kevtaylor

Dont buy the really big one - I just grabbed one off the shelf without really testing how heavy it is - my word its like chucking a large dead bait out, the splash frightened me let alone the fish!

Richworth sorcerer - used with an anti tangle sleeve (fox) - brilliant! Supple, sinks well, anti tangle and camo - what more do you want!!!!

In death rig you mean a shocker? which can be tied safely if using beads that are able to move up/down the line with slight pressure. I dont see what your getting at with regard to tight lines and baitrunners? IMO the issues you raise are not linked?? confused Please enlighten us.

Cant see any of the things you've mentioned affecting the hook hold or damaging the hook itself. I steam mine though, but still cant see dipping it in boiling water being detrimental to it in any way, its hardly enough time to melt the metal is it. Maybe you have got a dodgy batch? - I've only ever had a hook straighten a few times. Weird indeed - I wouldn't go changing anything you do because of this, maybe just stick a different hook pattern on and go fishing as soon as possible to see if it improves things, or to identify if it was the hook. The carp gremlins strike again, you come back stronger for these unlucky or challenging times. Chin up and good luck next time

Thats interesting Tony - I hope your right coz I've been blaming myself thinking that I was giving it too much stick, didn't feel like it at the time but afterwards you dont know what to make of it. Cheers

Yep using it at present - cant say where I'm hooking them at the minute coz I've lost the last 2 fish to hook pulls - which is maybe more to do with the hook I'm using rather than the rig. The few I caught on it last year were firm bottom lip - but a different hook.

Too right I've got the scars to prove it - dangerous stuff! I pulled a hook right through my thumb starting with the nail, that was fun! The joy of pulling using pliers to tighten it - one slip and your in trouble. Yeah sorry 18lb is the right Ghost BS - I reckon I've been lucky with the Korda hooks and Fangs - coz they must just have big eyes. In fact thinking back I remember having to cut the IQ into a point to get it through one type of hook - pretty damn tight.

You've got me thinking now - does it really? lol - if it does then my IQ manages to pass through three times on a size 6 Korda Pattern B. Ghost of about 15 lb would pass through dead easy - the 25lb IQ is easy enough PS I really had to think hard to realise this 3 times thing - must be getting old lol

You can tie a d rig using 25lb IQ it still goes through the eye twice of a size 6 wide gape (or most hooks). Surely you want the invisibility of IQ or Ghost - what hooks you using coz both these materials will thread twice? Crimps - please leave it out

Does Proclear float without the need for greasing it? I want a floating main line or braid, coz i'm totally fed up with wasting money on stuff that isnt fit for purpose - my last go was drennan double strength - which sank after 1 cast and I didnt have any grease with me. Greasing the line just seems like a total waste of time to me - surely I should be looking for a purpose build floater or dry fly line - any suggestions?

Mate - I use Korda wide gapes (pattern B), Korda longshanks, Carp R Us nailers, fangs and Richworth 1st contact incisors. They are all very sharp and strong and could pull depending on where they go in, its just the luck of the draw IMO. Use what you've got confidence in - coz thats all that matters, they're all good products.

IMO wide gape are great hooks and should result in far less hook pulls than any in-turned variety such as nailers and muggas. Hook pulls are simply part of the game - I recently lost a good fish too - annoying but makes you want to go back for another go.

As far as I'm aware its the same stuff, both leave the same residue which will vanish completely over time. Its just that some mugs want to buy small pots of it for a small fortune from tackle manufacturers. My mate brings me a sack full every now and then.

Drennan double strength, though I was told to get super specialist but couldn't. I use the fake weighted mixers coz your hook sits above the water facing up out of sight, I cant seem to get on with hair rigged surface baits, they seem to get sussed instantly, plus the hook is dangling below the bait in full view. I know it works for others but on the clear lakes i'm on it just doesn't get anywhere near the amount of takes that I do on the fakes. Plus you can bounce it over weed and it doesn't snag.

Nice one big fella - I use without silicon so agree with you that both have great hooking properties even after being blown. So we are of the same mind! Good to stir conversation though Like you say with the silicon in place like a float rubber as in Nash's In Persuit - once blown it wouldn't return, which he uses to check whether he has been blown or not, which is good in that respect but not in terms of leaving it out for another take.

Cant say I fully agree with you on this one, you've not put me off using the blow back rig with ring. A blown rig would be no less effective IMO and no different from the position of the blown bait on a D ring (bait up near the eye). Look forward to your comeback

Blow back rig for bottom baits, withy or chod for pop-ups

Sorry mate just seen your question - I'd go for a clear mono or florocarbon like Krystonite, though I used to use Maxima Camelian which isnt clear but changes from redish to green according to the colour of the water. I'd use that stuff again, no hesitation. With Krystonite you need to use the palomar knot Courtz uses Preston Power line I think?

Supple braid = Richworth 1st contact sorcerer (my all time favourite), extremely supple, camo, takes on water and sinks very well. The dogs..... Coated braid = Suffix Heavy Skin (green or brown), again sinks well, good coating, good to work with. Florocarbon, Korda IQ 25lb - very stiff, steams straight - great for combis, acts like an anti tangle boom. Krystonite line - just good stuff, strong, supple and clear.

My mate uses it all the time for his surface fishing - I know how to set it up if you want some help - one thing to consider is that you really need flat calm conditions to get good presentation.

Yeah mine are the same very blunt and thick wire (small size too) - I can just about manage to hook maggots though without them bursting but its tricky. I still like the idea of them though and would buy another pack if they were improved - I've done OK with them - and couldn't see them ever coming off and being dangerous thats nonsense IMO, god knows they are difficult enough to get open so they aint coming off accidentally

Day ticket waters are good you can nip to one for a few hours and get some good sport - abolishing them is not the answer IMO. Clubs/syndicates are just as bad, it just depends on who fishes them - some of the day ticket waters I've fished have been by far the cleanist! Littering though is a pet hate of mine - my daughter of 4 was disgusted to see rubish all over a swim on a club lake even though the swim had a bin right behind it "why dont they clean up dad"? - to make matters worse the so called angler did well during his session, but even that didnt make him want to show it any respect. Its got to be up to management and fellow anglers to ban those people for a short time, to think of their actions and for us anglers to set a good example. I take an ashtray with me and binbags they are always in my tackle bag - when I leave a swim I always look back to make sure that nobody would know I've been there!

In spite of the views of many on these forums and recent bad press in the comics - I was surprised to see the 360 rig (with long shank nailer)published as the rig of the year in the Richworth Linear annual publication.

I suppose I have to say use lighter hooklinks than your main line, with regards to safety, where you can. I must admit though that I have 25lb Suffix hooklink and Korda IQ in my tackle box, which I use at times, which goes against the above, so no doubt I'll get some stick. A lot depends on your setup.

Not in the slightest do I want to get into deeper discussions. I wish I'd have kept my gob shut I dont intend to use the 360 anymore due to hook concerns (not that I have experienced any damage yet) and bouyancy problems, with the sheer weight of the hook. The withy rig works as do simpler ones, thats my only real point, IMO its hooking properties (firm bottom lip), are better than any simpler version I have used. But there will on occasions be times when the height of the pop-up is simply too much, and alternatives are required. Also its nice to be different on threads coz you always get a bite