hook Lengths

[jimpy0]

hand a session on my fave water on sat afternoon waggler style using hooks to nylon

usually plenty of perch and roach there was also something big moving about in the swim couldnt see what

 

12oz strain lots of bites takes and breaks

1.1lb strain lots of bites and breaks

1.5lb strain fewer bites no takes

2.1 lb strain no bites or takes

 

all to a size 18 hook same depth and shot pattern how many different strains do others use or do i need a seperate box for every avail hooklink

Edited March 20, 2006 by jimpy0

[Gaz51]

I'd try a smaller hook mate. The bites you were getting may have been from small fish and a size 18 hook was possibly just too big.

With the cold weather try to balance your tackle, I wouldn't entertain a size 18 on anything under 2lb.

Scale it down a bit, try a 20 or 22 on your finer lines. I think if you're using 12oz you should be looking at 24's or even 26's.

[Dunk Fairley]

Here's a "short" list from the various pockets of my bag:

Ultima XT7 4.0lb

Ultima XT7 3.2 Lb

Reflo Precision 5 lb 3oz

Gold Label Pro-clear 8lb

Gold Label Pro-gold 5.4lbs

Gold label Pro-gold 6Lbs

Gold Label Pro-gold 8 lbs

Drennan Hook Tie, 3.2lb

Drennan double strength 4lb

Drennan double strength 6lb

Reflo powerline 2lb 10oz

Drennan Super Specialist 10lb

Drennan Fluorocarbon fly leader 3lb

8 other various braids from Kryston and Sufix

 

I can honestly say, that I use them all, and a few others, whenever the need arises. Does any one of them give me an edge? Well yes, I think they do. when i'm out and about, i frequently don't know what part of a river i'm going to be fishing, or even, often, what sort of fish I'll find when i get there.

 

I may find a bit of river that's low and clear, which needs a fine approach, for dace and roach. I may find a river deep, swirly, with lots of back eddies. Then it could be Roach in a deep bit with steady flow, or Chub under the near bank, or barbel, in the deep fast runs.

 

I also carry three pouches of "generic" hook lengths made up, with standard hooks. One such would be a size 16, on 3 lb line. I leave the hook lengths long enough, so that when I get to the river, I can either attach a regular, smallish swivel (at 12"-24") for ledgering, or a micro swivel, if I decide to trot a float down. A small swivel, about 9" from the hook, helps prevent line twist when trotting a long line and retrieving frequently.

 

Incidentally, why do some manufacturers give a line rating such as "3.2lbs", others say 3lb 2ozs. By my calculation, 3.2lbs, is 3lbs 3 1/5 ozs, am I right?. Or, is that just the way you'd write 3lbs 2ozs, so that it looks like a decimal weight.

[Waveney One]

I only tie up a few hook lengths for the venue that I will be fishing the next day. I generally know what I want. However, I have about nine spools of line with me from .07 to .21 and a load of hooks in packets. If necessary and I have assumed wrongly what I will need, I can tie hooks on the bank and get out of jail that way.

[Guest tigger]

Why not just fish your mainline straight through? That's what I've always done and I honestly can't remember a fish snapping me. If I've ever been snagged my line has always broken off at the hook knot.

I really can't see the point in hooklenghts as it's just another weak spot in your set up.

Nowadays line is such a low diameter (especially braided lines) even stronger lines arn't that visible at the hook.

I feel much more confident fishing that way.

tigger.

[jimpy0]

i bought 300 hooks to nylon as a job lot hooks from 10-24 all connected to various strains i also carry spools of hooklink to tie my own

i know the water contains large tenchup to 8lb and carp ranging from 5 to 30lbs so generally i tend to use 3 or 4lb main not much good if i do get a 30 but hey ho

the point i was trying to make was that for the sake of .4 of a lb i wouldnt have had any takes as the fish are that wary and yes maybe an 18 was to big good thought will try smaller

 

thanks for the help

[rob.imk2]

Id use 1.1 and set your drag so if you hook a decent fish at least youve a chance

[terry t shirt]

i tie all my hokks on the bank. i like as long a hooklemgth as i can get (theory being short hooklenths

cant absorb the shock of the strike on light lines) as for sizes i carry line from 12oz to 6lb totally depends where i'm fishing and what for

[jimpy0]

I'd try a smaller hook mate. The bites you were getting may have been from small fish and a size 18 hook was possibly just too big.

With the cold weather try to balance your tackle, I wouldn't entertain a size 18 on anything under 2lb.

Scale it down a bit, try a 20 or 22 on your finer lines. I think if you're using 12oz you should be looking at 24's or even 26's.

 

thanks gaz tried this weekend on 22/24 hook size and battered em

[Dick Dastardly]

Why not just fish your mainline straight through? Nowadays line is such a low diameter (especially braided lines) even stronger lines arn't that visible at the hook.

I feel much more confident fishing that way.

tigger.

 

Tigger,you often say this and I know weve discussed the pros and cons of hook lengths v straight through from a "safety point of veiw.I have one question though.I often have to use mono of down to 1lb (some times down to 14ozs) tied to size 22 and below hooks. Have never seen braid or any hi-tech lines that go down to such low diameters.Nylon has to therefore be my choice.I couldnt use this same mono as a reel line though as for the same situation Im fishing in 30' of water with a 6SSG slider! even in other less extreme situations I dont think that either the breaking strain or abbraision resistance of 1lb mono would be to practical for a main line!

 

As a long term user of braided main lines the one thing I could definately not reccomend is using one of a sufficiently low diameter as a hook length.Most tend to cut mouths quite badly if they come into contact with them.

 

You also mention that the hook knot will be the weakest link.Once again with light lines I wouldnt agree.The rubbing of a feeder/lead even the pinching on of shot would be just as likely if not more so to go than a well tied knot?

 

Not knocking your veiws as it obviously works for you but dont think its very good general advice.Would be interested on your comments on the points Ive raised.