Ounces
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oz
Ounces, fractions, grams — converted both ways, with the nearest standard size and the weight you actually need for your depth and current.
| Fraction | oz | grams | Typical use |
|---|
US tackle is sold in avoirdupois ounces and standard fractions; European and Asian tackle is sold in grams. One ounce is 28.35 grams, so the awkward part is never the math — it is knowing that the 3.5 g split shot on a Japanese label and the 1/8 oz split shot in an American pack are the same weight.
The third column of the chart below is the one that actually matters when you are standing on the bank: which fractional size your reel box should carry, and what each size is for. Match the arrowhead to the job — split shot for finesse and float rigs, bullet weights for Texas rigs, egg sinkers for live bait, bank and pyramid sinkers for holding bottom in current, sputniks for heavy surf.
| Sinker type | Rigged how | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Split shot | Pinched on the line | Float rigs, finesse plastics, quick depth changes |
| Bullet / worm weight | Slides on the line ahead of the hook | Texas and Carolina rigs; pegged when you need it tight to cover |
| Egg sinker | Threaded above a swivel | Live bait and cut bait — the slip lets the fish move off without feeling weight |
| Bank sinker | Tied to the line end | Bottom fishing from shore or boat in moderate current |
| Pyramid sinker | Tied to the line end on a fish-finder rig | Surf and beach — digs into sand instead of rolling |
| Sputnik / breakaway | Wired legs grip the bottom | Heavy surf and strong current where nothing else holds |
| Drop shot weight | Tied below the hook | Suspending soft plastics directly above the bottom |
| Bullet / flippin weight | Pegged to the hook | Punching mats and heavy cover — pegged so it stays with the bait |
Full detail for every calculator is on the methodology page.
Sinker sizing is where imperial and metric tackle meet, badly. The split shot sizes chart covers the small end, the trolling depth calculator shows how sinker weight changes running depth, and the swivel size chart matches the hardware that holds it. Weighted bottom rigs account for most catfish and a good share of walleye, and the fillet yield calculator turns that fish into a weight of meat and a number of servings.
7.1 grams (0.25 × 28.35). The mental shortcut: multiply ounces by 28 to get grams, so 1/8 oz ≈ 3.5 g, 1/4 oz ≈ 7 g, 1/2 oz ≈ 14 g, 1 oz ≈ 28 g.
The lightest weight that holds bottom while still letting you feel it. Start around 1/8 oz per 10 ft of depth for bait in still water, double for noticeable current, double again for strong current or surf. Cannot feel bottom? Go heavier. Dragging and snagging? Go lighter.
Egg sinker when you want the fish to take line without feeling the weight — live and cut bait. Bank or pyramid sinker when you want the rig anchored — current and surf, with the pyramid digging into sand.
Just convention from the imperial system: US tackle is manufactured and sold in fractions of an ounce (1/16 up), so packages read 3/16 oz rather than 5.3 g. Both describe the same physical weight.
Split shot and sinkers are usually sold in fractions of an ounce, and the conversion is 1 oz = 28.35 g. So 1/8 oz is 3.5 g, 1/4 oz is 7.1 g, 3/8 oz is 10.6 g, 1/2 oz is 14.2 g, 3/4 oz is 21.3 g and 1 oz is 28.35 g. The converter above gives the exact figure for any fraction you are holding.
Bank sinkers, egg sinkers and casting weights typically run from 1/8 oz up to 8 oz in set steps: 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 oz. Split shot use a separate numbering system, running from No.8 up through BB, SSG and AAA, rather than being sold by the ounce.
An egg sinker is threaded on the main line above a swivel or hook, so a fish can take the bait and move off without feeling the weight immediately - that is a slip rig for live bait. A bank sinker or pyramid sinker is tied directly to the end of the line to anchor the rig in current or surf, and a pyramid shape digs into sand rather than rolling.
You have the gram and ounce equivalents. Here are the assortments that cover the standard sizes.
The Texas rig workhorse. An assortment spanning 1/8 to 1/2 oz lets you match the weight to depth and wind instead of guessing.
Check current price on Amazon →For slip rigs, catfish and surf. The rounded shape rolls over rocks instead of wedging, which is why it is the standard for bottom fishing.
Check current price on Amazon →For finesse adjustments and float rigs. Small, cheap and endlessly useful — the fastest way to fine-tune a presentation mid-session.
Check current price on Amazon →TackleCalc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that lets sites earn fees by linking to Amazon. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and change without notice. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Jig Head Weight Calculator · Lure Weight Calculator · Line Diameter Converter · Hook Size Selector · Split shot size chart
Weight and depth: Lure Weight Calculator · Jig Head Weight Calculator · Lure Sink Rate Calculator · Trolling Depth Calculator · Downrigger Depth Calculator
Line and leader: Braid to Mono Converter · Line Diameter Converter · Reel Line Capacity Calculator · Shock Leader Calculator · Fly Leader Length Calculator
Knots and hooks: Knot Strength Calculator · Hook Size Selector
Reel, drag and cast: Reel Gear Ratio Calculator · Casting Distance Calculator · Drag and Leader Calculator
Fish and catch: Fish Weight Calculator · Fillet Yield Calculator · Fly Line Weight Calculator
Reference charts: Split Shot Sizes Chart
Also worth reading: Split shot sizes chart
Please note: every figure on this page is an estimate, not a measured result. Tolerances between brands, wear on your gear and your own setup all change the outcome. TackleCalc has no connection to any brand mentioned here, and this content is for reference only.