Guide to carp leads

They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures, and each one is designed for a specific purpose. Here’s how to choose the right lead for the job.

Pear lead

The real all-rounders of the lead world, these rotund weights are well-suited to a wide variety of angling situations.

Because they share the same aerodynamic qualities as a balloon, they’re not going to zip to the far horizon, but they are extremely stable when in flight.

The even weight distribution makes them easy to cast accurately and also helps your rigs below the surface: the dumpy body means the fish will feel the full weight of the lead almost as soon as they straighten out your hooklink. 

On the flipside, these weights will bury themselves, and your rigs, in weed at the drop of a hat so keep them on firm ground.

At a glance

Casting range: Good for 80 yards
Best suited for: Firm spots
Ideal weight: A solid 3oz is ideal

Textured flat pear

This lead kills two birds with one stone, so to speak. Firstly, the flatter design makes 1oz-1.5oz versions of these leads ideal for fishing in weed and silt, where the weight can sit on top of bottom debris.

Secondly, the textured coating (which is available on any type of lead) is not just for decoration. Where rig concealment is key, these sorts of weights are just a little bit more subtle. If gin-clear margins are your domain, these leads, which don’t cast brilliantly, are ideal.

Another advantage of the textured coating is that the lead itself can be dunked and coated in liquid attractors. This sneaky tip can really help draw fish to your hookbait.

At a glance

Casting range: Short to medium
Best suited for: Margins or silt
Ideal weight: As light as possible

Gripper lead

Unlike the stealthy weight to the left, the gripper lead is bold and sturdy. These knobbly brutes are great for extreme conditions. As the name suggests, they hold the bottom firmly and are a great choice when you need your rig to stay put on the side of a gravel bar or an island margin.

Grippers are also an excellent choice on rivers, where currents and undertows are a constant foe. On big waters, especially those on the continent, this design is also popular for anchoring a rig in place. They won’t cast well, but if you’re dropping one of these leads over the side of a boat then it really doesn’t matter.

At a glance

Casting range: Not great!
Best suited for: Rivers or slopes
Ideal weight: A meaty 4oz+

Inline lead

Perhaps a little out of fashion these days, inline leads still earn their place in your tackle box.

With no swivel attachment to dilute the bolt effect, a carp will feel the heaviest part of these leads almost instantly after picking up a hookbait.

Inlines are also the only leads to use in solid PVA bags, with the version shown here sporting a longer stem for easy twisting and sealing of the PVA material.

The downside of inlines is their nose-heavy design. Your hooklink swivel will be the first thing to hit the lakebed, potentially leading to tangles and poor presentation if the bottom is weedy or silty.

At a glance

Casting range: Among the best
Best suited for: Solid PVA bags
Ideal weight: Limitless options

Distance lead

Sleek and streamlined, these torpedo-shaped sinkers are built for speed!

If you’re looking to hit big distances with your casts then these really are the only leads up to the job. Good weight distribution makes them stable and accurate.

 Distance leads lend themselves to a variety of presentations, but single hookbaits, unburdened by PVA bags or sticks, will help them perform to their true potential.

Apart from your terminal rigs, these weights can also be used as feature-finding tools. Some anglers carve grooves into the flanks of their leads to pick up samples of the lakebed for a full picture of the sub-surface world.

At a glance

Casting range: 100 yards+
Best suited for: Long range
Ideal weight: 3.5oz+

Method feeder

A few anglers believe feeders should be left behind when targeting specimen carp, but to do so is to miss out.

Method feeders might have their origins in match fishing, but they still account for plenty of big fish.

Flatbed Methods, like the one shown here, are easy to pack with bait and are designed for maximum stability in flight.

The presentation they offer is similar to that of the ubiquitous PVA bag, but with much less effort and cost.

Remember that a fully laden Method is a hefty beast, so make sure your rod and mainline are up to the job of casting one out.

At a glance

Casting range: Short to medium
Best suited for: Day sessions
Ideal weight: 2oz is ample