01Tungsten·lead heads, basic physical differences
Tungsten has a density of about 19.3 g/cm³, while lead is around 11.3 g/cm³, a large gap. For the same volume, tungsten is roughly 1.7 times heavier.
When the weight increases, the inertia in water (mass × velocity) also rises, allowing the lure to hold the water flow better. This reduces how much the rod shakes when a fish senses the tide.
However, added weight raises the load on the rod, risking overload of a spinning reel. Choose according to the reel’s rating (e.g., 5 kg–8 kg load).
02Practical impact on rig performance
A heavy tungsten head sinks at a constant rate down to 30–80 m depth. In contrast, a lead head of the same weight settles shallower, around 20–50 m.
As depth increases, water temperature stays between 10–18 °C and pressure between 3–8 atm. If a tungsten head maintains a stable attitude within this range, it can lessen the sudden impact when it hits the bottom.
Impact on the rod is calculated as impact = weight × acceleration (gravity 9.8 m/s²). A 20 g tungsten head yields 0.196 N·s, while a 12 g lead head yields 0.118 N·s, creating a subtle vibration difference.
- Don’t ignore reel load just by looking at head weight Doing so can overload the reel and cause failure.
- Add up the total rig weight (lure·line·leader) and verify it against the reel’s specifications.
03Head‑selection guide by species and depth
In sea fishing, cod·pollock (Gadus morhua·Theragra chalcogramma) are active at 50–120 m depth and 5–12 °C water temperature.
At that time, a 15–25 g tungsten head improves stability the moment it contacts the bottom, boosting hook‑up success.
Conversely, olive flounder·sea bass (Paralichthys olivaceus·Dicentrarchus labrax) work at 20–40 m depth and 15–22 °C. An 8–12 g lead head sinks quickly enough to capture bites.
When the total rig weight is ≤150 g, a lead head feels lighter and handles better; above 150 g, a tungsten head steadies the balance point, making it harder for fish to detect the tide.
04Cost‑performance – when to choose tungsten
Tungsten heads cost 2–3 times more than lead (e.g., 15,000–30,000 KRW each). Yet for large species requiring >30 g weight, the load efficiency justifies the expense and can lower overall rig cost.
For small species (5–15 g) or shallow water, lead heads offer superior value. Beginners are advised to start with lead heads, get comfortable with reel load management, then switch to tungsten.
When buying, compare the four factors – weight·density·price·reel load – in a table. Calculating price per gram (KRW/g) and weight‑to‑load ratio clarifies the choice.
"A heavier head isn’t automatically better. Matching weight·density to the fishing situation and target species is key."
- Tungsten head: weight·inertia·price·high‑end model
- Lead head: lightness·handleability·standard price·budget model