Brobin

Thanks Guys - Really useful information

Thanks cyborg and Newmarket. I agree with keeping it simple and I much prefer the idea of a running lead to a fixed one - As this is what I have been using for years for other species!

cyborx what does your running lead set up look like?

Now this sounds far more like the type of fishing I am used to - is there a fashion in carp fishing to overcomplicate things?

Thanks guys - Really useful info - It was the leadcore that was causing me the confusion - Is it really needed, or should I be using either tubing over the main line or just not bother and just have the mainline to the hooklink?

This sounds like really good advice - The leaders I am referring to are ones like the Fox Edges Leadcore Leaders which don't appear to have a breaking strain listed but look to be pretty substantial and are 750mm long

Whoops - I think buzzbomb has already answered my question above!

Ah I see - Although if the knot to the leader is the weakest link then is there not a risk of the fish trailing an awful lot of tackle in the event of a break off whilst playing a fish?

I am relatively new to carp fishing but not to fishing itself which I have been doing for over 40 years and I must admit to being totally confused when it comes to main line strength. I have always believed that the nearer you get to the hook the lighter the breaking strength should be as that way if you do get a line break you are losing as little of your tackle as possible. This, however, does not appear to be the case with carp fishing - This thread advocates 12 to 15lb mono, but if you read something like "The Guide to Modern Day Carp Rigs" then most of these rigs are constructed with 20 to 25lg hooklinks which are then attached to a leader of similar breaking strain - Surely this is a recipe for disaster as any break must come in the much weaker mainline - Or am I missing something?