COG Leads Explained: How Centre of Gravity Leads Improve Hooking Efficiency

A COG (Centre of Gravity) lead is a specialised lead designed to transfer resistance to the hook more efficiently than conventional swivel or inline leads. Invented by Danny Fairbrass, it combines the hooking efficiency of attaching the hook link at the lead's centre of gravity with the fish safety and versatility of a lead clip system. Whilst it isn't suitable for every angling situation, in the right circumstances it offers one of the most efficient bolt rig arrangements available.

What is a COG lead?

Carp fishing leads tend to either be swivel variety or come in an inline version, but both have their disadvantages in terms of mechanics, fish safety, and the type of situations they can be used in.

They either tend to allow too much movement before the carp feels the full bolt effect of the lead, or have limitations in some carp fishing situations due to the way that they are mounted on your main line, even when allowing for the fact that they can be fished on a variety of different styles of lead system.

So, Korda boss Danny Fairbrass decided to invent something completely different, which would give him the ultimate in terms of bolt effect, but coupled with a lead design that was also safe and versatile enough to be fished in a variety of different angling situations. This is how the COG – Centre-of-Gravity – lead first came about.

How do COG leads work?

Any type of bolt rig relies on the fish feeling the weight of the lead, and that being enough to initially prick it with the hook point, causing the fish to bolt and properly hook itself.

The tension of your line also plays a part, and fluorocarbon, mono and sinking braid, all add a significant amount of drag when they initially start to move through the water, and given the way that they will hang down and sink.

But most of the bolt effect, and certainly what the fish feels initially, is down to the lead and the way that it behaves. You can think of bolt effect as how efficiently the weight of the lead is transferred to the hook point once a carp tightens the hook link.

The faster that a fish feels resistance once the hook link tightens, the more chance you have of hooking it, and also of making it bolt rather than trying to eject your rig.

But it isn't just how quickly the fish feels the lead that matters. Just as important is how much of the lead's weight is transferred at that moment, and how quickly the remainder of that weight comes into play. The greater the force acting on the hook point, the easier it is for it to take an initial hold.

Some lead systems, including helicopter rigs and lead clips, allow additional movement because of the way that a swivel mounted lead is attached, making them less efficient.

The bolt effect of an inline lead is felt much sooner, but it still has its limitations because the lead can only transfer its weight through the point where the hook link is attached.

The most efficient hooking arrangement is one where the fish not only feels resistance the instant the hook link tightens, but where the full weight of the lead is brought into play almost immediately. The centre of gravity for any object is the point where its mass is balanced, and if you try to lift something from that point, you will feel all of its weight immediately, whereas different objects with a differing shape and balance – comparable to a swivel lead for instance – will actually rotate around their centre of gravity, allowing a lot more movement before the full weight is felt.

You can actually easily test this for yourself by setting up some different lead systems and shapes and then picking up each by the hook, and you will feel how some start to cause resistance far sooner than others, and also how much of the total weight you feel once that resistance does come into play – obviously things will act differently in water, in terms of how much ‘weight’ is felt, versus in air, but the way each system reacts will be proportionate.

The easiest way to achieve that is to attach your hook link to the exact point where the centre of gravity of the lead will be, as lifting from there will ensure the full force of the lead is felt, but with traditional leads that isn’t practical.

Lead shape plays a significant part as well, with a tournament style elongated lead shape being the least efficient, due to the way it can pivot, whilst a flat or square pear design will cause the full weight of the lead to be felt sooner and with less movement required. A Tournament lead is longer, giving it far more leverage to rotate before its full weight resists the fish. That elongated shape is ideal for casting because the centre of gravity sits further forward, but mechanically it is less efficient at transferring resistance than a compact Flat Pear.

Danny solved the issues traditionally associated with this by coming up with a lead design that allowed it to be fished on a clip like a conventional lead, meaning it was safe and would come free from your line in situations where you need it to in order to have a better chance of landing the fish. But at the same time the hook link swivel itself attached to the lead at the exact centre of gravity, via a plastic grommet, which would be enough to hook the fish, but would then come free once that job was done. This resulted in a range of COG leads being added, and in the right situation they can’t be beaten for hooking efficiency.

When should you use a COG lead?

Because of the way a COG lead is set up and how the main line and hook link are attached to it, they are only suitable in specific situations.

This type of lead system doesn’t cast very well at all, although it can still be used at reasonable ranges, just not for distance fishing – there is a lead shape, the COG Distance, that is more suited to casting further than the flat pear variety.

The way that the COG system is set up means that it is best suited to being fished over firmer lake beds, where it won’t sink into the bottom, and depending on what type of rig and hook link material you are using with it – a stiff boom material, casting into thicker silt, could easily leave your rig sticking up out of the lake bed, with the hook link very obvious to the fish.

So, for anything that involves casting, you want to be fishing on a hard bottom and realistically within 80 yards or so of the bank.

The COG lead is also extremely effective when you are dropping rigs from a boat – or a bait boat – and this is the situation where Danny himself uses them regularly and in preference to any type of lead system, where suitable.

These leads come in 6oz and 8oz versions as well as the standard casting sizes, in the flat pear version (the flat distance goes up to 5oz), meaning that they can be used to keep rigs in place even at very long range or with significant undertow on big wild European waters, whilst offering an incredibly effective, and safe, hooking set-up.

Because they are being dropped from a boat, there is no need to worry about how aerodynamic they are for this, and the way that the hook link attaches, along with the drag created by your hookbait as the lead sinks to the bottom on a tight line, means that the COG lead will always land the right way up.

This also results in a very safe set-up as well, because once the grommet pops free from the retaining lug on the lead itself, it then behaves exactly the same as a normal lead clip would do, allowing the weight to be ejected if it gets caught up in weed or snags.

So, they are actually more versatile than anglers might think, and in situations where the bolt effect is the main criteria, and there aren’t other factors that make it impractical to use, the COG is a great option and should be part of your tactics.

What rigs work best with COG leads?

The way in which the hook link attaches to the lead means that pretty much any type of rig can be used in conjunction with it, although some will be far more prone to tangles than others, and especially so given the way the lead is mounted.

For anglers using any of the modern popular carp rigs though, such as a spinner rig/Ronnie rig, or some sort of combi rig, the COG system is pretty much tangle-free, and it can also be used in conjunction with leadcore or other sorts of leaders, or rig tubing, without the safety of it being compromised, as the lead is jettisoned in the same way as any other lead clip, once the grommet anchoring the hook link has popped out and come free, which typically happens on the take.

One thing that you do need to consider though is the hook link itself will be exiting the lead from the top of it, so the rig can’t lie completely flat along its entirety.

A lot of the time this won’t make a difference, but for very wary big carp, anglers such as Tom Stokes have actually adapted their spinner rigs to account for this, with the inclusion of a short piece of braid, reverse combi rig style, at the swivel end, which is just long enough that it hangs straight down from the top of the lead, allowing the boom part to lay completely flat on the bottom for the entirety of its length. 

Should you choose a COG, inline or swivel lead?

Next time you are out on the bank, don't just automatically reach for your usual swivel or inline lead, but instead think about which system is actually best suited to the situation that you are fishing.

If you are casting long distances, then a COG generally isn't practical and a helicopter rig is likely to be a better choice. The same applies if you are fishing in thick silt or amongst other debris, where the way that a COG is designed to work can actually become a disadvantage.

There will also be plenty of situations where a standard lead clip is the better option, particularly when you are fishing at ranges where a COG doesn't cast well, but still want the versatility and fish safety that a lead clip provides.

But if you are fishing over a firm lake bed, within sensible casting range, or dropping your rigs from a boat or bait boat, and your main priority is achieving the most efficient bolt effect possible, then it is difficult to beat a COG lead. By understanding how different lead systems transfer force to the hook, you can choose the one that best suits the situation, rather than simply using the same lead every time.

COG Leads: Quick Questions

What is a COG lead?

A COG (Centre of Gravity) lead is a specialised carp fishing lead that attaches the hook link at the lead's centre of gravity rather than through a conventional swivel. It was designed by Danny Fairbrass to maximise hooking efficiency while retaining the fish safety and versatility of a lead clip system.

How does a COG lead improve hooking?

A COG lead transfers resistance to the hook much more efficiently because the hook link pulls from the lead's centre of gravity. This allows the fish to feel resistance immediately and brings the full weight of the lead into play much faster than conventional swivel or inline lead arrangements.

Are COG leads better than inline leads?

In terms of hooking efficiency, a COG lead can outperform an inline lead because the hook link is attached at the lead's centre of gravity. Whilst inline leads transfer resistance more quickly than swivel leads, they still rely on the lead pivoting before its full weight comes into play.

When should you use a COG lead?

COG leads work best when fishing over firm lake beds where maximum bolt effect is the priority. They are ideal at sensible casting ranges and are particularly effective when dropping rigs from a boat or bait boat. They are less suitable for extreme range casting or fishing in thick silt.

Can you use COG leads for long range fishing?

Standard COG leads are not designed for extreme range casting, although the COG Distance version is better suited to longer casts. For very long range work, a conventional helicopter rig is often the more practical option.

Are COG leads safe for carp?

Yes. Once the retaining grommet releases during the take, the COG system behaves like a conventional lead clip, allowing the lead to eject if it becomes caught in weed or snags, helping to improve fish safety.

What rigs work best with COG leads?

Most modern carp rigs can be used with a COG lead, but spinner rigs, Ronnie rigs and combi rigs are particularly effective because they are largely tangle free. Some anglers also modify spinner rigs by adding a short braided section so the boom lies flat on the lake bed.

Should I choose a COG, inline or swivel lead?

The best lead depends on the situation. A COG lead offers exceptional hooking efficiency over firm lake beds and when using boats or bait boats. Inline and swivel leads remain better options for situations such as long range casting or fishing over deep silt, where the characteristics of a COG become less suitable.