Leader is a term you’ll often hear in carp fishing. They are used almost everywhere and in every situation. If you want to learn more, I suggest you look at the article where I explained what are leaders in carp fishing. A perfect example of a leader use is your spod and marker rod and reel. Spodding and marking require the efficient casting of heavy loads at very long distances so a shock leader is a must. Read on and find out the optimal length you should have to make the delivery of particles easier and to get that few extra yards.
What Is the Purpose Of Shock Leader In Spodding?
The primary purpose of it is to absorb the intense pressure and stress that occurs during the casting of heavy weights like a Spomb rocket fully loaded with a mix of particles. When you cast, the rod compresses significantly, and without a shock leader, the risk of crack-offs increases. This added line not only helps prevent breakage of your mainline but also protects your fishing rod from excessive strain, ensuring a safer fishing experience for you and those around you.
Additionally, a shock leader enhances your casting performance by providing extra strength and support. It allows for longer distances and improved casting accuracy, which is crucial when spodding. By damping sudden forces, it helps maintain the integrity of your gear over time, reducing wear and tear and ultimately saving you money in the long run. In summary, using a shock leader while spodding is common sense that safeguards your equipment and increases your fishing success.
Which Materials Are Used For Shock Leader?
More or less every standard material in carp fishing game, such as monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braid can be used for shock leader. Which exact combination will be used depends on the fishing gear, fishing conditions (strong wind can cause wind knots), and the fishing style of the angler.
First of all, shock leaders can be divided into two categories. Standard shock leaders and the tapered ones. The latter one is never used in carp fishing, at least I never saw someone using it. The first option is most commonly combined with monofilament as the mainline and spod braid.
The second most common combination is monofilament and fluorocarbon. Due to its high resistance to wear and tear and high durability, fluorocarbon is a very popular option among anglers.
However, the best choice for distance casting that most carp anglers use is to use a spod braid on the spool without any shock leader. That way you’ll have the most control over the casting path and the chance for snapping is minimal.
What Is The Best Knot To Tie a Shock Leader For Spodding?
There are plenty of basic leader knots that can be used on a shock leader. Which one you’ll use is a personal preference. The only important thing is knot strength.
Personally, when I don’t have a braid on the spool and I must use shok leader, I use the double uni knot as it is the most reliable one. It’s very subtle so it easily goes through the rod rings on all carp rods and when it’s tied properly, chances of it breaking or untying are non-existent. The image below shows how you can tie this knot.
Remember that this is just an example and feel free to wrap more times. Especially if you are using cheap braid or casting at extreme range.
What Is the Ideal Shock Leader Lenght For Spodding?
Now that we covered all the essential knowledge you should have, let’s answer the question from the title. How much shock leader is optimal for spodding? Well, just like plenty of other aspects of fishing, it depends.
But, there are some standard rules which are applied. The most common one is to have a leader that’s twice the length of the rod. So, if you are spodding with the 12 ft rod, then you should have 24ft of leader. Personally, I use it even more and I would recommend that for anyone who is aiming for a long casting distance and has an aggressive casting technique.
Let’s say that you are spodding with the 13ft rod. In that case, I recommend doing twice the length of it (26ft) plus additional 3-4 spins of the reel. The usual length of the reel in per spin is around 4ft. In other words, shock leader length should be around 40ft. That’s the optimum that will work in most conditions and on the majority of fishing waters.
Every shock leader can sustain distances of 60-70 yards. However, only a proper leader length makes all the difference between accurate casting at a great distance and missing the spot by a few feet. So make sure you do things the right way. Until next time, tight lines and happy fishing fellow anglers!