Make Your Own Fishing Leads

Make Your Own Fishing Leads — Moulds, Pouring Equipment, Alloy & Sinker Accessories

Sharnbrook Tackle has been supplying anglers since the 1970s, when founder David Watts — then serving in the military — began sharing his love of fishing with fellow service personnel during their downtime. What started as a way to pass on a passion has grown into a trusted tackle business, but one thing has never changed: a genuine belief in getting the best value from your fishing.

And there are few better ways to save money — and fish with total confidence — than casting your own leads. Here's a truth every rough-ground angler learns the hard way: leads are a consumable. Fish a snaggy mark long enough and you'll leave a fair few on the bottom! Buying them one at a time soon becomes an expensive habit. Make your own, and that same tackle costs a fraction of the shop price. Better still, you can pour exactly the shapes, sizes, and grip patterns you need for your local marks.

We don't stock this kit simply to fill a shelf. Every mould, pot, and accessory in the range has earned its place because it does the job properly — producing clean, well-formed leads that cast true and hold bottom, session after session.

Everything you need to pour your own leads

Lead moulds

The mould is the heart of the whole operation, and choosing the right one shapes everything that follows. Our range covers the patterns that matter most to UK anglers — from classic bomb and pear leads for general bottom fishing to grip and breakout designs built to hold firm against a running tide. Fancy a plain bomb for casual freelining, or a wired grip lead to anchor your bait on a surf beach? There's a mould here for the job.

Most moulds are made from durable aluminium or steel, designed to withstand the heat of molten metal time and again while producing a crisp, consistent lead every pour. Match the mould to your fishing — lighter patterns for gentle coarse work, heavier grip designs for the sea — and you'll be turning out professional-looking weights in no time.

Sinker moulds

For the sea angler, sinkers are where the real savings show! Our sinker moulds cover the heavier weights that beach and boat fishing demand, from plain bombs that trundle naturally in the flow to fixed and breakaway grip patterns that dig in and hold your bait exactly where you want it. Casting your own heavy sinkers makes obvious sense — these are the weights you lose most often on rough ground, and the ones that cost the most to replace one by one.

Many sinker moulds are designed to take wire grips or loops, cast directly into the lead as it sets. This gives you a strong, integral fixing rather than a fiddly add-on — a small detail that makes a real difference to how your finished lead performs on the mark.

Pouring equipment

Getting molten metal from the pot into the mould safely and cleanly calls for the right kit. Our pouring equipment covers the essentials — melting pots and ladles built to handle the heat, with the control you need to pour a steady, accurate stream. A good ladle with a well-shaped lip makes all the difference, letting you fill a mould smoothly without spills or splashes.

Whether you're melting down a modest amount for a handful of leads or setting up for a proper session at the bench, having purpose-made pouring gear turns a potentially messy job into a satisfying one. And with lead, doing the job properly isn't just about neat results — it's about working safely, too.

Alloy and lead metal

You can't pour leads without metal, and the quality of what goes in the pot shapes what comes out! Our range includes lead and alloy suitable for casting sinkers and weights — clean material that melts down evenly and fills a mould crisply. Buying your metal in bulk is far more economical than replacing finished leads piece by piece, and it means you'll never be caught short mid-session at the bench.

If you save and melt down your own old and damaged leads, fresh metal is still worth having on hand to top up your supply and keep the quality consistent. Get in touch if you'd like advice on how much you'll need for the moulds you're using.

Accessories

It's the little extras that make lead making smooth and safe. Our accessories cover the bits and pieces that complete your setup — wire for grips and loops, swivels and eyes to cast into your leads, and the sundries that turn a bag of raw metal into finished, fishable tackle. A pre-cut supply of grip wire, for instance, saves endless faffing and gives every lead a neat, uniform finish.

These small components rarely get the glory, yet they're what separate a rough, homemade lump from a proper lead that looks and fishes as well as anything off the shelf.

Getting started with lead making

New to casting your own? Don't worry — it's a straightforward, rewarding job once you know the ropes. A few practical pointers to set you on your way:

• Work safely, always. Molten lead is hot and unforgiving. Wear proper gloves and eye protection, work in a well-ventilated space, and keep everything bone dry — even a trace of moisture in a mould can cause molten metal to spit violently. Never rush this bit!
• Warm your mould first. A cold mould causes the lead to set too quickly, giving a poor, incomplete fill. A gentle warm-up before your first pour produces a far cleaner result.
• Pour steadily and confidently. A smooth, continuous stream fills the mould properly and avoids trapped air. Hesitant, stop-start pouring leads to flawed leads with weak spots.
• Let it cool fully before opening. Patience pays! Open the mould too soon and you risk a deformed lead — or worse, a splash of still-molten metal. Give it a moment to set solid.
• Trim and finish neatly. A quick trim of the sprue and any flash leaves you with a tidy, professional-looking weight that casts true and slips through the water cleanly.
• Keep your kit clean and dry. Store moulds and pots away from damp between sessions. A little care keeps everything in good order for years of use.

Get these basics right and you'll be turning out leads to be proud of — and wondering why you didn't start sooner!

Who is this range for?

The honest answer? Any angler who's tired of watching their tackle money sink to the bottom! But more specifically:

• Sea anglers — beach and boat fishers who get through heavy grip leads and sinkers on rough ground, and want to slash the cost of replacing them.
• Coarse anglers — presenting baits with home-poured bombs and weights tailored to their local stillwaters and rivers.
• Rough-ground and reef specialists — who lose the most leads and therefore save the most by casting their own.
• Match and pleasure anglers — wanting a ready supply of consistent, dependable weights without repeated trips to the tackle shop.
• Hands-on hobbyists — who simply enjoy the satisfaction of making their own gear and fishing with tackle they've crafted themselves.

Whatever your discipline, casting your own leads gives you control, savings, and a genuine sense of pride — and there's a lot to be said for that!

Trusted kit, honest advice

We stock lead-making equipment we have real confidence in — moulds, pots, and materials chosen because they perform reliably session after session, not because they carry the biggest marketing budget. A mould that produces poor casts, or a pot that can't hold a steady pour, is a false economy — and we simply won't stock kit we wouldn't use ourselves.

If you're just starting out and unsure which moulds suit your fishing, or you're building a proper setup and want advice on pots, wire, and materials, get in touch. We've been helping anglers fish smarter — and cheaper — for over 50 years, and there's little we enjoy more than talking tackle. No jargon, no upselling — just straightforward advice from people who fish.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth making my own fishing leads?

For most keen anglers, absolutely! If you fish rough ground, snaggy reefs, or fast rivers where leads are regularly lost, the savings soon mount up. Buying leads one at a time is expensive, whereas casting your own from bulk metal costs a fraction of the shop price. On top of the savings, you get to pour exactly the shapes, sizes, and grip patterns your marks call for — and there's real satisfaction in fishing with tackle you've made yourself.

Is lead making safe to do at home?

It's perfectly safe provided you take sensible precautions. Molten lead is hot and gives off fumes, so always work in a well-ventilated space — ideally outdoors or in an open garage — and wear heat-resistant gloves and eye protection. The golden rule is to keep everything completely dry: any moisture in a mould or ladle can cause molten metal to spit dangerously. Take your time, respect the heat, and it's a straightforward, rewarding job.

What equipment do I need to get started?

At its simplest, you need a lead mould in the pattern you want, a melting pot or ladle to handle the molten metal, and a supply of lead or alloy to melt down. Beyond that, accessories such as grip wire, loops, and swivels let you finish your leads properly. Add gloves and eye protection for safety, and you've got everything required. Start with one or two moulds for your most-used weights, then expand your setup as you go.

What metal should I use for casting leads?

Clean lead or a suitable casting alloy is what you're after — material that melts evenly and fills a mould crisply. Many anglers save and melt down their old, damaged leads, topping up with fresh metal to keep the quality consistent. Buying metal in bulk is far more economical than replacing finished leads individually. If you're unsure how much you'll need for a particular mould, get in touch and we'll happily advise.

Why do my leads come out with a rough or incomplete finish?

The usual culprit is a mould that's too cold, causing the lead to set before it fills properly. Warming the mould gently before your first pour usually solves it. A hesitant, stop-start pour can also trap air and leave weak spots, so aim for a smooth, steady stream. Give the metal time to cool fully before opening, then trim off the sprue and any flash for a tidy finish. A little practice makes perfect!

Can I make both sea and coarse fishing weights?

You certainly can. Our range covers moulds for lighter coarse patterns — plain bombs and pear leads for stillwater and river work — right through to heavy sea sinkers with grip and breakaway designs for beach and boat fishing. Whatever discipline you follow, there's a mould to suit, and casting your own means you can build up a full selection of weights tailored to exactly how and where you fish.

How do I add grip wires or loops to my leads?

Many sinker and grip moulds are designed to take wire grips or wire loops that you position in the mould before pouring — the molten lead then sets around them, giving a strong, integral fixing rather than a fiddly add-on. Using pre-cut grip wire makes the job quicker and gives every lead a neat, uniform finish. It's a simple technique that produces leads every bit as good as shop-bought ones.

Ready to start casting your own?

Whether you're fed up with losing pricey grip leads on the beach, want a ready supply of consistent bombs for the river, or simply fancy the satisfaction of making your own tackle, our Make Your Own Fishing Leads range has everything you need. Straightforward to use, proven in UK conditions, and backed by advice from anglers who've been at this since the 1970s.

Browse the full collection below, or get in touch if you'd like a recommendation on moulds, pouring gear, and materials to suit your fishing. Cast your own leads, and you'll wonder why you didn't start years ago!