cobleyn

Are you fishing slack lines?

You've certainly been done. I'd look at your indication a little more closely. The top bead coming off hasn't helped- but (as I'm sure you know) don't be tempted to glue it on - as that could lead to a tethered fish.

I can remember Amnesia House; circa 1991-1993. Mostly Shelly's and The Eclipse in Cov. Ironically I thinks its those days that's affected my memeory .

By using a gardener one instead .

Its very supple stuff, so I can't see it having the same issues as lead core. If you get a length of it and put it in the margins the stuff literally disappears as its so heavy it sinks into the top silt layer. I've never seen a hooklengths like it either. I've only used it in the heavier strengths (80lb I seem to recall) for cats in Spain and for redtails and arapiama. Very abrasion resistant!

It's awesome stuff. Used it for leaders and for hooklengths for big stuff.

I'm much the same as Jamie. I use a hinged stiff rig on a helicopter set-up for pop-ups. I use combi rigs for bottom baits. Reasons being: A hinged stiff rig (and for the way I tie it see): http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=53044&highlight= I think that it gives the pop-up a full range of movement but is difficult to eject. It also resets itself when a fish or tufty moves it. Its also very tangle proof. However, its limitations are when there is a soft bottom- as it can sick up at a funny angle. This can be negated by the use of a helicopter set-up rather than a safety clip - as the lead dives in and leaves the rig on top. By moving the beads further up your tubing you can allow for deeper silt (unless it is deep and soft- in which case choose a differnet rig) For combi rigs - I like the stiffness of the initial material to stop tangles and to aid keeping the bait away from the lead. for bottom baits it does the jobs I need- so no need to be any more complicated!

Nick and I have discussed this on a few occasions. I used to use Kryston all the time and have caught shedloads on Snakebite gold & Merlin. The main problem with just about everything they do- is that it floats. Times move on- but manufacturers sometimes don't. I can't understand manufacturers who charge £8-£12 for a hooklength material that floats. ....actually I can...because they make a shedload out of it and we then have to spend more money on other products to make it do what its supposed to in the first place.

I might be getting muddled up with the names of their stuff. I've tried their web site and still can't work out which product is which and I own some of it- so it just shows how rubbish some web sites are and why companies don't succeed when other flourish. Other companies might sell rubbish products- but at least their marketing collateral shows you which product you are buying and what its for! Anyway- the stuff I couldn't get on with is the braid with a stiff 20lb flouro running up inside it. I though it would be very good for hinged stiff rigs- but by the time I had mucked about with it- I could have tied two with proper components. ...and as mentioned above the other stuff is ok with putty and in a bag.

I bought some of this after seeing a demo at a show. I genuinally wanted to get on with it- as it seemed to offer a lot of advantages- but I've pretty much given up with it. Its OK for combi links but anything other than that (due to its comparative thickness in comparison to hook eyes) is just too fiddly (as you already commented ozzy). I bought some of their other stuff too (with the 2lb flouro running through it). 2 comments- 1: it floats 2: its ok for bag work- but if your try and cast it the flouro breaks and you cast a rig with no bait.

Good feedback -thanks lads. Just looked on t'internet ...is the vice and eye glass any use...or is the value just in the files?

You rate them then Jez? I wasn't sure wether they were just another gimmick. Do you think youve picked extra fish up with them?

Ill ask the obvious question.... Why do you want to try new rigs? If your old ones are catching, or unlesss you are fishing in a new environment where more complex rigs are needed...stick to what you know.

Not sure if you're joking or not blanksalot Funnily enough I was looking at the Korda Krimps yesterday as tying neat knots in hinged stiff rigs is a ball ache (and as I found out later- quite dangerous ). On inspecting the packaging though- it says... "Not for use on Braid, coated braid or flourocarbon". So what's the flipping point of it then?

Yup - it was barbed. I gave it a good twist and a pull but it was in there very well. Mr . Gardener should be proud of how sharp they are! They x ray'd it before they started to extract it and commented that the barb didn't look too big- so they would just 'jiggle it out' rather than push it through and cut it- again well done Mr. G on putting micro barbs on. Yeah- I trimmed it up before I took it- I did get the hook back though. It was still sharp so I'll tie it back up.

So I was tying a few rigs up yesterday...tensioning a knot...slipped...whoops - off to a&e we go.

Have you noticed that since they've done rig putty all the Korda chaps really rate "putting a massive blob of putty" on their hooklengths to "pull it down into the carps mouth". For me- Putty has always been about finesse and balance in a discrete way. If you want a massive blob- use a shot.

What brand was it? It's not supposed to do that...especially when the water is this cold.

...and adrenaline floats...making it the worst stuff ever for hook lengths.

Depends on the lake you are fishing. Lots of man made lakes or ponds hold their colour through the year so you don't need ot fine down. A lot of gravel pits and other lakes have every bit of colour fall out of them through the winter, with some mornings seeming to add extra feet of clarity just from the bank. Anything you can do in these lakes to fine down is a bonus. (except where there is weed or snags) Im on 10lb double strength mono at the minute.

For what's its worth...these are the two rigs I've been using this season. When I'm wading my baits out I use a running rig on a Flouro line. When I'm casting; Helicopter on normal mono. The lake I'm fishing has got some soft patches and a lot of the fish get caught at v. long range- I think a helicopter allows the lead to crash in to soft patches and still leave the hooklink in good shape. One of the reasons that they have gone out of fashion is that the firms can't make a lot of money from two rubber beads and a length of tubing.

Nick- what've you done??? You know that's going to cost you a few hook pulls

My own personal view is that pure braid with a pop up isn't the most effective material. Having watched fish deal with it and get away with it numerous times and with ease, I think the flexibility doesn't lend itself too well. My own preference is to use a hinged stiff link with pop ups. A mini swivel on the shank of the hook is a good alternative to tying a hair.

Don't get confused by what flouro is. It's just slightly more advanced line than mono and won't make a great deal of difference to anything you are currently doing.