Ddgx

Sorry Nm, I didn't get the right end of the stick there. Yes actually, we've kind of been talking about this lake in other threads - this was the same place I was talking about pre-baiting. I can't remember what I said in the other threads, but I'm going to try and fish 'natural' baits for reasons we discussed. Have been experimenting with some artificial corn, I'd prefer to go balanced so it sinks slow, but haven't found the right combination of weight/buoyancy to get it sinking as slow as I would like yet. It's tricky because the corn is that much smaller than a boilie so balancing it is a pain. I'd like not to have any shot immediately under it (working on possibly making a cavity under the corn to poke some weight in). This all sounds very complicated but it's actually an attempt to make the rig simple and get the corn to sit as natural as possible. My backup, if I feel like there's too much chance of masked hook point or I keep getting leaves etc on the return, will be the corn just slightly popped up. pic attached, sorry about quality;

Afraid not, I won't be able to fish it until about 4 weeks time. The lake is out of action while they do works. When it's open I'll be straight down there.

Well, that's food for thought. See the way I approach things now is, the next fish might be the catch of a life time, or the year, or the session, whatever, if there's even the remote chance of it not performing or failing then I want out! I tried a tail over a hook swivel, it seems on the face of it ok. But i can't help but think if you're unlucky when your fish is in a snag or weeds and manages to get lead hooked up long enough to head in the opposite direction to your mainline then conceivably it could slide off?

You rescued them, That's cool! Yeah be good to see them getting on the grub.

Once you're below the surface with nothing for scale the size of the fish is deceptive

Great! Inquisitive in your pond aren't they!

Some sound advice here gents, I'm going to tie some bits tonight and tomorrow, drop them in the tank and see how I feel. Many many thanks!

Nm, I've got some of those in a size 8 already. Ready for the stupid question? How'd you stop the loop slipping off that hook?

Well I realised it did make me look a bit of a wally! Yeah, I'm aiming for simplicity. Least amount of joins and components possible. My fishing is not about to become a bite a minute anyway so in terms of changing over hookbaits and getting rods back out I think I'll be happy with a loop.

I don't mean it's easier to remember than 'dan' lol sorry, I started using that username years ago on another website and now it's my login for most things.

You can call me Dan by the way, my usernames stupid but it's easy for me to remember! So the above type. I was using a tapered sleeve over them at one point, but I wasn't happy - could be paranoia but felt like too much going on. The sleeves and the silicone tube both create a a lip which I always feel is a prime point for a tangle. I'm going to trial a loop through a ring swivel and see how I feel, i might still come back to a sleeve or silicone - see how it goes!

I think I'd like to do away with any kind of quick link in my end tackle set-up. I have recently been trialling Korda Kwik links, and on a couple of occasions have found the hook length has started to work it's way around the curve - if unnoticed would have eventually detached. It's too much clutter and just another pivot point that I feel is probably at risk of tangling or catching. So, I'd like to just have a loop at the end of my hook length, loop passed through swivel or ring swivel, then hook length passed back through the loop. I'm prepared to sacrifice the time i'd save with a quick link, for confidence that it isn't going to work itself free or tangle. Question is; there are so many kinds of loop knots - I'm not sure which is going to be strongest but simplest to tie for this job? Would you have faith in just a simple overhand loop? Also as a follow on question; will you tie any kind of knot in a coated braid without stripping the coating and expect it to stay put? Thanks in advance guys and gals.

cm, how can you go home when the day is as beautiful as this though?

This was the 29th November! It was a tough day no doubt, 6 anglers on the lake, somewhere between 12 and 18 lines in the water. 1 fish came out all day. Then again that's not to say any of the other 5 people knew what they were doing any better than I did, they didn't move either!

Morning. That day when I regretted not moving, that was really my dilemma. Because it is a fairly well stocked lake I think I naively told myself that even though I was seeing fish elsewhere it was a matter of time before something came for a sniff. What added to it was, and I couldn't /can't work it out still now is that 'my' side of the lake had alot of sun that day. The fish were across the way in the shadow of the trees and often showing really tight to the margins. All I can think is that despite the sun that day, perhaps the tall trees had been providing some shelter from any breeze in the days preceding my arrival and the water was warmer there for that reason.

I've started just using my mobile if I want a bit of music while fishing. Have a HTC one m8 and the clarity of the speakers is amazing. Then I use tunein Internet radio app or the built in fm receiver. Considering getting a battery pack charger gadget from eBay for £15. 20k mah capacity, should charge this phone up 3/4 times over.

Had this on my eBay watch list http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=251705833108&alt=web but the clip swivel has a big gap. Really good tip dal many thanks.

That sounds good. Like I said, I'd like to reduce components to a minimum. If I want to use safety clips complete with peg for retaining swivel (or quick link!) - can you recommend a brand/type? Will need a choice of colours.

Oh, last session I tried tieing rigs with a non-slip loop at the end and passed this through swivel then hook through loop. To try and slim down the amount of components. Too difficult to get back off by hand, ended up using a bait needle to loosen the knot and this invariably caught and separated the braid. Also took an age in comparison.

Hi dal, at the risk of receiving all sorts of scorn I'll tell you the history of my quick link use. I used to use drennan safe links, attached to the swivel that lives in a lead clip. Not long ago I got these Fox links because they have less sticky out bits so less chance of tangle. I tend to have at least 2 of the same hair rig tied for each rod and I will have hookbait or bag or whatever tied and ready to go before I bring a rod in or bank a fish. Just reduces the time that the rod is out of the water.

Hopefully get a chance to re-tie a bit later on and post results. Cheers all!

Dal, totally relevant point and I agree. I promise I wasn't going to take it to the field without tieing and testing it again with the other choice of braid Totally unpro of me, literally yesterday I decanted all of the corn from its original packaging into a tub and chucked the packet and now I'll be damned if I can remember. Possibly the maize, they are quite big. I'm glad that the shot approach is gaining some approval.

Hi Ben. Yes, I'm just starting (I think!?) to get properly to grips with how the place that the hair leaves the hook effects its potential to flip. I think where I've got that silicone; any higher and the hook doesn't turn at all - it sits upside down if you lift from the bait. I look at something like the 'bottom bait rig' shown here, http://www.korda.co.uk/rigz/bottom-bait-rig/ and maybe I'm not getting it, but where the silicone is (that far round) doesn't make sense to me. When that hook comes off the bottom (sucked at), that hook point is going to be facing up, not down? It's funny, I don't sharpen my points (yet) but I was looking at files yesterday - mostly trying to work out why the hell they're so damn expensive!?

It's a good question newmarket. Here's my thought pattern; even on a "runs" water, if there is no obvious detriment to fishing like they're 'riggy' - then why not? Even on a runs water, it seems to me that it's quite possible the larger or older fish might be cautious? Again, having seen underwater footage and the ease at which fish can eject a hook without being snared - why not try and rule that scenario out as far as possible? Don't get me wrong, I have caught plenty of fish with the most basic version of the hair rig - but what about all those fish that mouthed my bait and spat it back out that I never knew about...?

Hi Benj. I knew those photos were bad! That's exactly what I've got going on - I think it's a little aaa shot, if you look real close you can just make it out in shot one. I feel like if I remove the silicone the angle of the hook will be too acute when the bait gets lifted off the floor?