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The 360 rig is sometimes pinned with mouth damage due to its mechanics, in the same way the long shank bent hook rig was in the 80-90s - indeed this rig was banned in many places. The long shank aspect used to "double hook" (hook through the lips multiple times, otherwise called stitching) and then tear in the carps mouth, the bent hook, if not bent correctly, would open and close at the point of bending kind of like an old fashioned can opener causing damage to the carp. The fox series 5 - the first commercially available long shanked curved hook brought in to try and emulate the success of the bent hook rig. It was found that smaller, more frantic carp could "double hook" themselves which then tore, ripping the lips. The readon shrink tube became so popular was it allowed you to fish a "bent hook" which didnt cause the damage with the hook opening and closing like a can openerin the carps mouth this is why we bend and curve shrink tube, to emulate the bent hook rig.The link has been made between the longshanked aspect and the 360 rig, it has been said (by "them") that it can cause the double hooking which leads to mouth damage. The evidence is not exactly solid, in the case of the bent hook rig, the damage and its cause was obvious, and lots of lakes banned it. The 360 rig is used by many top anglers, mr dave lane being one of them, it is seen as a "big fish rig" mostly down to the fact it utilises a longshanked hook which can hook multiple times in a smaller carps mouth. It is also designed to be fished heavily weighted as opposed to critically balanced. The idea is that the pop up spins 360 degrees and hook in the bottom lip. The use of a longshank hook has always been linked to mouth damage to smaller carp. Whether its true or not? Well thats open to speculation, the old bent hook was brutal, but the 360 rig is well popular and well used, if it was as damaging as the old bent hook rig was, then we would know by now, its been out for years, i dont use it as its too much metal in/around the hook - plus the use of a longshank puts me off a bit, as i remember the mouth damage from the 1st longshank curved hooks and bent hook rigs. I havent seen the series 5 on sale for years, although fox do sell the armapoint LSC which look near as damn it identical.

well im a user of the 360 rig and have never seen any mouth damage on the fish ive caught with it, no matter what size the fish are. infact id say 90% of my captures have been over an inch back in the mouth and dead centre, nailed. and i use the long shank nailers. i will admit i have used rigs that have caused mouth damage but its only been the once as i dont use them again.

Ive had the absolute priveledge of being able to fish for carp for 19+yrs, i love all aspects of the sport, including watching and appreciating the wildlife, i dont understand the current trend for drinking on the bank, these days getting the bivvy up, tv on etc before getting on with the inconvienance of getting the rods out... I know one lad who used to set up on the pond, cast out anywhich where and retire to his bivvy for a weekend of fostors tinnies, an ounce of weed and several hard core porn magazines, you wouldnt see him from one day to the next!! Personally, i dont really care if i blank, being there is enough, remember: Take nothing but photographs, Leave nothing but footprints, Kill nothing but time... We "borrow" the swim from mother nature, we should at least return it in as good a nick as we were lent it, we owe them that, litter louts, drunks, stoners, noisey neighbours, they dont deserve to see the wildlife in the close intimate way that us anglers do. As a footnote, i have no qualms with those who enjoy a can or two on the bank, just dont kick the asre out of it!

Guys Just wanted to let you know that if your interested in this event for next year then you will need to be quick to gaureentee a place: 1. FCC (Summer) 31 May - 07 Jun 24 Places although 20 are already taken. 2. FCC (Winter) 11 - 18 Oct 42 Places although 36 are already taken. So as you can see places are few and far between all you need to do is pay the deposit (which is refundable) to book your place. Visit our website at www.forcescarpclassic.co.uk for even more details. Cheers Tim