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Doesyourdogbite

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Bristol Channel
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Hi guys I’m after a bit of advice, will be looking to have my first see fishing outing in the next few weeks, somewhere around the Bristol Channel,

my question is a simple one to a seasoned fisherman but I’m slightly confused.

what do you guys use/keep on the end of your shock leader. A swivel or a link clip? To attatch your rig

I was planning on using a Gemini 100lb swivel (as I thought this may fit through the eyes better and I could just leave it attached)

Been looking at pre made rigs, (easier for now) most come with a swivel at the top, so I’m wondering if I’m thinking about things the wrong way round? As obviously swivel to swivel won’t work.

Sorry for the real basic question cheers for any help.
 
Welcome mate, and feel free to ask anything.
I use a Gemini link clip and clip rigs on by the swivel at the top. It's useful because you can bait rigs up and get them out while youre rebaiting another rig.

Tight lines!
 
Swivel on the leader, link clip on the top and bottom of the rig.
 
leader-swivel- oval splitring,- swivel on top of rig, i often use same swivel and splitring as a leadlink. gemini links catch long snoods
 
Shirleycodlin said:
Swivel on the leader, link clip on the top and bottom of the rig.
Click to expand...
likeing that as top link would be upsidedown and less likely to catch the snood line. i guess if you built a two ook flapper you could have a long and a short snood and fish two up or one up, one down depending upon which way up you connect the rig, not sure if that works or if i'm just talking nonsense again.
 
Only use those Trident Termi links on ends of leaders now and tried all sorts over the years but worst is a Gemini type link as so often hook snood is caught up in it did use piece of silicone tubing slid over opening also.
2nd is the Breakaway fastlinks on end of leaders that's ok
3rd a swivel Veals do those Seadra swivels that are small swivels like have for snoods yet are well over 100lb rated so go through rod eyes easily.

Still have a load of those Dexter QR swivels if others need? there good but liking the Termi links so just using one thing now.
 
I always just tie my line straight onto the swivel of the rig.
If you don't want to purchase the clips mentioned above just tie it on mate,probably seems a bit complicated some advice if your not familiar with the terminology.
 
Tournamag said:
Only use those Trident Termi links on ends of leaders now and tried all sorts over the years but worst is a Gemini type link as so often hook snood is caught up in it did use piece of silicone tubing slid over opening also.
2nd is the Breakaway fastlinks on end of leaders that's ok
3rd a swivel Veals do those Seadra swivels that are small swivels like have for snoods yet are well over 100lb rated so go through rod eyes easily.

Still have a load of those Dexter QR swivels if others need? there good but liking the Termi links so just using one thing now.
Click to expand...
Just went on Trident site and these links are no longer available, any idea where I can buy them
 
Doesyourdogbite said:
Hi guys I’m after a bit of advice, will be looking to have my first see fishing outing in the next few weeks, somewhere around the Bristol Channel,

my question is a simple one to a seasoned fisherman but I’m slightly confused.

what do you guys use/keep on the end of your shock leader. A swivel or a link clip? To attatch your rig

I was planning on using a Gemini 100lb swivel (as I thought this may fit through the eyes better and I could just leave it attached)

Been looking at pre made rigs, (easier for now) most come with a swivel at the top, so I’m wondering if I’m thinking about things the wrong way round? As obviously swivel to swivel won’t work.

Sorry for the real basic question cheers for any help.
Click to expand...
Welcome Mate. i fish the bristol channel very often and if you you'd like someone to go with for your first outing, give me a shout. I'm more than up for showing you a few things! , as to your leader , i tend to put a clip on , then swivel on the rig
 
Quality swivel=£££ so onto leader.
Quality links=£ so use on rigs.

In other words, swivels are expensive compared to links, so you will use fewer if just tying them to the leader.
As we will often have many rigs, use a link, as they are much cheaper than swivels!
 
Welcome to the forum!

The top eye on the Conti rod I normally use is too small to pass anything strong through it, so I tie a figure of 8 loop in the leader, thread the line through the rod eyes, and use an American snap swivel:
1627214558345.png
Pass the loop through the eye of the swivel, pass the 'snap' through the loop, and pull tight.

For the bottom of the rig, I usually use a clip down link:
1627214711617.png
Which makes it easy to attach the lead, and clip the bottom hook down if the rig design permits.

You need to ensure that any components you are using are rated the same or greater strength than the shock leader, to ensure the weight doesn't crack off & go flying over the horizon!
And if you haven't heard of this 'rule of thumb' before, your shock leader needs to be 10x in Lbs of the largest weight in Oz you intend to use. So if casting with a 6oz weight, you need a minimum of a 60Lb shock leader, maybe a little more to allow for bait.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum!

Now, I hate leaving clips on my leader and banging them through the eyes, although I know a lot do it.
I just tie it on fresh when I start a session, takes literally less than a minute.
The other consideration is even a session is enough to damage the leader knot on the link and it might not always be immediately obvious that it’s damaged, until it breaks on a cast or fish.
Why take the risk, is my thinking.

Sometimes I tie direct to the rig swivel, but if I want a quick change I use a swivel and then a Gemini Fastlink and never had one fail or slip out.
 
These are they.

105EF385-DD6C-412B-8683-2FABEF5B1EED.jpeg
No reason you couldn’t tie it direct but personally I like plenty of swivels to give maximum movement and help reduce tangles.

I know lots of people use the standard Gemini clips but I wouldn’t trust them not to pull out on an awkward angle.
 

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