How To Construct a Mag-Aligner Leader Set-Up

The classic Mag-Aligner lead arrangement that works for all but long-range work is a heli-style lead set-up. The weight is supplied by an inline lead held on the end of the heli by a ring swivel, instead of tying on a pendant lead. The mesh PVA bag of maggots that creates the ‘dinner plate of doom’ is tied to the large ring on that swivel and the hookbait is nicked onto the side, ensuring that the rig remains tangle-free. It’s that simple. At close-range, you can use as big a bag as you can cast. For longer-range work, it’s simply a case of reducing the diameter of the PVA bag from standard PVA to boilie size. Note: if your venue requires you to use a lead-clip arrangement, simply tie the PVA bag onto the lead swivel; it works just as well.

Hooklinks tend to be relatively short, defined by the lead arrangement you choose and the fact that the hook nicks into the bag. The neatest tangle-proof presentations avoid having loads of excess hooklink hanging around, tethered to the bag. Instead, and ideally, the hooklink should lay neatly along the side of the bag—but not so tightly that there’s no leeway.

How to:

1. Pull off a length of Olive Camo Leadcore.

2. Remove a few inches of lead wire like so.

3. Now splice on a size 8 Ring Swivel.

4. Cut the leadcore to the desired length. 

5. Thread on an inline lead as Lewis has.

6. Slide on a TA 5mm Tungsten Bead.

7. And a size 11 Ring Quick Link Swivel.

8. Slide on a Leadcore Safety Top Bead.

9. And then splice a loop for attaching.