Thinking Anglers C-Clips are small, C-shaped clips for carp anglers using helicopter rigs. They’re designed to safely drop the lead in weed or snags during a fight with a fish.
What They Do
The C-Clips hold the lead in place while you cast, fish and reel in. When playing a fish, they’ll let the lead go. If too much pressure builds up, the lead gets caught in weed or snags. Increasing your chances of landing the fish and decreasing the chances of a fish towing a lead in the event of the line breaking.
Versions
You can choose from two types:
The difference between the 3lb and 6lb versions of the Thinking Anglers C-Clips is the amount of pressure needed to release the lead:
3lb version: Releases the lead at a lower pressure. Ideal for:
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- Weedy or snaggy waters
- When you want the lead to drop easily
6lb version: Requires more pressure to release the lead. Best for:
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- Waters where dropping the lead isn’t always necessary
- Situations where you want to retain the lead unless needed
- When you need to cast further and/or use heavy leads
How They Work
Attach the C-Clip to the swivel/ring end of your helicopter rig, attach your lead, and then cover it with silicone tubing. If the lead gets snagged and the pressure goes over the clip’s limit, it opens and drops the lead, letting you carry on playing the fish safely. Simple, safe, and effective.
Personal Experience Using Thinking Anglers C-Clips
I always use a system where the lead can discharge, whether it’s a lead clip, helicopter set-up, or, on rare occasions, drop-off inlines.
I previously used the Fox Edges drop-off heli beads. They worked well with the lead, often discharging on the fight; however, for the lead to discharge, the rig needed to be in the water for a few hours for the PVA tag to melt enough. After a night’s fishing, I often lost leads when reeling in. I don’t mind losing a lead while playing a fish, but losing them while reeling in is annoying.
I switched to the Thinking Anglers C-Clips in the 6lb version. The C-Clips retain the lead while playing the fish, discharge the lead well enough when fish become weeded-up, and take a fair whack when casting (you can lose leads while casting; see below), and you don’t lose leads when reeling in. When set up, they are small, neat and tidy.
Downsides Of Using Thinking Anglers C-Clips
After a bit of use, the clips can open up, and I have lost a couple of leads on the cast since using them. This can be remedied by squeezing them together back to their original shape and ensuring the silicone sleeving adequately covers them.
The silicone can be a bit fiddly to get over the clip, and I tend to run out of silicone before C-Clips. The packs could do with more pieces of silicone. Buy two packs and a packet of spare C-Clip silicone for anyone planning to use C-Clips.
Conclusion
Thinking Anglers C-Clips are a small, tidy, reliable rig bit that safely drops snagged leads when using Helicopter set-ups. There’s no potential lead loss when reeling in (unless the lead gets snagged), and they can withstand fairly powerful casts. (Apparently, in tests, 4.5 oz leads to 90 yards.) I’m happy using them and would recommend them to other anglers.
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