What is there to be written about leads? When the vast majority of leads are released to the market, they are nothing out of the ordinary compared to existing ranges, yet they are claimed to be “better” than the competitors, when they are essentially the same with just a different branding. UKMA had been looking around the lead market place for leads that offered the angler something different to the standard normality, yet was not just a gimmick to catch anglers rather than fish. After a bit of searching the internet and speaking to a few different lead manufacturers, we have been able to compile this feature, spotlighting what we believe to be actual advantages to our fishing, rather than just being different. Hopefully the following words and images will open your eyes to small tactical changes which could present that fish of a lifetime, laying upon your unhooking mat. Carpio LeadsCarpio Leads are a name that a lot of anglers are starting to become more and more aware of. Based in Essex, Carpio Leads are not satisfied to simply sit back and punch out just plain leads at lower prices (although they do a range of “vanilla” leads that are very good indeed), they are actively thinking of what changes could be made to existing leads to offer the best chance of a pick-up without effecting the mechanics of successful rigs.
The leads are finished off with a size 2 crane swivel (that is very hard wearing and rotates superbly), which is then affixed securely into the lead by a stainless steel loop. The larger swivel allows free passage of line when used with running rigs, as well as allowing the lead to easily be deposited (if required) from a safety lead clip. Available in three different colours (Green, Black & Brown), three types (swivel distance, swivel flat pear & inline distance) and in a wide range of weights (including a larger 6oz size for those that fish extreme range or the rivers), Carpio Leads are onto a winner with these and UKMA will be using these on some of the tricky waters that we fish. The other leads in the range that caught our eye immediately were the Peat Leads and the Gravel Leads. The Peat leads are the standard leads that Carpio Leads produce, but are coated in a layer of actual peat, with the Gravel leads coated in ….gravel!! There has been a fair bit written on various online forums about the use of non-smooth coated leads and possible damage to the fish during the fight, but we have not experienced any visible damage to any of the fish we have caught when using them, but we would not suggest that these leads are used with very short hooklinks (under 4”), to minimise any possible risk, as fish welfare is always paramount.
All in all, UKMA can fully recommend Carpio Leads and their products without any shadow of a doubt, and we look forward to using more and more of their products. Check out the full range and buy online at www.carpioleads.com Franks LeadsFranks Leads are a name that almost every carp angler is aware off. For a number of years the company have been providing top quality leads and other items of terminal tackle to anglers, starting out on eBay and now selling direct via their online store. With a full range of leads and other riggy items available, it has been hard selecting just a couple for the purpose of this review, but UKMA have chosen the items that appeal to ourselves the most with regards to the criteria for this feature. All of the leads in the range are available in both a textured and smooth coating, and the company is proud to have been the first to develop a textured coating that absorbs flavour, yet offers a slow release of this flavour out into the water column. The leads that caught our eyes in the Franks Leads range are the 4 Sided Distance and the Long Gripper Lead. Both of the leads can be cast very long distances and offer superb bolt effects on such rigs, as well as having another use of being able to be fished on slopes or in rivers without losing grip and sliding or rolling. One feature that we feel will be of a lot of interest to the angler, is the nodules on the Long Gripper Lead. These nodules and the design of the lead will allow the angler to cast long distance on their marker rod, yet still retain the sensitivity of more traditional style marker leads. The textured coating on the Long Gripper leads will also retain some soft substrate in them giving the angler a much more in-depth look at what they are fishing over. The leads from Franks Leads are affordable by all anglers, and especially in this credit crunch that the world is going through currently, they offer superb value for money. UKMA suggest that anglers check out the comprehensive online store for details on the full range of leads and other bits available at www.franksleads.co.uk
ACE LeadsAfter seeing pictures of the ACE leads prior to actually knowing they were on the market, UKMA decided that they deserved a closer examination. With the Directors of ACE both having past links with other major tackle companies, we were expecting big things, and we were not disappointed. Most of the large manufacturers that also have leads in their ranges tend to just go for the standard patterns that we are all familiar with. ACE have thought about these ranges, and although they do cater with the traditional leads, there is also a couple of surprising additions that we were pleased to see. The first is what ACE call the Stubby Lead. The Stubby lead is very similar in shape to the traditional Arlesey bomb that Dick Walker introduced to the angling world a long time ago, and is something that has been lost in the carp angling world for a long time with the distance casters tending to favour the more bullet shaped distance leads (based on the original Zzip lead design). The Stubby lead was resurrected to the angling world by the Southern angling scene (known down South as “Roger & Kerry leads”) in the 1990’s but none of the main manufacturers had them in their ranges for some reason – until now! The Stubby Lead will still cast almost the same distances as the distance leads, but give a much better bolt effect to the rig. The design also lessens the plugging into the deck of the lead than a more streamlined weight by basic aqua-dynamic physics. The Stubby lead is perfect for all types of usage, and is now a firm favourite amongst the UKMA team for general use. Another change from the normal designs, is the Dumpy Pear Lead. Based around the very popular pear lead style, the ACE version differs by having a much flatter bottom to the lead. This allows a much more concentrated area of the weight making the bolt effect of a rig much greater. One of the UKMA team likes to use the smaller sizes of the Dumpy Pear lead for all of his chod/helicopter rig work as the larger surface area of the base of the lead allows for superb transmission when feeling the lead down. One small but we feel very important feature of all the leads in the ACE range, is that the plastic coating on the leads is first class and as smooth as silk. None of the leads that we have looked at have any bubbles or imperfections at all, which allow for a more aerodynamic flight on the cast. We also thought that the individual weight marking on each lead is a superb little touch that some of the big names already in the lead market are missing. This enables the angler to tell the size of the lead instantly and to perfectly tune their rigs exactly as they require them, rather than relying on guess work. For more info visit the ACE websites www.acecarp.com At least one of the UKMA team has cleared out their leads and replaced them with the ACE range because of how impressive they are. UKMA have only touched the surface of the ranges of the leads in this feature,
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The lead in the range that immediately caught our eye, was the Silkweed Lead.
The Silkweed Lead is a standard lead that has been carefully coated with an artificial “weed” that completely camouflages the lead when in the water. When in the water the artificial weed coating moves just like short pieces of silkweed, and the lead is then just another natural piece of the venue bed. The coating also doubles up as a carrier for flavour. The Silkweed Leads can also be dipped in Carpio Leads’ own Gel Dip or any of the other manufacturers glugs, to further enhance the scent trail in the water – making these leads perfect for fishing with single hookbaits (as well as over a bed of bait).
The coatings on the Peat & Gravel leads offer superb camouflage over the same or similar substrate that is being fished over as they are 100% naturally the same. The Peat Leads will also accept a glug like the Silkweed Leads, and disperse a scent trail around the area fished. The Gravel Leads are almost invisible when placed over gravel other than the swivel and loop, and could be the edge over those wily big Carp that have seen it all before.
One member of the team at UKMA has been buying rig components from Franks Leads for a few years now, and would not tell the rest of us where he was getting them from! Now his secret has been exposed!!!!
