Shockleaders?!?!?

[alec]

Hi guys
wanted to pick some brains about using shockleaders for casting heavy weights.

I have never had to really really give it some on the cast.
But reading on other forums etc.. People say you should use them when casting long distance with heavy leads.

If you have 12lb mono surrely this has enough stretch to deal with the impact of the lead if you feather it down?
Any advice peeps? Best ones and when to use them


Ta :)

[ben lee]

Only realy need them when fishing at 120yrd+ and using 10lb or lighter mono to stop ur main line snaping and also to stop it springing back when highting the clip.

Or if spoding useing braid.

[Banana Steve]

To be honest, unless you are hoiking it out miles, i feel that 12lb line is strong enough, the exception is some of the these new low diameter lines have have very little or no stretch and they could snap on a cast. But i like to use line like sensor which has the strength and stretch which can handle leads up to 4oz's at mid range and even then i cast at distance as well and yet to have the line snap.

[webfeet rich]

tried shockleaders a couple of times. knot to main line snagged in top eye of rod, and snapped, losing all terminal tackle. now use 20lb. line down to weight, and lighter line for bait rig after this. seems to work.

[tjnorton]

If i ever use a shock leader i always make sure its a tapered one, that way its the smallest loop possible that goes through the eyes of my rod.

A tapered leader will be approx 25lb at one end and the other will be 12lb which ties to your main line.

tj

[webfeet rich]

didn't know you could get tapered shockleaders, must try when weather picks up. If ever. haven't seen long winters like this one since i was a kid

[excarper]

if you tie a double uni knot from your leader to your reel line you wont need a tapered leader its so neat and tidy its just another gizmo to suck the last few quid out of our pockets.

[BaggieRich]

Sorry to butt in and hijack the thread, but on the beach the accepted rule for shockleaders is 10lb breaking strain per 1oz of lead plus 10lb.

So a 4oz lead needs a leader of 50lb (4oz x 10lb + 10lb).

Now I guess there's not often a requirement for 4oz of lead when you're carp fishing, and there certainly won't be any pendulum casting involved, but even so, isn't 12lb line straight through a little on the light side for safe casting? When you're putting a lead 120 yards plus, there's still a fair amount of power in the cast and the potential for snapping off is still there isn't it? Doesn't the same rule apply in the carp world then?

Like I say, I'm not a carp man. I'm just asking the question.

Also, tapered leaders in beach casting are a god send. A nice small knot, which catches less in the rings and gives you more distance. Brilliant.

[excarper]

i am not saying dont use a leader mate. But if you tie a double uni knot its so small you dont need a tapered leader. Carp rods have large rod rings and the knott will fly through them no bother. I use a carp rod when i fish off the beach now, my beachcaster has not got the sensitivity to pick up the little rattles on the tip that come from the small stuff that are around now. Leader flys out through rings easily. Rod is a two and a quarter pound test curve with quite small rings in comparrison to most carp rods. Most carp anglers use the overhead punch and a three ounce lead i would say thirty pound leader is plenty.

[webfeet rich]

I think I will have to learn how to tie some knots to leader/main line before I go fishing again. I will just have to persevere, and perfect a small strong neat knot, that will not snag. Otherwise I am not learning or progressing. 1. Idon't want to see my 4oz. griplead sticking out of my mates head. 2. I don't want to lose tackle needlessly. joined this forum to learn and team up with experienced anglers. so will be spending the cold grey months practising knots, and flinging leads on a field nearby. at least my mate will be safe. Dunno about the local livestock though !!