nealjt

I've used the qm1's which are very circular in shape but not with the point bent like the other examples, the small experience I have with qm1's was quite incredible, as Rob said is was fishing for single figure carp but the hook holds were great, no signs of movement and amazingly sharp out of the packet. I wonder if the larger versions would have a similar effect to a bent hook, however the issues with a bent hook seem to more with smaller carp due how they rattle about when hooked. My only concern with the qm1 is whether they'd straighten out when playing a larger carp.

Has anyone or does anyone use these hooks? My main question is if they were made in a larger size and stronger gauge do you think they would be good? And do you think they'd cause excessive mouth damage? Are the qm1's based on these...? To my eyes these look dangerous...

This is something I used to have happen but haven't for quite some time, it may just be chance but I know what I do now compared to then is leave the net in the water with the fish in so it can compose itself before being hoiked out onto the mat, and as I'm doing this it gives me time to breathe and then I tend to check if the fins are flat to the fishes body and its dorsel doesn't look as though it'll get stuck in the net. This may well be what you do and it still happens , so just ignore me if that's the case!! Good man for asking about it either way, I feel quite bad when this has happened to me

Nice one Newmarket, thanks, not sure how I mixed that one! That is how I'd do it I think, definitely wouldn't be twisting the hook about inside the wound. Just thought I'd ask as I've seen it mentioned a few times and thought there might be something i was missing. If I'd a choice, I'd go micro barb...

I really don't know where I stand on this, until I started on this forum I always thought barbless was the best option, but there are quite a few statements like this about the hook coming out and back in, which does worry me, as it makes sense this can happen. My worry with barbless is the difficulty a fish would have loosing the rig if the line snaps. What is the correct way to take out a barbed hook?

Lovely....

Very well explained Ouchthathurt, thank you! Makes sense to me now, for years (literally) I've not known why and how a bent hook will cause damage and couldn't understand how double hooking could happen! The fish safety talk always makes me cringe a little, as it is a total juxtaposition ( long word, oh yeah, probably spelt wrong) having tempted a fish with the most attractive meal I can make I force a ridiculously sharp object into its mouth and drag it out of its environment effectively suffocating it just to take a picture and try again to get the rest of its family.... Although I am aware the fish can't appreciate what I do I will try to minimise any long term impact. I went to my local lake which I adore, small tree lined, not any anglers and even less carp! The trees over hang quite far and there is currently a dead duck decomposing on one of the over hangs as it took a liking to a rig that was snapped off in the tree with its bait attached.... This is a horrible sight and would break my heart if it was a carp that had been snagged up like this. And for this reason I stay away from rigs and methods that carry the myths and rumors of harming fish, even though a lot of time I can't understand the potential for damage. So for me having read your explanation of the bent hook issue and if this may be a similar problem for the 360 I will stay away from using it. I'm not a big fish angler, but I complicate anything I can so rigs with lots of swivels, whistles & bells catch my attention. I think tackle company's and magazines should take more responsibility and give clear instructions on the specifics of the kit they sell and the difference between rigs for big carp and rigs for smaller standard size carp..... (Ok essay over, now back to just hitting the like button)