Ddgx

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.

Now here is a day where I don't envy the job of admin stupid bots

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?

Morning chaps. Believe it or not that's already a size 6! (korda wide gape). Those korda slow sinking corns are pretty big compared with your average green giant grain! I've been thinking this over, I think I'll give this a go, albeit it with the hair a bit shorter. The buoyancy of the corn is hopefully going to help wizz it into carp mouth and the shot should drop it back down. The hair should pivot where the shot is and claw a hook hold. If it doesn't work in the field I'll be looking for some corn that isn't so buoyant, or as you say chop it down!

I like the idea of, and have some korda fake corn. The issue I have with it is that the supposedly 'slow sinking' nuggets actually make most hooks float. Not what I want necessarily. This evening I'm trying to find a solution by trial and error, what I've arrived at is sort of a kd rig. It passes the palm test (if you subscribe to that), if lifted up by the bait the hook point is facing down which is what I think I want. I also quite like that a bit of buoyancy seems to make the corn less pinned down to the bottom which at least in my mind would have it behaving a bit more like free offerings when wafted ... but, on the other hand this just feels over complicated? Is what I actually need heavier/less buoyant fake corn to negate the need for the shot/putty? Few pics here, point to note; test tied it with some old drennan carp silk which I discovered in the sink floats like a rubber duck! Will eventually tie it (neatly) with coated braid. Your thoughts greatly appreciated. Dan. Sorry about pic quality!

They're definitely for me. Even during my 'ignorant' early fishing life that's what it was about. At least I have that as a foundation. You are all gents, many thanks for the wisdom.

It's amazing but in my younger years, as with many things in life I think you can get swept along like a sheep to participate in a way which matches how you think you should be fishing based on what others or the scene is doing. Not necessarily on what the fish are doing. I frankly didn't realise there was any other way back then. Pure Ignorance. Anyway, now I'd like to think I'm on the path to enlightenment I'm an aspiring catcher.

Absolutely. I've heard it said a million times since I came back to fishing. I was sat there on the day thinking, over there, over there is fish. That's where I ought to be. Then my other silly self denial side of my brain convinced me that, well, what if we're about to move off the path of the fish of the year? Of course, fishing I am learning has so much more self discipline, situational assessment, logical thinking than I think bad fisherman and non-fisherman realise.

I must admit 6" seems unnatural to me in some ways although I believe in the logic of using it that short in certain circumstances. I will say I wasn't having particular trouble with hook placement or losing fish mid-fight with my usual, longer hook length. Why change then you ask? Well, having seen a tonne of underwater video footage, and all of the bait ejections that didn't even registered at people's alarms, I got to thinking; how often have I been an unknowing victim of that? Especially in winter with fish feeding more infrequently and shyly. I think the point about finding what works for you couldn't be truer, just look at the variation in opinion in this thread. As subtle as most of it is! Not moving is still playing on my mind, I will not make that mistake again.

Sorry, should use the appropriate terminology. Am referring to hook length. You're right of course, it can I think be too easy to see tackle tarts turn up to a water, or listen to a bailiff and assume that they know what they're doing. I guess added with not actually hooking anything on sat it added to the feeling of not being confident in the setup. I will persevere!

I did a 7 hour day session on Saturday, and during the day the bailiff happened to catch site of my end tackle and seemed to sneer at the overall length of my hair. His criticism being that it was absurdly short. I had decided to trying no more than 6" overall length for winter after reading and seeing in a few places that it might result in more hookups if the slower moving fish have less room to play with before they hit the weight of the lead. This is the first time I've ever fished this short, everyone has their opinion of course, but it knocked my confidence somewhat. So I'm just interested to learn how long you're fishing, why, and do you adapt the length depending on season. Ps I blanked. It was very quiet all over the lake, but I am kicking myself because I feel like I could have turned the session around if I had have been prepared to move (fish showing and fizzing elsewhere almost all day long).