How To Pick The Right Leads For Carp Fishing
Lead weights for carp fishing may seem like a simple subject – after all, a weight is a weight, right? Well, when we dive a little deeper, we realise there’s far more to lead selection than meets the eye. That’s why there are so many variations available. In this article, we explore what lead to use and when...
The primary purpose of a fishing lead is to get your rig and hookbait out to your chosen spot. Its secondary purpose – particularly in carp fishing – is to aid in hooking the fish.
With this in mind, it stands to reason that the heavier the lead you use, the further you’ll be able to cast. However, there’s far more to understand about leads than that. Size and shape are both important considerations.
At One More Cast, we have six different lead variants, each providing specific benefits in certain angling scenarios. Let’s take a closer look at them below...
"You can't have enough leads - there's a time and a place for all!"
Arra Swivel Lead – Best for Distance
This lead design is aimed at distance casting. The flights and streamlined shape allow it to cut through the air with minimal resistance.
These same flights also help the lead grip marginal shelves or sloping lakebeds, and they can be used to wrap and hold paste baits around the lead.
It’s a great all-rounder, with the swivel ensuring it fits neatly on a classic lead clip or running rig system.
Buy the Arra Swivel Lead here...
Arra Inline Lead – Best for Hooking Mechanics
Boasting the same streamlined properties as the swivel variant, the Inline Arra removes the swivel and requires the line to be threaded through the centre of the lead.
The flights still provide the same benefits for casting, presentation and paste wrapping, but this variation arguably offers improved hooking mechanics due to reduced movement from the absence of a swivel.
The fish picks up the lead from the heaviest end, making it very difficult for them to deal with.
Buy the Inline Arra Lead here...
"The Inline Arra offers fantastic hooking mechanics"
Donky Pear Lead – Best for Helicopter Rigs
This swivelless lead is the best friend of any angler looking to feel that all-important ‘donk’ on the lakebed. Its wider profile base makes it perfect for feature finding and feeling the lead down properly.
With no swivel, this lead is ideal for helicopter systems, although it can still be used with lead clips.
It won’t cast as far as an Arra, but it’s a reliable choice at short to medium range.
Buy the Donky Pear Lead here...
Flat Pear Swivel Lead – Best for Medium Range
This is a classic carp fishing lead shape that offers many benefits. The flatter profile makes it ideal for holding on riverbeds or sloping marginal shelves.
The more condensed weight distribution makes it a reliable hooker, and it performs best at short to medium range.
Buy the Flat Pear Swivel Lead here...
"The Flat Pear Swivel Lead is a classic carp lead"
Inline Flat Pear Lead – Best for Solid Bag Fishing
The inline variant of the Flat Pear Lead is a solid bag angler’s dream.
With the line running through the centre of the lead – or over the top in a ‘drop-off’ style, capitalising on the specially designed outer gully (very neat!) – this lead fits nicely inside a Fade Solid Bag for superb presentation.
Hooking mechanics are improved with inline leads, as mentioned previously, and you’ll still be able to cast medium to long range, particularly when balanced with a small or medium bag.
Buy the Inline Flat Pear Lead here...
Deckz Lead – Best for Paste Wrapping and Rivers
If you like moulding paste around your lead ‘method feeder’ style, then the Deckz is the choice for you.
It’s also an excellent option for river anglers. The flat profile and central bridges on the Deckz Lead help it hold firm in fast flows or on steeply sloping bottoms.
It can be fished on both running rigs and lead clips, and is best suited to short to medium distances.
What’s the Right Size Lead?
Choosing the right size lead for your carp fishing depends on its primary purpose.
If you simply want the lead to get your rig to the spot, then the lightest lead you can get away with is usually best, as a smaller lead causes less disturbance. However, this comes down to understanding what weight you need to load your rod correctly.
For example, you may find that with some rods you can cast a 3oz lead further than a 4oz.
The second consideration is whether you want the lead to actively aid in hooking the fish. If you’re using devices like the Magic Wand, this may be less important. Otherwise, as a general rule, the heavier the lead, the stronger the ‘bolt’ effect.
This means you’re more likely to hook – and potentially land – more fish with heavier leads. It’s a crucial factor. Get it wrong and fish can pick up your rig and shake you out easily, sometimes even using the lead against you to throw the hook.
This isn’t only relevant when using lead clip systems either. Getting the weight right on a running rig can also increase the sensitivity of the entire set-up.
The more you experiment and gain experience, the better your understanding will become of which lead size suits the situation in front of you. There’s definitely a time and place for both heavier and lighter leads.
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC family in spring 2024, after six years working for the UK’s number one fishing publication, Angling Times. He is a keen coarse and carp fishing all-rounder, based in the South West and regularly fishing venues such as the famous Cotswold Water Park.
