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Bayleaf the Gardener

Entry posted by Bayleaf the Gardener in Willows

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OK, so the heatwave has definitely gone. This evening the SW wind was blowing grey and black clouds hard and fast overhead making it look more Mordor than Berkshire. The chop on the water meant float fishing was out and pinging the method feeder out towards the island brought only phantom bites as the wind caught the bobbin. I chanced that the carp may be sheltering so came back to a rod length or two out near the cover of the lake's lone overhanging willow.

A bite soon ensued. Winding in, it was twigs that first surfaced, followed by what at distance I thought was a tench. Turned out to be a beautiful 2lb 10 crucian - so whatever else happened this evening, it was going to be a good one. Turned out to be the right attitude to have as it was slow going. A common of 7lb 12 and mirror of 4lb 14 kept me interested, but it was hard. Then just as it got properly dark, the rain that had threatened all afternoon absolutely crashed down for quarter of an hour. I huddled under the brolly, willing the fish to leave my bait alone - I'd have got soaked trying to play one. Then it stopped, and a huge waxing gibbous of a moon appeared between the clouds for twenty seconds before disappearing, not to be seen again. But in that magic moment, the rod made a lurch for the water and I slid across the bank to grab it.  

This was as big a fish as I've hooked for some weeks, stripping plenty of line. When it turned back to the willow, I feared for the snags behind it, and increased the side strain. Bah! I was nowhere near maximum and the hook length snapped. That was the 9th of 10 Guru hooklinks that have snapped in the last 3 trips. They're meant to be 9lb BS, but no way. I've had problems with them before, but fell for them again as I love the QM1 hook that comes on them, being strong and less prone to bump fish. That's the problem with Drennan links - so many drop off, while I find he hook straightens out very easily on the Preston ones. I packed up in a huff. 

Hmm. I know the answer is to tie my own, but when tying knots i seem to have more thumbs than a platoon of hitch hikers. I find the loop tyers fiddly too, especially when dealing with short 4-inch lengths. Ideas anyone?

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Chris Plumb

Just keep perservering - I always tie my own - that way you get to choose what diameter line to use with whatever pattern hook. And I rely more on the line diameter than whatever fable is on the label, for example I've seen 0.16 diameter rated between 4.9 and 6.6lbs BS depending on the maker. For short hooklengths on feeders (on the rare times I adopt that approach) I'll go with short lengths of silkworm tied with the knotless knot - which is very easy to tie.....

Edited by Chris Plumb
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Bayleaf the Gardener

Sound advice as ever, Chris. ta. I do like a method feeder (well, a hybrid feeder actually as they seems more aerodynamic and less splashy). I've ordered a loop tyer and pledged to watch a few YouTube videos of tying hook lengths with quick-stops, which I also favour. Until I get the hang of these, I'm going to swap to a lighter, whippier rod in the hope that it might absorb more of the initial lunge that have done for far too many so-called strong commercial links. I've not heard of Silkworm, so must investigate.

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