Carp Catchers Blog

The Guru Micro Lead Clips provide a fish safe anti tangle option for the Match/Pleasure angler thats suitable for fishing with either leads or feeders. The design of Guru Micro Lead Clip  ensures that your lead or feeder can be released should it become snagged. 

Guru Micro Lead Clips

The leads I used for the purpose of this demonstration were the Guru Square Leads.

Step 1.

Thread your mainline through the tail rubber and then the lead clip.

Step 2.

Double over the tag end of your mainline and pass the loop through the eye of the size 11 swivel provided.

Step 3.

Now tie an overhand knot with the doubled over section of your mainline but don’t tighten it yet.

Step 4.

Pass the swivel through the loop created by the overhand knot.

Step 5.

Now moisten the knot and gently tighten it down.

Step 6.

Pull the lead clip down over the swivel until you hear it click into the clip.

Step 7.

Now clip your lead/feeder on and slide the tail rubber over the lead clip so the angled edge sits the right way on the clip.

All you need to do now is tie on your rig and your ready to cast out. But before doing so make sure the clip is working correctly and the lead will discharge easily. You are now fishing a carp safe set up.

Tight Lines

Dave

The  MCF Dumper Lead Clip  is a very clever and innovative lead clip that is guaranteed to drop the lead in the event of a fish snagging or weeding you up. The tapered sleeves incorporated in this lead clip system help to minimise tangles. This Carp Catchers Blog will show you step by step how to set it up.

These can be set-up with any form of leader or tubing but for the purpose of this demonstration I used a ready spliced leadcore leader.

Step 1.

Using a bait needle thread the small rubber sleeve onto your leader or tubing.

Step 2.

Now you need to pass your spliced leader loop through the metal loop on the lead clip. Or tie on your mainline with your rig tubing already threaded on (Miss steps 3 and 4).

Step 3.

Then pass the lead clip through the loop in the end of your leader.

Step 4.

Pull the leader to secure the loop around the metal loop.

Step 5.

Push the small rubber sleeve over the metal loop.

Step 6.

Now push a baiting needle through the longer sleeve from next to the metal hook out of the tapered end and latch the baiting needle onto your choosen rig.

Step 7.

Once you’ve pulled your hooklink through loop it over the metal hook.

Step 8.

To finish the setup pull the hooklink tight and clip on a lead.

The lead should not eject on a normal force cast, however if a distance cast is required I would suggest securing the lead in place with PVA tape.

If you are using rig tubing then adapt the instructions accordingly.

Tight Lines

Dave

For those of you carp fishing particularly weedy waters this year dropping your lead is probably a very high priority. Regular customer Ian Smith showed me a weed lead clip system by Nash designed to drop the lead with even less effort than most regular lead clip systems. I always cut down my lead clips when fishing in weed but these lead clips mean you don’t need to. The Nash Weed Safety Bolt Bead  used in conjunction with the  Nash Weed Safety Tail Rubbers  are basically a smaller version of the regular lead clip system which requires less force to discharge the lead and are ideal for fishing in weed. Recently Ian has landed a lot of carp using this clip system and it is without a doubt a factor that has helped him land more fish.

A 25lb 14oz mirror caught fishing in weed.

Give the Nash Weed Safety Bolt Bead and Tail Rubbers a thought next time you’re tackling a weedy water.

Tight Lines

Dave

Hi, I haven’t written a blog before, but whilst we were fishing a few weeks ago, an article John showed me struck a chord and I thought I would share it with you.

We all know how important it is to take care of the fish we catch, having a decent size unhooking mat and treating any wounds with the Korda Carp Care Kit , but it is also important to take care of ourselves and our dogs (if they are fishing companions).

The article was about Leptospirosis or Weils Disease which is carried by 15 – 30% of rats.  The bacteria is excreted in the rats urine and can be passed onto humans and dogs when they come into contact with contaminated areas.  In the case of fishing – lakes, rivers and canals.

To protect yourselves you should cover any cuts with waterproof plasters, don’t leave food and cooking utensils out or uncovered.  If you do get symptons, which are fever, chills, headaches, muscle ache, vomiting or diarrhoea, you should contact a doctor immediately.  Weils disease can be fatal if not treated early.  Dogs can also be carriers and also contract the infection, so you need to make sure that they have been inoculated.

On a happier note, its been lovely and sunny, but don’t get sunburnt use your suncream and stay in the shade when possible.

Be safe and catch lots

Angela

 This Carp Catchers Blog is for those of you who use lead clips. New out are the ESP Adjustable Lead Clips  they come in three camo flecked colours and can be used in most carp fishing situations. For more information or to purchase follow the above link.

Best fishes,

John

A lot of anglers prefer to use inline leads for most of their fishing but certain fishing situations dictate that it isn’t possible to use them due to excess weed growth which means a setup which releases the lead on the take is needed, well here’s how to set up an inline lead that will drop off on the take. The rig components used in this demonstration were a Korda flat pear inline lead, a  Korda Safe Zone Kamo Leader  and  Korda Safe Zone Tail Rubbers .

Step 1.

Using a good set of pliers remove the eye of the swivel furthest from the leader.

Leaving just the swivel barrel and the eye attached to the Korda Safe Zone leader loop, I know in past demonstrations of this setup by others the whole swivel have been left but Ive found it takes a lot less to discharge the lead this way especially with slower takes.

Step 2.

Now slide a tail rubber up the leader.

Step 3.

Using the pliers again trim a small length of the plastic insert from the inline lead, making it even easier to drop the lead.

Step 3.

Now attach a  Korda Stick Clip  to the eye of the swivel.

Step 4.

Then push the swivel into the bottom of the lead, making sure it goes in barrel first. It will just about sit comfortably in the insert.

Step 5.

Now slide the tail rubber onto the trimmed down plastic insert and pull it tight making sure it holds the swivel in place.

The finished setup should look like this and should discharge the lead on the take making it easier and safer when fishing for big carp in weedy waters.

Tight Lines

Dave

I don’t want to sound preachy, but I’d like to have a word about carp care. All you carp anglers out there should have a decent unhooking mat suitable for the size of carp you’re fishing for, but how many of you have something to treat the hookhold or any wounds your prize might have. We have a certain duty of care to the fish we catch, so we should all carry something to treat any wounds or ulcers they may have. The Korda Carp Care Kit is an excellent product which fulfills this need. The kit which was designed by the lads at Thinking Anglers has two different bottles of treatment and treatment applicators all in a handy, compact case. The two treatment bottles have different uses, one is for any mouth damage and the other is for any wounds or sores on the body. The Korda Carp Care Kit offers our quarry the best possible chance of a speedy recovery. So please if you haven’t already got one or something like it, invest in the future of your sport and get one. 

Best fishes,

John

The Needle Knot is a very small neat knot used to tie a mainline to a leadcore leader. As for knot strength the needle knot rates at approximately 100%. The kneedle knot is the prefered knot when considering carp safety as due to its compactness it allows beads, hooklinks, rings etc. to slide of easily in the event of the mainline breaking. The Items you will need to tie this knot are leadcore in this instance I am using ESP Bulk Spool Leadcore  in the Choddy Silt colour, a largish sewing needle, a lighter, some scissors and your mainline obviously.

Step 1

Pull out an inch or two of the lead from the leadcore.

Step 2

Snip of the lead wire

Step 3

Insert the kneedle into the empty leadcore sheath and seal the fibres with the lighter to prevent fraying

Step 4

Thread your mainline through the kneedle and thread the kneedle through the leadcore and out of the side approx. half an inch in

Step 5

Pull the kneedle and mainline through the leadcore sheath

Step 6

Lay the kneedle alongside the leadcore sheath like so

Step 7

Whip the mainline around the leadcore and kneedle 5-6 times in the direction of mainline

Step 8

Thread the tag end of the mainline through the eye of the kneedle

Step 9

Pull the kneedle and tag end through the loops created by the whipping

Step 10

Moisten the knot then slowly pull the mainline and tag end in opposite directions to bed down the knot

Step 11

Carefully snip of the tag end

The Finished Kneedle Knot

Your knot should look even neater as I have used an extremely thick line for photographic clarity.

If you are finding the blog useful and informative why not put it in your favourites folder or bookmark it. Also any comments would be welcome (keep them clean!).

Best fishes,

John�