The real alternative to using split shot. Avoid the use of lead and associated pollution. For this Tung Fu is the answer.Unlike other tungsten putty the Stone Creek Tung Fu Tungsten Putty is made ‘non-sticky’ on purpose. It was originally designed for Stone Creek by a chemical engineer that is also an avid fly angler.
Most of the other tungsten puttys on the market are ‘sticky’ and in theory one would think sticky would stick better. However, think of it this way… if you get something sticky on your fingers like honey, if you lick your fingers it’s not sticky anymore, so using it in water reduces the sticky effect on all areas of the tungsten putty touched by water. If applied well, water won’t penetrate the tungsten putty that is actually in contact with the leader, for a while, but eventually it leaks in. Stone Creek Tung Fu tungsten putty is more the consistency of dried, chewed bubble gum. You are supposed to roll in in between your fingers to “loosen” it up a bit, then roll it on the leader/line. Tung-Fu holds on by the pressure of the dense putty and water has little/no effect on its use. As it’s reused, you need to roll what you have left back into the bigger ball and work it in, then pull of the desired amount to reuse. Tung Fu has been selling in USA for 10 years and is very popular. Then Stone Creek started on Tung-Fu, they had several of the sticky tungsten putty analyzed and found they are mostly tungsten powder mixed with something like plumber’s putty. This is kind of toxic. The only comparable one on the market, as far as known, is Loon’s Deep Soft, who also specialize in environmentally safe products. The others are not