Leaderboard

I cannot see any reason an inline set up would cause more damage than any other type of set up. Regards dropping the lead, horse for course innit. If you need to drop it due to snags, weed, whatever, then yes - drop it. If you don't need to, then don't! No point in littering the lake bed for a laugh.

I used to fish Taverham Mills regularly with inline leads, in the days of 'learning for yourself', rather than todays hyped up 'its all in the media'😱😖😆😉 The lake is quite weedy, a mix of lily beds, and in places, silkweed. I rarely lost any fish due to weed build up on the lead, in fact with a zipp or distance shaped lead, most weed slid over the lead. Just don't use an inline lead with any neck😉. Even with tubing there was limited weed hang up. I don't like dropping the lead at all, unless I have to. The excuses of 'fish come up in the water without the lead', I'm sorry, I never found that true, they play the same, a fish fights how it wants to, deep or shallow. I think it is the fishes 'character' that decides how it fights. Some stay deep, some come up. A particular fish I knew in Taverham every time it was caught was like a bag of spuds. You pumped it in with no scrap. I first caught it at double figures, and my mate Bruce caught it a few times up to 20lb. Also, a fish that is being played, does not necessarily want to fight or run through the weed, dependant on type of weed, Would you want your eyes covered when you are running? Lily beds fish might use to run into, or there are channels through or under the weed.

It's probably not a bad thing for me to go smaller though these days though, might help me feel I've put enough bait out with out overdoing it 😁 And actually smaller Spods may better represent the pva parcel I want them to eat 👍

Will be my solution for now, i usually don't spod huge amounts of bait while fihsing. In a near future i'll look for a dedicated rod+reel to pre-bait campaigns.

This! The small spomb is tiny. No problems for 3 lb TC carp rods.

Storton's pit. epic looking place isn't it. Old drag lined pit, hence the bars. I'd be surprised if much is left due to the otter being there the last few years but I bet there was some special ones in there at one point, probably still a few.

I'm against dropping leads, if it's not necessary. Obviously if you're fishing a weedy water then it may be wise to err on the side of caution but not as a matter of course.

I just got a friend one of these, only £47 loaded with braid. Comes with a rod as well for £90. The reel seems OK. Good value for a new set up. I believe Highy may know how it performs.

I use a small spomb on a 2.75 tc rod I have one of those Gardner ones but never used it

What are your thoughts? I've read a few articles that tell me not dropping inlines can cause damage to the fishes mouth? I just wondered what you guys thought about this?

I had that same thought earlier 😁

I usually fish in wild waters and I prefer a subtle approach during the sessions. I'll probably use a big spomb for pre-bait, and a tiny one during short sessions

12 or 13 baits in a small spomb 4 or 5 chuck outs plenty to get the bite

I just came to a similar conclusion tbh main concern though is the internal diameter on the lead by trimming the tail rubber I could get it to pass over the knot fairly easily, the lead went over the knot also with a lowish pulling force, however with both of these that is FOD free add any FODDAGE to the equation and I fully agree its a bit dodgy,

You'll have to ditch the tail rubber if you use a leader buddy. The tail rubber won't go over the leader knot if you crack off so you could leave the kipper trailing a lead.

Will have to have a think, I still want it to be quick change tbh but also safe might have a play with the outline fluoro leader to see if that works 😬

As long as you're not using a leader that would be fine imo Elmo.

I use these too... brill bits of kit... got mine for nowt... a mate did some development work for Bryan Houghton and got a load as freebies and he passed a few onto me... love em... loads of other styles, none better in my opinion

True mate, you've got some incredible looking lakes for sure, very jealous indeed!

100%. It’s similar to Felmersham. I’d love to turn the clock back a decade and fish some these places before the otters hit them!

It is truly epic mate - what a place! If only more lakes were like that. 👍

I'm of the same opinion.. that said does an inline jiggle around so as to cause damage...?? I think if you were using really heavy leads there is a danger that some mouth damage could occur.... again It's not an issue for me as I rarely use leads above 2oz and only use lightweight inlines 1 or 1.5oz for bag work

That little lake top left looks absolutely banging, I remember seeing it for the first time on a map and just had to drive down to check it out, I walked round and took pics, there was some fishing going on at the time but I think officially it had been stopped. Features galore, what a lake, would have loved to have fished it proper, some lumps in back then apparently.

The WHEEL has to be reinvented to make a profit.