All these anglers stating ways to make the Fox back leads disengage. Clearly none of you have ever had the fish of a lifetime on with a Fox captive back lead swinging about on the line in front of the rod tip.... Clearly none of you have ever used the Gardner ones. If you had, you would never be recommending those shocking Fox things.
I use back leads a lot, constantly used them on the Thames for 30 years. I've used them all. For donkeys years the Fox were the only ones available... I preferred to use a paper clip. They are terrible.
The Gardner ones have a bobbin clip on the top. Like a bigger version of the old solar bobbin clips. They are fail proof, you set your own tension. Never mess around with something like a captive back lead that does not come off properly.
Flick the rod tip to make a back lead come off when I have a 50+ charging about? Leave it out 😂
I use back leads a lot, constantly used them on the Thames for 30 years. I've used them all. For donkeys years the Fox were the only ones available... I preferred to use a paper clip. They are terrible.
The Gardner ones have a bobbin clip on the top. Like a bigger version of the old solar bobbin clips. They are fail proof, you set your own tension. Never mess around with something like a captive back lead that does not come off properly.
Flick the rod tip to make a back lead come off when I have a 50+ charging about? Leave it out 😂
In reply to Post #16
Wow clearly I've been using the original fox ones since they came out all wrong.
(never lost a fish because of them...ever)
I'll get off to the tackle shop today and get some of the Gardner ones and get mine on ebay.
Wow clearly I've been using the original fox ones since they came out all wrong.
(never lost a fish because of them...ever)
I'll get off to the tackle shop today and get some of the Gardner ones and get mine on ebay.
In reply to Post #17
Good luck to you. The product is absolutely terrible. Well done for overcoming the products shortcomings. That latch does not disengage properly, as is shown by comments in this thread. Anglers bang on about fish safety. In the wrong (novice) hands those Fox captive back leads are actually shockingly dangerous.
How to tie three lines up in knots whilst you have a carp on.
Good luck to you. The product is absolutely terrible. Well done for overcoming the products shortcomings. That latch does not disengage properly, as is shown by comments in this thread. Anglers bang on about fish safety. In the wrong (novice) hands those Fox captive back leads are actually shockingly dangerous.
How to tie three lines up in knots whilst you have a carp on.
In reply to Post #14
Quote... The clip on the lead is at an angle and comes off much better...as has been mentioned earlier a quick flick of the rod tip and they drop off every time.
That's your own comments. Come off ‘better'? A quick flick of the rod tip whilst you have a big carp on?
I see the most stupid advice given out on this forum all of the time, daily, and just ignore it, I don't get involved.
Sometimes you just gotta say something though. Sorry if that upsets you.
Quote... The clip on the lead is at an angle and comes off much better...as has been mentioned earlier a quick flick of the rod tip and they drop off every time.
That's your own comments. Come off ‘better'? A quick flick of the rod tip whilst you have a big carp on?
I see the most stupid advice given out on this forum all of the time, daily, and just ignore it, I don't get involved.
Sometimes you just gotta say something though. Sorry if that upsets you.
I really don't like back leads at all, preferring to use running leads and slack lines, but sometimes it is not possible to fish this way.
With back leads bite indication is definitely reduced, but under boats it is sometimes the only way.
To me as Tcarper has pointed out, a captive back lead must release. This is no place for fancy gated line clips, they MUST be a simple free flow indicator clip like the Gardner Free Flow or Tackle Box Hardball line clips.
In fact, simply look at Gardner Captive Back leads.
With back leads bite indication is definitely reduced, but under boats it is sometimes the only way.
To me as Tcarper has pointed out, a captive back lead must release. This is no place for fancy gated line clips, they MUST be a simple free flow indicator clip like the Gardner Free Flow or Tackle Box Hardball line clips.
In fact, simply look at Gardner Captive Back leads.
Just looked at the Gardner ones
The clips are basically the same as I used of some old Fox bobbins to make my own as per my earlier comment
Can't do pics on here
The clips are basically the same as I used of some old Fox bobbins to make my own as per my earlier comment
Can't do pics on here
In reply to Post #21
You did something similar to me i also made mine with flat pear lead drilled through it and put 2ba c/s screw in it then attached adjustable solar line clip to it via small barrel i made myself worked a lot better than the captive fox lead it replaced
You did something similar to me i also made mine with flat pear lead drilled through it and put 2ba c/s screw in it then attached adjustable solar line clip to it via small barrel i made myself worked a lot better than the captive fox lead it replaced
In reply to Post #18
They have a particular use and cant always be used 100% effectively in every situation, use them in the right situation and they work as intended. I had to use them on a water with boats on and certainly had some teething issues but certainly didn't lose any fish or create any dangerous situations with them and don't recall anyone having any major issues.
There's a lot more potential issues and dangers from anglers setting their gear dangerously and from what i've seen, captive back leads would not be high up on the list.
Too light a back lead and shallow water can be one reason why the latch might not release instantly, so you do have to think about why you want to use them and how to fish with them effectively in yr swim.
They have a particular use and cant always be used 100% effectively in every situation, use them in the right situation and they work as intended. I had to use them on a water with boats on and certainly had some teething issues but certainly didn't lose any fish or create any dangerous situations with them and don't recall anyone having any major issues.
There's a lot more potential issues and dangers from anglers setting their gear dangerously and from what i've seen, captive back leads would not be high up on the list.
Too light a back lead and shallow water can be one reason why the latch might not release instantly, so you do have to think about why you want to use them and how to fish with them effectively in yr swim.
In reply to Post #19
Totally agree with you - the latch MUST release on the take every time and with minimal faff - you certainly do NOT want to have to flick anything off; if you are doing this then you've set them up wrong and you're asking for a disaster
I've lost decent fish when I first started playing with these back in the day - HOWEVER . . . . if you follow the guide I've listed then actually they are a DECENT product.
I can see why you wouldn't use these on rivers unless fishing when the downstream flow is from left to right - if fishing downstream from the opposite bank you'll be fishing against the latch and therefore run the risk of 'no release'
Gardner captives look a little light at 1.25/2oz - Carp Spirit do a similar 3oz version with a ball stop clip (if you're worried about the latch) and includes the cord like the fox variant - main thing re fishing and using any product is to USE YOUR BRAIN . . .
Totally agree with you - the latch MUST release on the take every time and with minimal faff - you certainly do NOT want to have to flick anything off; if you are doing this then you've set them up wrong and you're asking for a disaster
I've lost decent fish when I first started playing with these back in the day - HOWEVER . . . . if you follow the guide I've listed then actually they are a DECENT product.
I can see why you wouldn't use these on rivers unless fishing when the downstream flow is from left to right - if fishing downstream from the opposite bank you'll be fishing against the latch and therefore run the risk of 'no release'
Gardner captives look a little light at 1.25/2oz - Carp Spirit do a similar 3oz version with a ball stop clip (if you're worried about the latch) and includes the cord like the fox variant - main thing re fishing and using any product is to USE YOUR BRAIN . . .