Hi there folks, I have a question for you so will set out the situation first.
Boat fishing off the Needles, rough ground, target species Cod with the possibility of Conger and Whiting.
I like to use a boom about 9" long just above the weight with a 2 to 3' trace. I have a spool of 80lb clear mono. Main line is 30lb Power pro braid and the tide will be 4.4Mtr so "probably anchored" and drifting baits back.
The bait is Squid tubes, these are about 7" long by 3" across or Calimary squid or live whiting.
I have been asked to try out the pictured hooks especially the 6/0 wide gap plus ones.
The gap on the 6/0 is 1"1/4 from point to shank and 2"1/4" from eye to the bottom of the bend.
Note the wierd shape from the top of the shank to the eye, including the 2/0 circle hooks in the rigs might also help

Nothing ventured nothing gained here so how would you set about making up a rig? No prizes but a serious question.


Cheers
Alan

[ 13. December 2004, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Alan Taylor ]

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Have a word with salar or RobT they'll show you how they use a strange doubled up two hook trace down that way and I can't for the life of me remember how to tie one.Think I saw one in Sea Angler last winter.

I would try them doubled up in that wierd way we do down here aka Penell Rig. Thread the smaller hook on the line, then tie on the larger. Hook the larger hook through the head and skirt of one or two squid, then take the smaller hook, slide it up the line until it is a squid's length from the lower hook, wind the line round the shank to lock it in place and hook the pointy ends of the squid(s). You now have the squid hanging from your line, pointy end up and facing the tide, nice and straight, with a hook at each end. For big baits use a 4/0 at the top and 6/0 at the bottom, for single squid I use 2/0 at the top and 4/0 at the bottom.

If the tide is not mad (and it probably will be so you need braid and weights of 1lb to 2lb), try some form of attractor as well - rattle beads, flounder spoons etc. on the trace. If the tide is fierce you'll have enough to deal with without the Christmas tree decorations.

These



Are designed for rigging soft plastic lures and the funny bend near the eye is to aid in holding the soft plastic on the hook.



Not sure I'd use them for any sort of bait rig.

I do like the regular circle hooks and if you need larger, they certainly can be gotten.

Owner makes a great hook too. Strong and sharp as anything you could wish for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salar didnt mean it like that but thats not quite what I meant.
Fished with Ron Cowling many moons ago and used a paternoster type rig which involved two pennels whereby the main rig body was doubled back on its self this left the two pennels hanging right next to each other with 3 squid on each

Salar, that is the same rig I use out at the Needles except I use 6/0 top and bottom for double squid. Horses for courses I suppose.
Dave

Chappers, is that the same Ron Cowling that moved to Madiera. Sailed his boat there from Keyhaven?
Dave

Thanks lads, firstly, Fisherman, horses for courses could be it. When I fish I like to try a few things out and am always up for ideas to try out. In Wales ChrisP showed me a few things that have served me well for Bass and if I can get a small Whiting will try the same for Cod.

Newt, I know the hooks are designed for rubber lures but I want to see if they work with a bait on and yes they are excellent hooks but I can't get the bigger (6/0 8/0) circles here and am not going to pay out the stupid prices that UK firms are charging on line.

Salar, thanks for that, I will be trying the two hook combination (different size hooks), I tied one trace this morning and just can't do a good job with the megga thick line so will be crimping the end hook. I have measured the Squid tubes and set the top hook accordingly.

Chappers, can you sketch your rig that Mr Cowling used and either post or email it please, it sounds like one heck of a BIG bait for big fish

[ 13. December 2004, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Alan Taylor ]

A ps, these circle hooks by Owner Winner are the dogs dooh dahs so am looking forward to trying them out on Cod an Whiting.

Please weather God be kind just for one day

Alan