Running Leger

Once the mainstay of shore angling, the running leger has become less popular over the years as people have tried out ever more sophisticated rigs. It was designed to allow fish to run with the bait, allowing the angler a little longer to pick up the rod and strike before the bait was rejected. It was, and still is, a deadly tactic for specimen fish. The left hand diagram shows the leger in its simplest form but nowadays there are a number of refinements that can be added. Try putting the lead on a snap link attached to a swivel and introducing a piece of carp tubing with an extra bead to prevent tangles. The result is a much more efficient tackle. You can also put a bait clip on the main line - about a metre up the leader - so that you can use an extra long trace.

To cast with the long trace, you need to use an impact lead for the weight. Take the trace over the bait clip and back down to the lead. When it hits the water, the hook will be released and the trace freed.