Drennan Super Specialist Barbel Eye Size

[Angly]

One way round this one Angly, might be to use a braid hook length. I use it most of the time for barbel fishing in 12lb on 2lb tc rods and my local river can be a bit of snag pit with plenty of fish into double figures. So Ive given it a good testing at times and its also much thinner for small hooks.

 

I actually have braid down to try for another rig, and if one of the Chosen Few (Wingham) will probably use it there. For the original rig that started this post off though, I understood that the stiff nature of the fluorocarbon was a huge benefit to hooking tricky tench. Of course I could ignore the fluorocarbon camo properties and find some fairly stiff standard mono of the required diameter instead.

[Guest tigger]

I actually have braid down to try for another rig, and if one of the Chosen Few (Wingham) will probably use it there. For the original rig that started this post off though, I understood that the stiff nature of the fluorocarbon was a huge benefit to hooking tricky tench. Of course I could ignore the fluorocarbon camo properties and find some fairly stiff standard mono of the required diameter instead.

 

 

I used fox snakebite at wingham last year. That's coated braid and you just strip the covering off an inch or two away from your hook or more if you want to. For what it's worth I reckon that it's much stiffer than flurocarbon. I was using 6lb daiwa sensor for my hook length whilst fishing for tench recently and had no prob's hooking them using it on a bolt rig and a running rig. Angly if you listen to all the hype like they want you to you'll finnish up buying loads of crap for nowt.

[lutra]

I understood that the stiff nature of the fluorocarbon was a huge benefit to hooking tricky tench.

Maybe, but I think that the freer movement of braid can help with presentation at times.

 

Its also true that I don't do masses of tench fishing as we are not blessed with lots of great tench waters up here, so maybe someone else has a better view on stiff line being better for tench.

[Angly]

I used fox snakebite at wingham last year. That's coated braid and you just strip the covering off an inch or two away from your hook or more if you want to. For what it's worth I reckon that it's much stiffer than flurocarbon. I was using 6lb daiwa sensor for my hook length whilst fishing for tench recently and had no prob's hooking them using it on a bolt rig and a running rig.

 

Funny that, I've just been Googling coated braid!

 

Angly if you listen to all the hype like they want you to you'll finnish up buying loads of crap for nowt.

 

Exactly what I try to avoid. But it's hard to sort out the genuinely useful/essential from the mere fashion/non-essential.

 

Already I've explored the dark side more than I originally intended to when I returned to angling (hair rigs, bolt rigs, bait bands, method feeders, PVA string, low dia hooklengths, baitrunner, and something I swore I'd never own... a bivvy!).

[Angly]

Maybe, but I think that the freer movement of braid can help with presentation at times.

 

Oh I'm sure. I guess bottom make up might be a deciding factor. On a rocky or weedy bottom, it must be possible for the weight/feeder to lie pointing up with the short fluorocarbon hooklength and critically balanced bait wafting about unnaturally in mid-air.

[Guest tigger]

Its also true that I don't do masses of tench fishing as we are not blessed with lots of great tench waters up here, so maybe someone else has a better view on stiff line being better for tench.

 

 

Brian, I honestly prefer a soft line as my bottom, as you say a fine braid's good. If your using it on a bolt set up you just keep the bottom about 3 or 4 inch.

[lutra]

Brian, I honestly prefer a soft line as my bottom, as you say a fine braid's good. If your using it on a bolt set up you just keep the bottom about 3 or 4 inch.

Oh i don't know Ian, I think we will just have to test it are selves next week.

[Guest tigger]

Oh i don't know Ian, I think we will just have to test it are selves next week.

 

 

Yeah, just give us a shout

[Rob Ward]

I've not found hooklink material to be of any great consequence when fishing short hooklinks with a semi fixed feeder. I've caught equally well at Wingham on Braid, Flouro and Mono hooklinks.

 

I'd be inclined to save your pennies for the petrol and use what you've already got in your box.

[Anderoo]

I've not found hooklink material to be of any great consequence when fishing short hooklinks with a semi fixed feeder. I've caught equally well at Wingham on Braid, Flouro and Mono hooklinks.

 

I'd be inclined to save your pennies for the petrol and use what you've already got in your box.

 

Exactly what I was going to post. With a bolt rig for tench, the only really important things are the length of the hooklength, which shouldn't really be longer than 4-5", and the sharpness of the hook. Braid, mono, flurocarbon, coated braids - they all work. Especially somewhere like Wingham where the fish aren't pressured.

 

I prefer a soft braid hooklength because I like the fish to be able to easily suck the bait it from any angle, but to be quite honest I doubt it makes any difference! If you do use soft braid, you will also need to hook on a small PVA stocking to stop it tangling.

 

I've caught just as well with a simple running maggot feeder and normal mono hooklength to be honest, although this does take a little more attention than a bolt rig.

 

I'm a big rig cynic! However, when using a hair rig for tench recently I did find that a very short hair (so the bait was just touching the bend of the hook) was much better than a longer one.

 

I'd try not to get too caught up with riggy stuff. A lot of it is to solve very specific problems. (Or promote sales!)