Drennan Leger Stops

Drennan Leger Stops are the sort of little bits that don't get much glory. Nobody's leaning over the next peg asking to admire your line stop, are they? But when you're putting together a straightforward feeder or bomb rig, having the right stop to hand saves messing about with something that wasn't really meant for the job. These use a soft-plastic collar and a push-in plug to trap the line. Simple idea, small packet, useful job. That's the attraction here, rather than any grand promise about catching more fish.

The mechanism is easy enough to get your head around. Your line passes through the collar, then the plug goes in to hold it in position. You're not tying a separate stop knot or squeezing a bit of shot onto the line to act as a stop. There's a proper little assembly doing that work instead. Drennan puts the full instructions on the packet, which is dead handy if this style of stop is new to you. Keep that packet around until you've got the fitting sequence sorted.

The material matters more than the unassuming appearance suggests. These are made from super-soft plastic and are designed not to mark or damage fishing line. That's a sensible priority for a component whose whole job involves trapping it. When a fish pulls back, you want confidence in the line through the rig, not a nagging thought about where you've squeezed something too firmly. Still, good habits apply: check the line around your terminal tackle, particularly after moving components, snagging up or bringing a rig back through rough stuff.

Both feeder fishing and bomb-lead fishing are on the menu. Think ordinary coarse sessions where you're keeping the arrangement uncomplicated and want a dedicated stop in the right place. Perhaps you're fishing a feeder over a patch of bait, or switching to a straight bomb when you don't want another load of feed going in. The stop isn't choosing the swim, finding the fish or sorting your feeding. It simply handles one small part of the rig, leaving you to concentrate on the bits that actually demand your attention.

There are Mini and Standard versions, so you've got a choice rather than being stuck with one size. Mini carries code TGLS200, while Standard is TGLS100 — handy details when you're ordering a replacement packet and don't want the wrong one turning up. Don't turn those names into guessed line-diameter limits, though. Match the stop to the arrangement you're building, follow the packet guidance and check the fit before casting. A smaller-looking component isn't automatically the better choice if it doesn't work properly with the rest of your tackle.

Fitting is straightforward in principle, but tiny tackle can become a proper faff when your hands are cold. A windy winter peg isn't the ideal place to start juggling little collars and plugs over wet grass. Sort out the threaded components before finishing the rig, and work over a bait tray or another contained surface if you can. Because the line goes through the collar, this isn't something you simply clip onto any completed setup. A moment's thought while assembling things saves having to undo your work afterwards.

There's also a bigger rig point that matters more than which size you choose. A line stop mustn't leave a fish towing a trapped feeder or lead if the main line breaks. Look at the whole arrangement, including anything the weight would need to pass over to come free. Don't assume soft plastic automatically means safe release. Check how your chosen setup behaves, and use a suitable alternative arrangement if the stop obstructs that release. Keeping things simple is great; keeping them fish-safe is non-negotiable, mate.

With 10 in a pack, these make a sensible little addition to a coarse tackle box if you actually use this style of stop. They're not a must-buy for every angler, and they won't replace every bead, swivel or feeder connection you already own. Their appeal is narrower and more honest: a purpose-made, soft-plastic stop for feeder and bomb work. If that fills a gap in your setup, cracking. If your existing rig doesn't need one, there's no reason to add extra bits just for the sake of it.