I generally try to avoid buying tungsten because it it so expensive.  As a result I usually buy lead or steel bullet weights.  They are usually unpainted and either a very shiny silver or muted metallic color.

 

I rarely see tungsten unpainted.  Does anyone take the extra step and paint the bullet weights black or some dark green color?  In your opinion does it make a difference?

 

I haven't painted them but i do use my black sharpie that i keep on hand for coloring my braid to color them up.  Haven't noticed if it helps one way or another but to me it just looks better on dark colored baits.

I do like the idea of them painted, never tried it yet though... But I might have to.. Spray paint or just dip it in regular paint would you think?

I've always lined them up and spray painted them black.

for me personally, i think paint on sinkers and jig heads is more for the fisherman than the fish.  i have caught thousands of bass over the years in the gin clear waters of table rock and bull shoals on unpainted sinkers and jig heads.  i have over the years used a painted sinker that someone gave me, and could not tell any difference in catch rate.  jigs sure could be sold for a whole lot less if the fisherman would buy them without the paint.  but, fisherman are much easier to catch than the bass when it comes to colors.  OOOOOHH!!! that one sure looks pretty!!  another sucker caught, hahaha.  i am in the same boat with the rest of you.  bought a really loud colored jerkbait the other day.

 

bo

I've always lined them up and spray painted them black.

I do also, but I use nail polish.

 

MIke

This winter I Painted (actually dipped) a handful of Tungsten weights in black jig paint -

 

I've only used them on Lake Baccarac so far and that place is nothing but Rock bottom so it chipped off after a few hours.

 

 My home waters have virtually No Rock, so I'd expect the color coat to last quite a bit longer.

 

A-Jay

Does not matter to the fish but use a sharpie if you must.

be aware that a chemical reaction usually occurs between nail polish/sharpie (less with markers) and soft plastics. you can ruin a bag of worms quick by melting them together with a nail polish covered rattletrap  

now i either buy them painted or just use bare lead. i'm getting to the point when i'm on a mission to catch fish i don't really care whats on the end of my line..i'll make it work

Its simpler for me to just buy them painted.. it stings the wallet a little more but its one less hassle.

I had some black plastic dip that I used for some lead weights, worked fine until they got a little heated in the sun...

 

Gave them a more muted 'thud' when they hit stuff. A different sound underwater. Haven't dipped any since. Usually buy painted BPS bullets now-a-days.

 

But I need to stock up on bull-shots by Water Gremlin, and I've thought about painting them, though just for kicks. I catch plenty of fish with the "naked" versions.

I buy painted brass bullet weights because I don't like the bright brass color!

I also like black or dull colored lead bullet weight with darker shades of soft plastics.

Paint my jig heads with Testers model paint black or brown for darker color skirts and plain the lighter color skirts.

The question of does it matter to bass? the answers is sometimes. Like Bo I fished jigs with plain heads for decades without any issues that I know of. I feel more confident when the lead matches the trailer color somewhat.

I don't use lead bullet weight very much anymore because the nose hole tends to get pounded closed from vibration when stored. I have little use for tungsten weights, unless using weights over 5/8 oz, then the smaller size tends to work better than lead of brass.

Tom

PS; if you are in the business of selling weights and jigs, then they must look good to the angler.

Well, this is just one anglers opinion, but Big O thinks it makes a difference.

After fishing with him for a day, I don't have any unpainted weights!

 

 

 

 

  

I don't like shiny metallic weights or jig heads. So I do one of two things:

 

-Soak weights in vinegar overnight (hooks will corrode). This helps but they get even better after being in a box with others for a while.

-Paint em with nail polish.

 

I've also gone to black hooks.

-Soak weights in vinegar overnight (hooks will corrode). 

 

What does this do?

What does this do?

It burns a dull gray finish on the lead. Knocks that shiny smile off. Takes at least a day, maybe two.

I'll usually buy painted bullet weights - green pumpkin usually.  I've found that it's a PITA to paint bullet weights and the paint never stays on very long.  Nothing seems to stick to tungsten except powder paint.  Like some others here, I don't like to fish shiny lead bullet weights so I want them to get a coating of oxidation and turn gray before using them.  To do that you can soak them in a solution of Oxyclean detergent for an hour or two.  After they turn gray, they work as well as painted weights have for me.

I've tried spray painting them different colors, but I think it made them slightly less sensitive (if you can dig a fingernail into the paint, what does that tell you?)

 

Now I just repeatedly use a black Sharpie. I believe shiny weights can be a deterrent at times in clear water.

What are your thoughts on this subject today . Bright shiny bullet weights vs  dull or painted weights .

@scaleface Don't think the bass care but I ain't bought unpainted in years. Heck I ain't seen any in years!

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

What are your thoughts on this subject today . Bright shiny bullet weights vs  dull or painted weights .

Most of mine now are flat black.  The ones I was using before were gloss black.  Years ago, I used plain lead. Nothing has really changed in the catch rates for me.

No. Even when I buy tungsten, they're unpainted unless the painted ones are cheaper. I mean, not every soft plastic is black. 

I buy unpainted, and paint them with flat black nail polish. I think it's kind of like attractants - who knows whether it makes a difference? It looks better to me, so it makes me happy at least.