of the most common used weights for fishing. They are used to drop bait and rigs close to the bottom. Their rounded bell shape or tapered hexagonal shape makes them perfect for drifting across rough bottom, wrecks, reefs, and other structure. They cast easily with little resistance.

The bank sinker is not ideal for surf fishing as they tend to roll along the bottom. That however can be used to a surf angler’s advantage. A small rig such as a top and bottom rig with a bank sinker. Will roll along the bottom in the surf zone and cuts. Hold your rod and you can cover more bottom with moving bait, looking for fish. This same technique can be done with an inline trolling sinker, or pencil sinker. This is not a surf fishing technique that uses a sand spike. The angler has to hold the rod and cast frequently to reset your “drift” and feel strikes on moving gear.


Bank sinkers can be tied on to your rig or used on a swivel. Using a swivel will prevent line twist as the bank sinker bounces along the bottom. Bank sinkers have a thick eye and are hard to clip into the smaller duo clasps. Using a weight loop is much easier with bank sinkers or use larger duo clasps in the size six to eight range.
A drop loop is a good knot for a weight. A simpler faster knot is a double surgeon’s knot to make a loop for the bank sinker on the bottom of a rig. The loops allow for faster change out of sinkers or weights for changing conditions or needs.