Sinkers
A fishing lead is an auxiliary component for a leader or for a float. In float fishing the lead is used to balance the float so that it sits vertically in the water. For leaders, lead tackle serves to position and secure rigs at long casting distances.
When attached to the fishing line, lead components aim to quickly settle the entire rig into fishing position. This is essential for bottom fishing techniques, especially when targeting substrate-feeding fish, because it holds the rig firmly in place and gives us the best chance to hook fish. In float fishing, leads can affect how the hook falls through the water, which can also influence the number of presentations. The function of leads, therefore, is not only to facilitate casting the rig into the fishing zone and to speed its descent, but in some cases to aid autohooking, or to provide information about the contour of the bottom, as with probe leads.
Leads can be attached to the fishing line in a variety of ways. Some are sliding, others are fitted with swivels or attachment rings, and some small fixed leads can be split and added to the line by clipping them on.
Depending on how they are fixed to the line, the weight can be classified as fixed lead, or sliding lead or inline. As their names imply, fixed leads are those that, once attached to the fishing line, have a fixed position that cannot be moved, although we should note that fixed leads can also be used in sliding or semi-sliding rigs. Sliding leads are those through which the line passes, so they can slide along the main line, although similarly they can be used in fixed or semi-fixed rigs.
Leads for stillwater float fishing: They have small weights, depending on the role they were designed for – as the main weight or for fine-tuning floats, they can be split for easy addition to the line, or they can be sliding.
Terminal weights used in predator fishing – Drop Shot Weights: They usually have either a ball shape or a long cigar shape. Round weights allow you to "feel" the lure better. Elongated weights are generally used where there is a risk of snagging on structure on the bottom, because they can free themselves more easily.
Probe leads: They are fixed leads with a special shape, usually having indentations at the end to transmit stronger vibrations through the line depending on the substrate. They are retrieved slowly, keeping constant contact with the bottom and trying to translate the perceived vibrations into a map of its contours.
Main lead products used in general stillwater fishing
Main leads: When it comes to the main lead in general stillwater fishing, there is an even wider range of options, and the choice you make will depend largely on the spot you're targeting and the fishing style you use. For example, grippa-type leads are more useful when fishing areas with strong current, sloping substrate or at long range; trilobular or hexagonal leads are ideal for long-distance casting; while flatter pear-shaped leads are suitable for fishing with PVA bags. Paste leads are weights that have grooves or cavities on their body intended to be filled with paste bait to increase attractiveness and draw fish toward the hook.
Backleads – weights for fixing the line to the bottom. Backlead-type weights are one of the most popular choices for carp fishing with the line fixed on the bottom, but they can also be useful in stillwater fishing, especially when fishing over uneven substrate, because they can help the line follow the contours of the bottom, reducing the risk of spooking fish that might avoid the hook and our trap.