SMALL HOOK

[robtherake]

thanks for your replys

the reason i asked is because i dont have much confidence in a size 20 and i thought may be i was wrong

seems like i was wrong

thanks

 

Modern hooks are exceptionally strong, even in the smaller sizes; I can't remember the last time I had a fish straighten the hook.

 

The Drennan Super Specialist range are strong, sharp, reliable and fairly cheap.

[AddictedToScopex]

The Drennan Super Specialist range are strong, sharp, reliable and fairly cheap.

Another vote for these from me too. I won't use any other hook on the river. They are nice and dull too. Had a 9lb+ barbel on a size 18 Drennan SS which went like a train so they proved their worth to me.

[BoldBear]

If you have a rod that is very 'forgiving' then you will find it a lot easier to play a larger fish on such a small hook; but if you are using a poker of a rod then you will be losing a lot more fish than you land on such a small delicate hook; so balanced tackle is the key.

 

I caught a 12.5lb Carp once fishing with a fine wire size 20 hook and 3lb line whilst fishing a waggler for Roach, Rudd, Crucians and Tench on a local estate lake. I remember it well because I hooked the Carp close in, just in front of me, between two huge lilly beds and thought that landing it was a bit of a fluke in that swim.

I certainly wouldn't fish for carp on purpose when using such light tackle.

 

I also remember accidentally catching a seven or eight pound Carp whilst using a fine wire size 20 hook and 1.7lb line on a 5 to 7 metre whip; whilst fishing for small Roach and Rudd on holiday; however it was a good quality whip with plenty of action in the tip to help absorb the Carps attempts to get free; plus I could add a section or two; as and when I needed it; during the fight, and I had a lot of luck on my side too.

 

When catching small to medium Shoal Bream of up to around the 4 to 5 pound plus mark it's common for us to use size 20 fine wire hooks with Pinkies on the hook and 1.7lb to 2lb hooklengths but you can take your time more with fish like Bream, so it isn't so hard getting them in on finer tackle.

Edited March 26, 2012 by BoldBear

[Andy Macfarlane]

Depends on the hook too. I've caught some right big brownies on size 20 Kamasans that took the strain no problem but I wouldn't dream of using the same hooks for roach or rudd.

[Dave H]

I can't remember the last time i fished with a size 20 hook in fact a size 16 either. I think it may have been a carp...well no surprise there then

[Phone]

Bold,

 

What is a "poker of a (fly) rod in the UK. LOTS of 7wt general purpose rods in the US. And, as I said, not many size 20 hooks execpt for the 1wt - 3wt mountain stream guys. Very specialized 1wt to 3wt's over here.

 

Phone

(not uncommon to see 12wt's on the West Coast)

[Andy_1984]

Tench, a 15lb pike (guestimated from length. it was never landed though), lots of 2lb+ Perch, seen eels landed on size 20's

 

the only problem you might ever have with a 20 is it being straightened out like when i hooked the pike. i didnt have my drag set at all and was completely locked up tight, i was a beginner at the time. had i played it better im sure later i would have landed it, or it would have cut my line.

[Ken L]

I've seen double figure barbel landed in matches using a 20 hook and 1.1lb bottom.

I know what it was caught on because I tied the hook !

[RUDD]

thanks for your replys

the reason i asked is because i dont have much confidence in a size 20 and i thought may be i was wrong

seems like i was wrong

thanks

 

Dont get why no confidence?

 

I would of thought but am sure I will be told otherwise :

 

As hooks go down in size the gape, shank etc decreases BUT the wire diameter stays the same - therefore there is less hook to open up making smaller hooks stronger than the same pattern in larger sizes.

 

The trouble is than for some reason the majority of anglers REDUCE their hook length breaking strain or diameter when going down in hook size as they do not understand that the smaller hooks are as strong or probably stronger than bigger hooks.

 

I have size 20 heavy wire hooks tied to 7lb hooklengths for use with the method when dead maggots are the chosen bait.

[davedave]

When using a size 20 hook it's normally accompanied by a 2lb or less hooklength for silvers, so if i've had a decent fish on its the line that goes first rather than the hook.