When should you use a light lead and when a heavy lead?

Weed

Short range: Light leads of 2.5-ounces or less should be plenty enough to achieve shorter casting distances and will also aid when faced with weed. With less weight attached to the terminal set-up hooked fish are more likely to swim high in the water and less likely to become weeded.

Long range: As with fishing at short-range in weedy conditions try using the lightest lead possible, although distance often dictates the need for a heavy lead. If so try to use a lead clip or method of dropping the lead upon the take to encourage the fish to rise above the weed.

Solid PVA Bag Rig: When the lead has been set-up to drop-off either under the pressure of being snagged in weed or upon the fish shaking its head on the take then choose a heavier lead. If not, choose the lightest lead possible and perhaps use a slightly bigger bag to increase casting weight.

Chod Rig: The Chod Rig is one that will be used a lot in weedy conditions and with the hookbait being up the leader, the lead forms little to no resistance and benefit to the hooking of the fish. So at short-range simply use a light lead to take the rig down gently onto the weed.

Standard rig:When fishing conventional rigs in and around weed, it’s best to use the lightest lead you can get away with. When the lead has been set to drop-off, say with a lead clip, heavier leads can be used and may be needed to aid the function of the rig or casting distance required.

Zig Rig: One of the most effective ways of fishing Zig Rigs over weed is to use a lead light enough to not penetrate the weed and one which will actually sit above it. This allows the long hooklink to rise to the hookbait unhindered and give a much better idea of the depth needed.

Silt

Short range: Another lead choice that is really decided by the fishing situation: i.e. the heavier the lead the more likely it is to become plugged in the silt and negatively affect your presentation. Lighter leads can be used to great effect here, as the casting range is short.

Long range: It’s likely that the use of a heavy lead will be needed to achieve the range required. Flat shaped leads will help prevent them plugging as will adding a PVA bag. Rotary style lead set-ups will also mean the rig will be well presented even if the lead plugs.

Solid PVA Bag Rig: Similar to fishing a weedy situation use the PVA bag itself to your advantage. So use a heavy lead to help set the hook, but use a broad and wide PVA bag to stop the whole lot plugging into the silt. If the bag needs to be a small, mini size then use a light lead.

Chod Rig: The Chod was primarily designed as a presentation for fishing silty lakebeds, as it allowed the lead to plug with the hookbait settling above the silt further back. To that end a heavier lead can be used and will in fact help form some resistance when it plugs.

Standard rig: With the hazard in this scenario being that of the lead plugging into the silt and potentially taking the rig with it, so it really pays to go with a light lead. If you need a heavy lead to cast, add a PVA nugget to the hookbait to try and ensure it stays above the silt and tangle-free.

Zig Rig: Obviously a six foot Zig for example is not going to present a Zig rigged hookbait six-feet off the deck if the lead has taken a foot or so of hooklink down into the silt. For that reason and similar to when fishing a weedy lakebed, use the lightest lead possible.

Gravel

Short range: Here is a situation where the resistance of a heavier lead can be used to help set the hook and at short-range the risk of cracking-off due to a heavy lead is also reduced. Heavier leads will also help prevent leads from sliding off a hard gravel shelf or bar.

Long range: As long as the gravel is hard and compact heavy leads are a suitable choice here that will make longer casts much easier. Be wary of fishing to shallow spots which are only a few feet deep where a heavy lead travelling at high speed may still be able to penetrate and plug.

Solid PVA Bag Rig: Our first choice lead for solid PVA bag fishing would be a heavy one to help turn and set the hook as a carp picks up the hookbait and probably not moving very much in the process. Gravel or weed free conditions cause no real concern with this heavy lead preference.

Chod Rig: The weight of the lead has no real bearing upon the functioning of this rig in this situation. So use a light lead to gain some benefit from trying to reduce water disturbance and use heavier leads as and when increased casting distances are required.

Standard Rig: Fishing a standard rig over clean gravel provides lots of lead choices, as you can go for whatever will work best. Light leads will reduce water disturbance and heavier leads can aid rig mechanics. If fishing uneven gravel use heavy leads that will not slip from the spot.

Zig Rig: For maximum bite indication and to generate a better hook-hold when using small hooks and long Zig hooklinks, the heaviest lead you can get away with is best. Without fear of the lead plugging, fishing Zig Rigs over gravel allows you to do just that.