ouchthathurt

with leadcore, i worry about any rig that has the hooklink tied directly to the core, thats why i like helicopter rigs, where the hooklink can slide off the core leader when you snap off. the bdest leaders ive found recently are the clear leaders by wychwood, its totally different to leadcore, and the change can be a bonus with pressured fish.

i could never get on with the black amnesia, i think its the colour. i use greased weasel for my beachcasting, i cant fault it, but again, i find i little thick for carping. the clear amnesia is good stuff, but when it runs a snag under pressure, i find it lets go too readily. compared to greased weasel, which i find pretty damn good, in sea fishing anyway.

morning all, ive always used a simple knotless knot to a proven hooklink with hrink tubing to offset the hook. jobs a good 'un

ive used amnesia for years, in clear. it stretches somewhat though... can have poor abrasion resistance over time also.

you state that for years you havent actually used leadcore, but you can now. before using it, ask yourself this, do you actually need to use it? you have managed alright up to now without it, why change you rigs if your happy with them? prsonally, i use ESP leadcore, have used leadcore for years now. i feel its most safe used as a helicopter rig, as the hooklink can slide up and off the leadcore, as opposed to staying tied on to it. wvwn without the bomb, discarded leadcore can be lethal if it becomes tangled. i dont like the use of over heavy hooklinks either, i use 10-12lb hooklinks, something a tethered carp can snap fairly easily. i feel if the situation warrants a heavy hooklink, 25-30lb, then the situations may not right for leadcore anyway... also, the tubing that ESP sell, sinktube, or something like that, is as heavy as leadcore anyway, so you get the same benifits as leadcore from a tubing, which is easier to use. just because a place allows leadcore, you dont necessarily have to use it. i had good results using amnesia leaders and wychwood clear leaders when everyone else used leadcore.

at long range, i prefer not to use backleads at all. at that distance, the weight of the water and the angle of the line is often enough to sink the line. as a final thing, i use about a metre of leadcore so sink it all down. ive found no real advntage to backleads at range. as for mediun range, or steeply sheving banks, i would use flying backleads, although im loathe to use them too far back. i often use a pva stopknot about a foot above the leadcore, then sink my rod tips to lessen the angle. ive had 2 mid 20s pivot on the backlead and kite a fair distance before registering a run, granted it was in winter, but it was because the backlead had flown a good 30yrds behind the rig, effectivly giving it 30yrds to play with. as for the margins? i use blobs of leadputty on the end of the leadcore, always test to makesure your lead can eject though. in my eyes, helecopter rigs are better for leadcore as the carp can jettison the lot and just be left with the hooklink if a break should occur. the hooklink slides up and off the leadcore if he rig is tied correctly. close in margin work is perfect for slack lining and light bobbins. but if their that close, why not try freelining or floatfishing? it is a hell of a lot more exciting...

well well well, best way to prove/disprove? someones just gotta fish for it!

where abouts is this? are these the pits you see from the road when driving along the A27?

no, i usually just stick to a brand. so its the ESP 'core for me. ive had no problems with it. i used the 'sinktube' by ESP this last session, not 100% impressed with it yet, but ive a few little things i can do to it to make it better, so i may well grow to like it.

ive just brought some ESP tubing to replace the leadcore in my rigs as im fishing tight to snags and i feel tubing is safer in the event of snagging/snapping up.

i couldnt really say to be honest, because i dont know! i would be just as happy using tubing, but i used leadcore years ago, before i started using tubing. leadcore was origianally a flyline, i had loads of the stuff, so i used it. it was no where near as good as what is for sale now. if i had started using tubing more when i started carping, then chances are i would still be on it. either material does the job well, but tubing is more user friendly. ive got esp rig tube in my tacklebox as well. and still use it from time to time.

the flying backlead goes on the mainline behind the tubing. i use between 1-2ft of tubing. its good stuff, and far simpler than fiddling around with needles, lighters and splicing bits and bobs! i use leadcore because i love it, yet it all comes down to personal preference, at the end of the day, the tubing and the 'core do the same basic job.

then use anchor rig tube and flying backleads. that will pin it down flatter than any quicksilver leader will ever do. quicksilver, being a braided material does have a certian amount of bouyancy, so it wont lie perfectly flat either, if it did, then leadcore would be unnecessary. anchor rig tube has been proven to be denser than most leadcore leaders out there. use those and get yourself some gardener flying backleads. they will pin everything dead flat without the need for leaders and such like.

the needle knot link you have shown is the knot i use. but thats for leadcore, not quicksilver, its too thin to tie using the needle knot and will unravel. why is it you feel you need to fish a leader anyway? are you fishing over savage gravel bars? or swan mussel beds? or in thick snags? or are you casting 4-5oz leads a long distance? 99.99% of the time, normal rig tube is a much simpler alternative and can offer the same benifits to leaders but are easier to use. if you are not happy about tying them, then dont cast it out, if the worst should happen, you need rigs that are 100% safe. stick to tubing its easier to use and much safer than relying on knots you are not happy tying in the first place. get a book, practice the knots and rigs and fish in confidence knowing the rigs you have lobbed out are carp safe.