Bolt rigs for tench - minimum weight needed?

[Adam Francis]

Hi all.

I was about to order some inline leads for an upcoming tench session & was wondering what the appropriate size would be for them to work effectively in a bolt rig?

The tench & bream both go into double figures, although I'm in no way assuming that I'll catch that particular stamp of fish, but I was thinking 1.5oz would be be about minimum?

Is that too light or could I go as low as 1oz?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Adam.
Depends bit on the distance fished.

I would suggest 2oz for most situations and slack lining.
Graham

 

[Adam Francis]

Ok thanks. As much as 2oz even when fishing for tench, bream etc? Is that because the hooking effect wouldn't work at lower weights?

 

[Ash Gould]

If you want to use a lighter lead or feeder fish it running but with a tight line.

Thats something that stuck with me from last spring.

I went from using 2oz leads and pva bags to a 30gm method feeder. The 2oz lead set up was spot on for bolt rigging, but when I switched to the lighter method feeder the bites became stuttery and I stopped hooking fish. I changed it to a running rig with the line quite tight (I saw someone on telly fishing for tench and they had their line tight so I copied it!). and the bites turned into screamers again.

Those little curve shank hooks tied kd style with a bit of pop up corn worked spot on for the tench. Either bolt rigging or running style.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Agree with all that Ash.

Graham

 

[Marty Mulcairn]

at short range a (semi) fixed lead of 1oz will perform fine, shorter the hooklength the better.

i had 90lb of tincas last week on a 25g lead with a 6" hooklength and 90% of them ripped off and self hooked.

 

[Ian Crook]

I have found inline leads of an ounce or more normally inline maggot or method feeders fished to allow a 6 inch run before hitting a stop is devastating for tench

 

[Adam Francis]

Interesting point in allowing the lead to run a short distance before the bolt effect takes place. I'll have a little go with that & see how I get on.

Thanks all.