Long range angling can certainly be a demanding task often pushing the tackle to its limits. Added to this the need to keep the end tackle as inconspicuous as possible it is certainly pretty challenging. For many years now I have been searching for the ultimate shock leader.
For several years I used the trusty Amnesia which takes some beating, but because it’s a monofilament the inherent stretch absorbs some of the power of the cast, and with the thick diameter, reduces the distances that can be achieved fairly substantially. Tapered mono leaders improve the situation to a certain extent, but the stretch issue remains.
Braided leaders on the other hand have virtually no stretch and much higher breaking strains are achievable at a greatly reduced diameter to mono leaders; which is ideal for hitting long distances – Just remember to use a Gardner Casting Glove to prevent them slicing into your finger..! However, the quality of braided leaders varies enormously and many are grossly overpriced. I have worked my way through virtually every leader available on the market, and until now I had not been happy with a single one. They are either too thick and ropey, or more commonly the colour is horrendous. Some may look nice in the packet but after a few trips the colour fades and you are left with a pale, blatant line trailing from your rig, and with some costing around £15 for 20M, changing it every trip could get extremely expensive.
Gardner Tackle however, have really has got things spot on with their Vigilante leader material. The lovely dark, drab, dull brown colour blends in superbly to any lake bed. I’ve found the 35lb is perfect, it breaks a lot higher than it states and is more than capable of launching 4oz leads under full compression. In addition to this the diameter and rigidity balance is just perfect. At only £6.50 a spool it is more than half the price of some of the other braided leaders on the market. A truly great product from an innovative company!
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