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Old fart returns 2

D

David Gauntlett

Senior Member
Hi again,

I have noticed a number of threads discussing the various merrits or otherwise of using 'safety clips' with sleeves to mount leads on rigs.
It was discovered many years ago in carping circles, just as you have found more recently, that in fact in the original form, these clips are not safe at all.

There are modified versions that are better, and cutting the sleeve down helps, but as you guys have already said....they are actually not too good at all. If you use one of the versions with a pin to lock the swivel in place, and cut the sleeve RIGHT back, then yes they will work as safety rigs.

However, once the sleeve IS cut right back to make things safe, then you have effectively created a lead dump rig, because the lead is liable to come off at the slightest provocation....which then brings up the 'Do we really want/is it right to have the lake/river bed littered with lost leads' quandry :D

In my opinion, for what it's worth, using one of the specially designed tapered bead as a stop...the sort whereby you can push the lead swivel/link ring lightly over the narrow end to form a semi fixed lead, is far safer....if that is what you wish to achieve. Running leads, leads semi fixed by the method just described, or helicopter rigs are all WAY safer than these so called "safety clips".

Mind you, the old fashioned leger stops we used to use on occasion were pretty naff as well:D...I am glad to see that they are now in general consigned to the bin:D:D:D

Cheers, Dave.
 
Hi David.

My sentiments exactly.

The only true safe rig is a running rig where the lead can fall off the mainline.
Lead clips have their uses, say for when you want the lead to discharge if it becomes snagged, but if you have a break in the mainline then there is no way a smaller fish (let's say a 1lb 6oz dace ;), is going to shake off a 3oz lead.
IMO not all heli-rigs are 100% safe, it depends on if you are using a top stop/bead, how does that enable the hooklink to come free?

I am familiar with the type of tapered bead where the lead/run ring slides over, and I have tried them. But still, IMO you cannot beat a simple running rig. If you are looking at a bolt rig effect, then the current of the river and rod tip serves as resistance enough.

If you are worried about filling the river bed with discharged leads you could try this trick. I saw a carper using large pebbles as a weight, he simply wrapped an elastic band around the pebble and trappped his line underneath. When he struck the pebble would fall off. He was fishing at range with a baitboat, obviously a hefty cast would discharge the lead, but a gentle underarm swing on a small river would be okay.

Dave (another old fart) :)
 
Hi Dave (fellow old fart :D),

Interesting idea chap...I think pallatrax have got that one covered, although the beauty of your version is that it is free:p

Cheers, Dave.
 
Tom Herbert said:
Tight old fart more like Dave, using pebbles for weights:D:D:D:D

I use a free running rig similar to the one in the link, a piece of power gum attaches the lead to the ring............ simples!


http://www.tacklebox.co.uk/product_detail.asp?mnuProdCat2=etksol&Submit=Go&offset=10&pr_ID=00398
Click to expand...

Hi Tom,

Are those rings any harder than the other versions on offer mate? I tried some that looked very similar to that (can't remember the manufacturer) and I noticed that the line quite quickly dug a groove into the plastic ring, and they then sometimes jammed onto the line :rolleyes:

Cheers, Dave.
 
Dave (D)

Liked the carper's rubberband idea. For many years I've used a paperclip to lose a weight when I have needed to - stones, broken-up concrete, big rusty old nuts from a garage sale...

Best,

P
 
They are the ones i use Dave, i have for many a season and i use braided mainline with no problems at all.
 
There is one very safe bolt rig, i read about it years ago, in Carpworld i think .... i can't remember who was using it or where - a water in kent i think, that was very weedy in the summer.

The angler tied a rotten bottom of about a pound BS to the swivel on his hooklink, the other end to a house brick, then waded out to his chosen spot and dropped it in, obviously you can't use it for anything other than wading distance on a stillwater or as far as you can chuck it on a river.

obviously your hook size needs to be such that a small fish couldn't take it, but you could break the rotten bottom from the rod if that happened.

Apparently the method worked a treat, and left nothing except the hooklink swivel on the line to get hung up in weed.

Ian.
 
Ah, but when you are fishing for a 16-pounder that rarely breaks cover and when she does will cover the ten or so yards she has ventured out back to the horror she came from with a couple of kicks of her massive tail, you need NOTHING between you and her but a good hook, an excellent knot, an ever-sliding sliding bead and a now equally sliding bit of stop-knotted rubberband...............
 
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