Leaderboard

I will try to use just the amount of lead I need to get me to the spot I'm fishing. On my regular lake, lots of silt and shortish casts required, I'll be on a 1oz. If I'm on a water where I need a bit more distance I'll go up to a 2oz if I need to. But that's about it. But I always use running rigs and want to create the least disturbance I can. I hate it when I'm on a small venue and hear a 4oz lead with it's attached rig hit the water....

For me the weight of lead is not about casting. I use a lead for the bolt effect. My thinking is that as soon as a carp takes a bait it can eject it whenever it feels uncomfortable about something. Therefore you should minimise the time between taking the bait and the bolt effect starting by having as short a hook link as possible. To give an extra edge I usually fish my leads against a very tight main line. To enable me to put a lot of tension in the mainline I fit a steel washer to an inline bomb shaped lead. The washer catches on the bottom but the slightest movement, caused when a carp takes the bait, causes the lead to slip and to move in the direction of the tight line. This very small movement makes the fish bolt straight away and it virtually hooks itself. I find about 150 grams is about right for this.

I tend to use the 'right' lead size for my rods. So for my 2.75lb TC NG's I use a 3oz lead, for my 3.25lb TC The Ones I use 3.5oz leads. The reason is simple, I know that optimum weight and a 3 bait stringer will cast maximum distance, and whichever rod I pick up, I know I can cast the same. If I need to change casting distance, usually shorten, I can add more baits on a stringer, or remove if I do need to cast slightly further. At the moment, due to undertow I am fishing semi-fixed leads as well. I have found lighter leads, under 3oz can be moved (and if the inflow was pouring in at Nazeing) I could need to go up to 4oz. However, when I can fish running leads and a slack line, I found the 3oz on my NG's was exactly right.

That's great thanks. Well I've had one fish out today on the combi 360 rig with a pop up but the fishing is pretty slow all round the lake. Only a little one but better than nothing!

Yes ,but I give them a kiss and put them back, not eat them.

Running water has always had a fascination and wiers are the culmination of fascination. Here are some of my favourite shots.

They found Alsations in our local curry house around 10 years ago !