Man, I used to be a die-hard slinky user. Well over 15 years or so. Man, let me tell you, if you can feel a subtle egg bite on a slinky, switching over to hard lead makes that bite feel like a plug take down! Dang near idiot proof when using hard lead.

Problems I always had when using slinkies was I never seemed to have the correct size, and even though I always carried a lighter with me, more often than not, it was wet outside, making it near impossible to cut and seal up a slinky.

I've mainly been using solid or hollow lead the last 2 years. Get's the presentation down quicker, and the bite is super easy to pick up.

I just carry around some 12" sticks of lead with me and a set of guide pliars. Pinch off a piece, pop a small hole at the top fo the lead, and slap on the swivel. Done deal. If it's super grabby, I might do the tag line and hollow lead thing. Or, if you pinch the hole on the lead right near the top, you can pull the swivel out of the lead.

Easy way to make slinkies is go to a hobby shop and by a 3' long hollow tube. I forget what they are used for, but just about all hobby shops will carry them. Get the appropriate sized tube for the shot you will be using. Thread your parachute cord over the tube, burn the end close, and fill it up with shot. Remove tube, and voila, insto 3' of slinky. Takes about a minute or so...depends on how slow you are at filling the tub with lead. Cut and burn to desired lengths. I don't bother with making holes at the end of the slinky, because if you leave about a shot worths gap at in your slinky, you can just slip a swivel through the parachute cord.