Help with leger rig

[Leeroberts919]

I am going fishing this weekend and want to try some leger fishing in the hope of catching tench.

I will be using a swing tip with a swim feeder (weighted) but I would like to know what the best rig setup is.

I was considering putting the swimfeeder onto my mainline about 12 inches away from the hook, hold it in place by 2 tiny shot and then have my hook at the end.

But I have since found out that this won't work but I can't really find much information on the internet.

So please could someone guide me.

PS Don't just say try this or that please include a description on how to do it. I am fairly new to this so as yet I haven't learnt the lingo.

[mithrandir]

Hello Lee and welcome to the forum.

I have found when fishing for tench that a rig which they can feel the weight of can put them off. I use a simple "running leger" rig. This is basically a hooklink of 12 to 15 inches, a swivel then a buffer bead and then the feeder or a weight on the mainline. the swivel is used to connect the mainline to the hooklink, I use a hooklink at least 2 lb lower breaking strain than my mainline so that in a breakoff it is usually the hook that is all that is left in the fish, if the mainline does break the weight or feeder and the buffer bead fall away so the fish does not tow the weight around.
The buffer bead acts as a knot protector and stops the feeder ring slipping over the swivel.

I would always avoid fixing a weight onto a mainline as I have hooked fish which are left towing a 2 oz lead around causing extreme damage to them.

The running leger gives a free feel to the bait as the fish takes it and when the fish does turn to swim away the hook strikes itself when the rod tip starts to offer resistance so no need for a "bolt rig".

I have caught some lovely tench on a feeder on a running leger.

I hope you have fun and look forward to a report to tell us how you got on.

Mike