Leashes for crucian carp: deciding on the length and fishing line

Why do you need a leash when fishing for crucian carp?

Crucian carp is a rather shy and cautious fish. It is not difficult to scare him away by the presence of a noticeable fishing line, even if all the preparatory processes are done correctly: the place is baited, and the place itself is quite promising. To prevent this from happening, you should be very responsible when choosing a leash. The most important thing is that the crucian carp cannot distinguish it from all the inhabitants of the underwater world, including vegetation. As a rule, a very thin fishing line is selected that matches the color of the bottom of the reservoir, the color of the water, as well as aquatic vegetation. This can make it almost invisible to the crucian carp, and he will take the bait without any fear. Recently, fluorocarbon has become very popular, although it is less durable and more rigid than fishing line. This factor should always be taken into account when making leashes.

Length of leashes for feeder fishing for crucian carp

The most difficult thing is to choose leashes for catching crucian carp on a feeder. We have already noted above that their length can vary from 20 to 80 cm. Moreover, some fishermen use longer leash structures (about 1 m) on the English donka. Therefore, the logical question becomes: “How do you understand what length of fishing line should be on the leashes on the feeder?”

Many will say that the larger it is, the better. But that's not true. The leashes on the feeder simply do not have the correct length. The fact is that it depends on many factors:

places on a body of water;
bottom features;
season;
water and air temperatures;
weather conditions;
current forces;
sensitivity of gear and rod;
habits and preferences of the fish itself.

When choosing the length of the feeder leads, a number of features should be taken into account

This list could go on for quite a long time. Therefore, experienced fishermen, coming to a reservoir, constantly experiment with the length of leashes. Otherwise, catching crucian carp on a feeder, especially large ones, can sometimes be difficult. However, by choosing the optimal length of fishing line from the feeder to the hooks with nozzle, you can count on a good catch.

Of course, usually leashes are placed on the feeder, the length of which is about 40 cm. Most often, this is enough to place the bait not close to the feeder, but so that it is in the field of view of the crucian carp attracted by the bait. But it also happens that fish only bite on feeder equipment with short (about 20 cm) or, conversely, long (about 80-100 cm) leashes. So anglers have to constantly try different options.

What fishing line should you use and what thickness?

Crucian carp requires very sensitive equipment. Such sensitive equipment is an asymmetrical loop. It is possible to use a less sensitive asymmetrical loop. The easiest to install is the paternoster and it can also be used when fishing for crucian carp. As the main fishing line you need to take a braided line with a thickness of 0.1 - 0.12 mm, and use a monofilament with a diameter of 0.14-0.16 mm as a leash. The length of the leash depends on the fishing conditions and can range from 0.5-1 m.

Choosing a leash for crucian carp

Almost every body of water is inhabited by crucian carp, which are not too picky about the choice of bait supplied. But on some days the fish stubbornly refuse to be caught even with the most sophisticated baits. In this regard, I am interested in the answer to the question whether the leash on crucian carp affects the effectiveness of catches. And if so, what should its length be?

Fishing for this fish requires sensitive equipment. Braid with a diameter of 0.1-0.12 mm is used as the main fishing line. How long and thick the leashes should be depends on the type of equipment. When catching crucian carp with a float rod for undergrowth, take a monofilament thread with a cross-section of 0.12-0.14 mm, measuring about 15 cm for them. However, after several fishing trips, the monofilament stretches and becomes unusable, requiring replacement. When fishing using feeder gear with a “spring” rig (a small feeder into which treats are stuffed), a monofilament thread with a diameter of 0.25-0.4 mm is suitable for the main core, and braided wire with a thickness of 0.04-0.1 mm is suitable for leashes . Undergrowth must be installed within 5-7 cm.

For a regular feeder, the leash is taken much longer (20 cm-1 m), there are no optimal sizes, since the bite depends on the bottom topography, weather conditions, current strength, air and water temperatures, and fish habits. When trying to catch crucian carp with the help of a fish trap, a monofilament vein with a diameter of 0.35 mm is chosen as the basis, and for undergrowth, a braided line with a cross section of 0.18 mm is used. The length of the leash in such a rig is within 5-7 cm. As a rule, at the fishing site you need to experiment a lot, choosing the length of the undergrowth depending on the activity of the fish. A short leash allows the prey to feel resistance, and it often abandons the bait as soon as it tries it. The use of long undergrowth, when the hook is at a great distance, makes the moment of biting less noticeable, and the prey cannot be hooked in time.

To learn more:

Ice fishing for perch on Baldu

The length of the leash on crucian carp during intense biting should not exceed 15 cm, but when the desired prey is too cautious, the undergrowth should be lengthened. Experienced anglers always have different leashes in their arsenal. They are installed at home so as not to waste time on the shore or in the boat. You shouldn’t skimp on undergrowth material; it must be of good quality, otherwise you won’t be able to achieve catches. The main line and for leashes for catching crucian carp must be selected taking into account that it is not too noticeable against the background of the color of the water, the color of the bottom and vegetation. The thread should be as thin as possible so that the fish does not see it, but not so thin that it cannot support decent specimens.

Leash when fishing with a float rod

They also catch crucian carp using a float rod, since crucian carp sticks to the coastal zone where there are various aquatic plants. On the border with aquatic vegetation, as well as in windows where there is clean water, crucian carp are caught. For this, a light fishing rod is used, equipped with a braided line having a thickness of 0.1-0.15 mm, a float weighing no more than 1 g, a hook No. 5 or No. 6 and a fluorocarbon leash with a diameter of 0.12 mm. The leash in the figure is shown as number 4.

Hooks for crucian carp

When fishing for crucian carp, the hook should have a short shank. Its blade should be slightly bent to the side. The fact is that crucian carp often does not swallow the hook deeply, and it is easiest to put a piece of bread or maggot on such a hook.

The thickness of the wire for making a hook is at least 0.3 mm. As for the number, you need to choose it based on the fishing conditions on the float. Any fishing store will tell you that the hook number is selected depending on the size of the crucian carp and the size of the bait used. There is even some opinion that this fish is an esthete. And if the “dish” is served improperly, then you can easily end up without bites.

In the snap-on "spring"

This kind of equipment is very often used when fishing for crucian carp. A “spring” is a feeder that is shaped like a spring. This is where this feeder got its name from. In such equipment there may be several leashes with a length of 5 to 7 cm. When using such equipment, many fishermen do not use bait, but stick bare hooks (or with foam) into the bait. The crucian carp sucks in the bait and along with it the hooks. Thus, the crucian carp ends up on the hook, and it is caught due to the weight of the feeder. If foam is used, the hooks float and are held in the water column. Why fish are caught on foam plastic is a secret to this day. For some reason, the crucian carp tries to remove inedible garbage away from the place where it wants to feed. He takes it in his mouth and tries to move it, after which he cuts himself. Monofilament fishing line with a thickness of 0.25-0.4 mm is used as the main fishing line, and braided fishing line with a diameter of 0.04-0.1 mm will be used as leashes.

Choosing the right fishing line

Before you go fishing, you need to prepare your gear. In this case, it doesn’t matter what you are going to catch crucian carp with - a feeder, a “plug”, a donk, a float rod, etc. In any case, you will need a fishing line. It is not difficult to choose the best option. You just need to take into account the characteristics of the specific gear and fish. Our goal is crucian carp.

What do you need to know? Firstly, this is a bottom-dwelling fish, its size rarely exceeding 50 cm in length and weight of two kg. Most individuals are 200-300 gram specimens. Therefore, crucian carp cannot be classified as a large fish. Secondly, he carefully takes the bait. Not sharply, like the same perch, but unlike carp, when it feels hooked, it does not resist so zealously, but often tries to move away, especially at the very beginning, after hooking. Thirdly, crucian carp is very neat and careful, so rough equipment can scare it away.

Having remembered these features of the fish, we understand what the fishing line should be like when fishing for crucian carp:

as inconspicuous as possible;
small thickness (on average with a cross-section of up to 0.14-0.2 mm);
elastic and resistant to stretching;
durable.

It is also necessary to take into account the gear with which you will catch crucian carp. For a float fishing rod, it makes no sense to take a fishing line thicker than 0.16 mm. After all, there is no heavy sinker or feeder on its rig. You need to cast the bait at a distance of 6-12 m from the shore, where a fishing line with a large cross-section will be too noticeable for the fish.

For long-distance casting gear (feeder, plug, donk, etc.) the requirements are different. A thick fishing line definitely won't hurt here. After all, sinkers and feeders weighing up to 100 grams are used. To cast it (and also over a considerable distance) you will need a strong fishing line with good tensile strength. Therefore, for a crown or cork, the thickness of the fishing line can be 0.3-0.4 mm. Monofilament, the diameter of which is 0.18-0.25 mm, is most often placed on the feeder.

Leash in the “makushatnik” rig

Some fishermen use the “makushatnik” rig when catching crucian carp. It consists of a piece (cube) of the top, attached to the equipment in any way. This equipment is one of the simplest, as it does not require the use of feeders. You can make cubes or squares from makukha yourself or purchase them at a retail outlet. They sell ready-made briquettes there. As a sinker in such equipment, a specially shaped load is used (or a regular one). In the area where the briquette is attached, leashes are also attached, of which there may also be several. The fishing technique is the same as when using a spring. You can stick either bare hooks into the top of the fish, or with some kind of bait that lifts the hooks from the bottom. This could be polystyrene foam or lard. The fishing line is selected with a thickness of 0.35 mm, and the leashes are 0.18 mm thick from braided fishing line.

What is a leash

Almost any fishing rod and tackle is equipped with a leash that connects the hook and the main line. Lineless equipment for catching crucian carp is almost never used. Depending on the type of tackle, there can be about five leashes (for example, “elastic”, “machine”, “nipple”), two or three (classic donka, feeder, etc.) or one or two (float rod).

Moreover, as an integral part of the equipment, they perform several functions at once:

serve to make the tackle invisible to the fish;
help preserve the float and sinkers in case of blind hooks or bites of a large specimen;
allow the bait or lure to behave more naturally in the water.

Therefore, the correct design of leashes significantly affects the results of fishing. Too long or, conversely, short length can cause a lack of bite. The same applies to the thickness of the fishing line, which, due to its large cross-sectional diameter, often becomes too noticeable for crucian carp, scaring them away from the bait. And these are not all the nuances that any angler needs to know when installing and using leashes.

Depending on the gear, the number of leashes may vary

Leash length

Usually when fishing you have to experiment by installing leashes of different lengths. For various gear there are standard leash lengths:

When fishing with a feeder, the length of the leash reaches 1 m;
When using a float rod - about 15 cm;
If a “spring” or “crest” is used, then their length is from 5 to 7 cm.

When fishing for crucian carp, the leash is selected depending on the activity of the fish. If the bite is intense, then you can use leashes no longer than 15 cm, and if the fish is cautious, then the leashes should be lengthened. As a rule, the fisherman always has leashes of various lengths in stock. They are knitted at home so that you don’t have to waste time on them while fishing. The material for leashes should only be of high quality, otherwise effective fishing will not work.

Igor 10/06/2016

What is important to know?

The main function of the leash is to highlight the bait and make the tackle invisible , so the leash is made with a thinner fishing line and it is very important to choose the right length, which makes the bait as attractive and accessible to bite as possible.

Nowadays there are two main types of leashes:

from monofilament,
from wicker.

Each option has its supporters and each option has its pros and cons.

From monofilament

Monofilament is a fishing line that is familiar to all of us, which we have been accustomed to using for a very long time. The fishing line for the leash is thinner than the main one ; if you try hard enough, it can be made completely invisible to the fish. This leash is softer and the hook and bait behave more naturally in the water. In case of a very sharp bite or a strong hook, the line can soften the jerk due to the fact that it stretches a little, and if a snag occurs, it will easily come off the main line and you will quickly replace the hook.

There are also disadvantages to fishing line. After several successful fishing trips, the leash needs to be replaced , because after several good bites and retrieving the fish, the line turns into a spring .

Braided

Braid has a greater margin of safety than fishing line, and this allows the use of a thinner cord. The cord is also more sensitive , very wear-resistant and can even last for more than one season.

The disadvantage of braid is that it is rigid and more noticeable to fish.

What is best to make a leash for crucian carp from then it’s up to you to decide. The use of cord leashes is more appropriate on bottom tackle and where they are not very long. If the leashes are longer, then monofilament is definitely better.

Still, more experienced fishermen prefer monofilament when fishing for crucian carp.

For many, price is still a decisive factor, since many fishermen change leashes after each fishing trip, thus wasting a lot of material. Fishing line is an order of magnitude cheaper than braid and this is also not unimportant when choosing.

Optimal length

The length of the leash for crucian carp depends on what gear you plan to fish with and how you will equip it.

In general, the longer the leashes for fishing for crucian carp, the more natural the bait behaves and so the fish is less afraid and, as a result, bites more often.

But a long leash also has a disadvantage . If the fish is very careful, it can be very difficult to notice the bite, and with hooking you can either hurry up or be late.

When you go fishing, take with you several different types of leashes and, through experimentation, select the optimal length.

To catch crucian carp with a float tackle, make a leash 15 cm , but it can be a little longer.

If you fish with a spring or a top hook , then short leashes up to 7 cm .

When catching crucian carp on a feeder, leashes up to a meter ; it all depends on how the tackle is equipped.