What should be the length of the leash on a fishing rod: making your own leash

What is a leash used for?

The leader and its length for a fishing rod is a piece of thin thread intended for attaching hooks to the base fishing line.
This component is required for the following:

• Protects the equipment from damage when the fish is caught tightly, or when the prey is strongly hooked and pulled out - only the leash with the hook breaks;
• Thanks to the small diameter of the fishing line, the fish are not so scared.

Allows the angler to quickly reset hooks to suit the situation.

Leashes for float length 10 cm

This length is good for catching small fish. It is recommended to use bloodworms of any size as bait. In case of attaching a joker (vtkrjuj bloodworm), small hooks will be required. This means that the hook will have to be done immediately, as soon as the fish bites. Otherwise, it will eat the bait and swim away.

Suitable for bleak and minnow too. This fish tends to swallow the hook deeply. Then it is difficult to remove it, which takes a lot of time and slows down the process. Therefore, the optimal length is 10 cm.

Leashes 15 cm long

When fishing with a plug, a length of 15 cm is preferred. With this size, the bait is more convenient to play in the water. In addition, the weight is located in such a way that it allows you to instantly respond to a bite and make a hook. When hunting for carp, it is recommended to replace the pellets with one sinker, attached near the loop to which the leash is fixed. This type of equipment is productive when fishing in shallow water. When hunting for white fish, it is better to use pellets. One is secured next to the leash loop, the rest are sequentially secured at some distance.

Length 20 cm

When fishing for fish in the current from a boat or shore, you can use a 20-25 cm cord. Then the bait falls more naturally on the bottom and the weight is evenly distributed over the equipment. Fishermen often use a similar size when baiting bread or hemp bait when fishing in still waters.

Length 30 cm

When fishing with sticks or wagglers, thirty-centimeter leashes are optimal. The principle of such fishing is as follows: the fishing line is lowered to the bottom of the reservoir and dragged for some distance, thereby creating turbidity around. A similar float is required when using a flat float. Then he lies calmly on the ground, and the under-grazing is located a little higher. In this case, the equipment is motionless and the fish does not notice it.

Leash length

You need to choose the length of the leash wisely, since this characteristic has a significant impact on the fish’s bite and on the performance of the equipment itself. A pull that is too long scares the fish less, but then the sensitivity of the gear decreases and the angler does not always clearly record contacts with the bait.

For each float fishing method, the required leash length has already been determined, which, naturally, can vary depending on the given conditions in the reservoir, the mood of the fish and other significant factors:

• For roach, the optimal leash length is 20–25 cm. With very passive biting, it can be increased to 40 cm.
• Bleak is caught with a leash no longer than 15 cm. It no longer makes sense, since fishing is carried out in the upper layers of the water.
• For bream and crucian carp it is customary to use short leashes. Most often, anglers use bends 5–15 cm long.

When fishing with a match or Bolognese fishing rod, leashes no shorter than 25 cm are used. In some cases, their length can reach a meter. In fishing with blind equipment, such impressive bends are not used.

How to build a leash

In order for the tackle to work effectively, the following basic rules should be followed during its manufacture:

1. The leash should be less strong than the main thread. This will protect the entire equipment from breaking when strongly hooking or fishing for large fish. Replacing a broken hook is easier than making new tackle.
2. Must be invisible to aquatic inhabitants. The fishing line must be selected to a minimum thickness.

When a float rod is used to catch predators, the rod should be made of strong material (able to withstand sharp teeth). Fluorocarbon, steel or analogues are suitable. Instructions for making a simple leash:

1. Take a fishing line of a certain length.
2. A hook is tied to one edge.
3. A loop is formed at the other end or a carabiner is mounted. Can be tied directly to the base line with a special knot.

For pike, a leash can be built like this:

1. Take nails and clean off the sharp ends.
2. The cap of one is cut off, then it is bent and inserted into the hole of the drill.
3. First, hang a carabiner on the string, then bend it in half and twist the ends. Secure them with a clamp.
4. One loop is hung on a nail and made up to 7 turns using a drill.
5. Apply the pressure by turning the drill at low speeds, and at the same time thread the second nail into the large loop.

Equipment for fly float rod

Equipment of a float fly rod
A float fly rod consists of the following elements:

• fishing lines;
• float;
• leash;
• sinkers;
• hook.

The length is selected depending on the activity and type of fish. The better it bites, the longer the leash is needed. The optimal size is from 15 to 30 cm. However, when catching bleak and saberfish, it is permissible to use longer leashes. After all, these representatives live on the surface and it is necessary for the hook to sink to the bottom as slowly as possible.

Universal recommendations:

• for a Bolognese fishing rod - 25-40 cm;
• for roach, crucian carp - 20-25 cm;
• for bream and bleak - 10-15 cm.

The thickness should be 0.07 mm less than the main line. This ensures that the hook comes off when the tackle is hooked. It is advisable to choose a fluorocarbon line, which is almost invisible in the water.

It is worth distinguishing between a lightweight leash for a float rod and a metal one, as well as a braided one. The last two are intended for pike and carp, which are endowed with sharp teeth and can instantly bite through a thin cord.

An appropriate float is selected for different bodies of water. Two types are most often used: teardrop-shaped with a long keel and fusiform with a shortened keel. The first is famous for its greater stability in the flow, thanks to its streamlined shape. The second option is suitable for catching fish with short fishing rods in still waters (on rivers and canals they are not productive because they are laid flat on the water when fishing).

Next you will need fishing line. Pay attention to the diameter, resistance and “memory”. The thickness depends on which representatives are planned to be hunted. For example, for trophy bream it is not rational to equip a fishing rod with line more than 0.12 mm; for carp weighing up to 2 kg, a diameter of 0.11 to 0.14 mm is suitable.

Sinkers also come in different types. More often, fishermen use “pellets” and “olives”. The weight should not bend the line during maneuvers.

“Olive” sinker - suitable for float fishing.
The hook is selected in accordance with the bait, as well as taking into account the size of the fish and its behavioral characteristics. So, for roach and bream on bloodworms, it is better to take No. 15-24 from thin wire. When catching carp, you need hooks No. 10-14 made of thickened wire.

Question of leash length

With the strength of the guitar leash, everything is more or less clear. But with what its length should be - not very much. Here, a lot depends on the type of bait, the species and size composition of the fish we are counting on.

With “turntables” and “oscillators” the situation is relatively simple - the leash for them can be quite short, but if it turns out to be longer, this is unlikely to have a negative effect on anything. Usually, when I catch pike (or anything in a row, including pike) with a medium-sized spoon, a 10 cm long leash solves all the problems. If we catch perches with a small “spinner”, but there is a certain probability of a pike attack, then a leash length of 7-8 cm will be just right; it’s better if the leash is made of string No. 1.

The most popular length of my jig leashes is 12-17 cm, sometimes (if a large pike is caught) I increase their size to 18-20 cm. However, in jig fishing by lengthening the leash you can hardly achieve a 100% guarantee against cutting - unless by increasing it to more than half a meter . All this is due to the fact that the pike sometimes (especially when moving downstream) attacks the jig bait both in front and in anticipation at the same time - and sometimes runs its teeth onto the cord 30-40 centimeters from the bait. At least, I used to connect (precisely in anticipation of such bites on the line down the river) two of my standard leashes in series, and this did not help.

What you see in the photo with a large pike, where two leashes are connected to each other, is an example of when this is completely justified. The location of the action is the Cheboksary reservoir near Vasilsurskaya Sloboda, where “crocodiles” are quite common animals. And they grab the “foam rubber” completely unceremoniously - from the side, behind, in front, in short - at random, so it’s better to have a longer leash. In the absence of one long one, I put two short ones.

But still, in the region of “evil crocodiles” we happen to catch relatively rarely, and usually the standard 15 cm for a leash for a jig is more than enough.

With wobblers, you can, as a first approximation, follow the rule: the length of the leash should be equal to the length of the wobbler (photo 2). Well, maybe for fats the leash should be 3 centimeters longer, since fats themselves are short, and pike, even relatively small ones, tend to “swallow” them.

In general, the topic of “wobbler and leash” is one of the most frequently raised. It is here that our brother is tormented by doubts. Let me note in this regard that the guitar leash weighs almost nothing, its mass is approximately equal to the mass of the winding ring, which most wobblers have on the front loop. If you are afraid that the balance will be disturbed by the leash, simply remove this ring. However, it is worth taking into account that most wobblers that pass as suspenders actually have weak positive buoyancy, and from 50 to 250 mg (this is a characteristic mass range of guitar leads - depending on their length and thickness) rather contributes to the wobbler approaching its declared type, which upsets the balance.

As with jigs, “planned” bites sometimes occur with wobblers, which are difficult to combat by increasing the length of the leash. This includes hitting the cord with your teeth when biting in advance, and a more “sophisticated” option, in which the pike suddenly begins to spin around its axis, winding the cord around its muzzle, and it sometimes ends up on its tooth. This happens to me once every four years - as if on a schedule - a kind of fate, it’s useless to fight. Although the pikes that leave are all large. It's a shame, though.

Finally, when I fish on purely perch ponds (i.e. where there are actually no pike), I put a micro leash - 2-2.5 cm long (photo 3), which mainly plays the role of a fastener. However, it can also play a defensive role if suddenly a small bee that came from out of nowhere attacks the wobbler or spinner. Still, sometimes these very few centimeters matter.

Equipment for Bolognese fishing rod

The simplicity of the design of the Bolognese fishing rod is its main advantage. Therefore, most fishermen use just such a rod. To use a lap dog, it is enough to purchase the appropriate carbon fiber, reels, a catch cage and a landing net. The equipment is not particularly bulky.

Bolognese fishing rod for float fishing, length 4 meters

With this rod you can fish anywhere, regardless of the conditions. This is because the equipment is not stationary - it is held suspended (called “running”). For crucian carp and crucian carp, you need a lapdog with a telescopic blank 5-7 meters long (otherwise the fisherman will quickly get tired of holding the carbon fiber in his hands and will not be able to make a long cast). There must be transmission rings, any reel and a special float. Particular care is taken to select the load, distributed from the float to the leash.

Float lap dog

What should be the knot for the main line?

The knots along the entire length of the scaffolding must be strong enough. They can be tied in a simple or triple complicated figure eight. The essence of the second option is as follows: wrap the loop three times, not once. To do this, it will be handy to take a sewing needle with a cut eye on one side and sanded edges on the other.

It is necessary to fold the fishing line in half and make a ring, as for a standard figure eight. Insert the needle inside and wrap it three times, creating a kind of twist. In this case, the needle is in the ring, and with its other tip the loop is pulled up and pulled inside the twist. Next, a tight knot is formed.

How to tie a figure eight knot

How to make a leash for a float rod?

If the leash is made independently, then the following points should be taken into account:

• The strength of the leash should be less than the strength of the fishing line of the float rod. If the hook suddenly gets caught on a snag or seaweed at the bottom, then you need to pull the fishing rod hard and break the leash. This guarantees the safety of the fishing line, and replacing a leash with a hook is much easier than purchasing all the equipment for the rod;
• if fishing is carried out on predator fish, then the leash must be made of very durable material so that they cannot bite it.

When fishing with live bait, a small carabiner is attached to the leash, which will prevent the line from twisting. In addition, the leash line must be located on the inside of the hook, which guarantees a good hooking of the fish.

You must tie a knot at the end of the leash. It is very important that the fishing line remains strong at all nodes. Knots can be tied in a regular or triple figure eight. However, when tying a “triple eight” knot, it is impossible to record a decrease in strength for a thin fishing line. The essence of the knot is a triple wrapping of the loop , and not a single one. Therefore, you need to take a regular sewing needle, which has a cut eye on one side and sanded edges on the other.

Choosing a fishing line for a leash

The level of bite depends on the quality of the leash made. Therefore, you need to select a fishing line and a hook for it. You should immediately clarify the required diameter of the scaffold. Since in practice, many beginners notice that sometimes they have to wait for a bite for more than one hour, while the fisherman sitting next to him with the same fishing rod catches fish with enviable intensity. It turns out that the whole point is in the thickness of the fishing line (not 0.12, but 0.1).

Don’t be afraid to use thin leashes - 0.07 to 0.1 mm. You can easily catch bream up to 1.5 kg with it. If the fish is not active, then the difference in the diameter of the line (by 1-2 hundredths) will lead to a decrease in bite. Also, the fishing line should be a color that blends with the environment (to match the bottom, algae, snags, water). Otherwise, the fish will notice the tackle and retreat. A proven option in any situation is a transparent thread.

What is the effect of an incorrectly chosen fishing line diameter?

The intensity of the bite depends on the quality of the leash, so to make it, choose a fishing line and the right hook of only good quality, and also tie the knots correctly. It is worth knowing what diameter of fishing line you can use.

As practice shows, even a slight increase in the leash can make the bite “sluggish”. In this case, you will have to sit on the shore and not see a single bite, and for the fisherman sitting next to it it will be intense. And it seems that his fishing rod is the same, and the bait and bait are no different. But when talking, it turns out that he has a fishing line with a diameter of 0.1 mm, and not 0.12 . So in this case the fishing rod will have nothing to do with it, and only because of the incorrectly selected fishing line there was no bite.

What should the strength be?

It is necessary that the strength of the leash differs from the main line. If you are going to catch predatory fish, you will need a very strong leash. It is worth knowing that the leash can break if it catches on snags, seaweed, or unevenness on the bottom. Since predatory fish are caught using live bait, a carbine is attached to the leash, which prevents the line from twisting. A successful hooking will be ensured by a leash to which the hook is attached on the inside.

The correct diameter ensures a successful bite. For catching large fish, the required diameter is 3 mm, for small species – up to 1.5 mm.

How to tie a hook to a leash

In practice, fishermen make their own leashes for float gear. To do this, you need to make a double loop on the fishing line and a similar one on the leash. Then it, together with the hook, is fixed in the loop of the main line with an overlap. The result is a reliable node.

Technique for tying fishing line to a hook

When the hook is equipped with a ring, there is a high probability of the line chafing due to the sharp edges of the ring. Therefore, they tie the forest exclusively for him. The knot must be strong, so it is recommended to wrap the line around the base up to 10 times. Tie a knot as follows:

1. Thread the line into the eye or ring of the hook.
2. Fold it in half, creating a loop with a diameter of up to 10 cm.
3. A ring is applied to the base of the hook, holding the remaining elements with your fingers.
4. The middle and index fingers are inserted into the loop.
5. With one finger they create tension in the line along the base of the hook, with the other they wrap it around the tip several times. It is important that the turns stack on top of each other.
6. Next, the end of the fishing line is clamped with teeth and stretched, holding the main thread.
7. The knot is pre-wetted and pulled as tightly as possible.

Leashes should be prepared in advance, and in the proper quantity. They can be stored for several years without any problems. Don't be afraid that the fishing line will expire. The only thing is that you should not keep the products under the scorching sun.

How to tie a leash to the main line?

The easiest and most reliable way to attach a leash to the main line is “loop to loop”. This option allows you to quickly change the tap to another, if necessary. In addition, there are no knots in this fastening, which has a positive effect on the strength of the equipment as a whole.

Fastening through a carabiner also allows you to quickly change the leash, but due to the knots the breaking load of the equipment is reduced. Its visibility increases, which can affect the fish’s bite.

You can tie the leash directly to the main thread using a knot. You need to understand that later, to replace it, you will have to cut the fishing line, and the strength of the equipment decreases. This option is used when the fishing conditions are known in advance and there is no need to change the outlet during the fishing process.