Breakaway Impact Leads vs Impact Shields

Lads,

Having nothing better to do than dream up this stuff every day at work I want to put this question to everone.

Which is better impact leads or impact shields? Been using impact leads for so long out of convenience but have been especially worried when using soft baits/worms etc.. I am convinced they suffer more damage, the flip side is do the impact shields while possibly offering more protection cut distance. What do ye reckon?

Liam

just to put another cat amongst the pigeons, have any of you seen the new lead fee breakaway leads as advertised in sea angler or used them yet? id be interested to see how they perform against te original lead ones

heard rumours that there are plans to ban lead(!) use in the sea. breakaway are probably softening the blow for us and establishing a market before someone drops the bombshell!

as regards impact leads v shields...

the shield is good for delicate baits/ worm tails that need to be chucked a long way- flatties in spring in calm clear seas. some reckon the shield is also good for big bulky cod baits, as such baits can come off the impact lead in flight? the shield supposedly gives better distances but i think this depends on the situation/ bait being used? the shield is good for allowing the use of different kinds of leads outside of the breakaway range. imps do a similar job in this respect.

impact leads are handy! some reckon they travel further if you take the plastic off em- hard to recognise the weight size in your tacklebox then though :x

I have stopped using impact shields now and use impact leads all the time.Reasons being in the the time it saves in tying rigs and the bait is more compact behind the lead increasing the distance i can fish at

I still use impact shields but find that impact leads are a better method of punching a bait out into a headwind or when more distance is required.

Lee

A trick I've been using for years with impact shields is as follows (I think this one is credited to Ian Golds).

Take a short length of 18 gauge grip wire. Form a loop and lead link on one, followed by the impact shield and then another loop at the top. Now they can be attached to any trace at a moments notice if needed and saves tying traces with impact shields and without. Very handy. NB - the slot through the middle of the impact shield may have to be widened i.e. cut out slightly to improve it's performance.

I think I'm gonna get out and put this one to the test. It has to offer better bait protection, it's whether there's a noticeable difference in distance etc. that I'm curious about. I figure simulating a rig baited with jellyworms and belting it down a beach against a headwind/sidewind and then measuring distances should do the trick...

Will be back with results...

Liam

Liamo i have tried the above with the stainless steal wire. works fine. handy if you want to try different leads etc. better on rigs with adjustable stoppers so the snoods can be moved to take the impact lead.

good for takin a bulky bait on the bottom hook, or again worms with delicate tails.

Neither. Imps. :lol: