How many anglers use a shock leader in its proper configuration? How many of us really know what it is for? I have rarely, if ever, seen a few turns of shockleader around the spool of a carp reel before the cast… I guess that someone will say ‘I have’, but the point I’m trying to make is that when casting big leads bigger distances, then its important to protect other fishermen, wildlife and windows by ensuring that the lead does not ‘crack off’ under the huge forces generated by a rod bent into its test curve limits by belting a rig to the horizon. Not many of us are properly equipped to fish effectively at this kind of range, I know I’m not, so why was I testing FOX ‘Slink’?
I got mine from Darkside Tackle (www.darksidetackle.co.uk) in the 20lb breaking strain. It comes on a 25 metre spool, within one of the FOX dispensers designed to fit within the FOX BOX system. It is supplied in green, clear or black and rated at 20, 25 and 30lbs.
I used it as a stiff link within a helicopter rig to combat ‘chod’ on the lake bed where I fish. It is ideal for forming this type of set up because it is fairly inflexible, but maintains just enough suppleness to knot safely. By tying it to a ring swivel, I can be sure that the hook link is standing proud of the mainline to prevent tangling, and that the stiff filament will cause carp serious problems when it comes to ejecting the bait as the hook turns aggressively into the bottom lip. I did initially have a few issues with my knots; ‘Slink’ seems to have a quite slippery texture (which, I presume, helps it fly through the rod rings when used in its proper way), and is comparatively thick. Because of this, it became useful to leave a slightly longer ‘tail’ when securing a swivel or the hook. By sitting the turns together, then trimming a touch longer than usual, the knot maintained its integrity rather than sliding apart which took a bit of practice!
If you need a stiff yet supple link, then this is ideal; with a bit of inventiveness it can be used to improve your rig making and also keep the far bank safe from flying leads! Get yours from the Darkside….
Clint Walker, August 2009
