A fishing weight (100) that includes an oblong body (104), for instance in the shape of a football. A passage (116) extends through the oblong body (104) to allow fishing line (140) to extend through the passage (116). The passage (116) is positioned so that the fishing line (140) pulls the fishing weight (100) in a “sideways” orientation through the water. In one embodiment, the passage (116) proceeds other than linearly through the oblong body (104) of the fishing weight (100).