commonly

Well no surprise I blanked at the weekend, storm conditions Friday, tail end Saturday, drowned packing up yesterday morning. (hate packing up in the rain). Spoke to a member about the kamakura hooks, he said no good they get bent?? As yonny said they do need a little more work to get that sticky sharp point I'm after. Then I found out for myself, Saturday lunchtime reeled in & it was bent with gape widened. No such problem with the Krank (that was sharpened to perfection) . I won't be tying those overpriced hooks any time soon! Keep sharp (not bent) , practice makes perfect!

I had the same thought a few years ago, kept getting done by little perch! Goddammit, looks awesome though. Let us know how you get on

When I say trimming, I cut an 1/8th of each, to give flat to flat surface, minute amount of glue to stop the 2 separating, as I found that to an issue in the past, due to the length of hair I have. Tend to trim the pop up to get the balance I'm after.

Good one, I hadn't considered that. My intention would be to trim a bit & similarly a pop up, superglue before putting on the hair. How much is likely to dispute, do you think? This may effect the balance as ideally I like to be 2-3 inch off the bottom. Headscratcher!!!

Just waiting on delivery of 5k of Scopex squid, got some cultured hook baits too. Has anyone tried them? Fri and Sat night, can't wait!

Bite time is known to be the morning, so I'd need to set the trap before dark ideally. I've seen the odd fish show in the middle of the lake. The average depth is 6-7ft. Weed is 3-4, if not to the surface. I suppose I need to second guess where they are going to be on the first morning. I will try to spot shows, to be better prepared for the next. Any thoughts for depth on the first night?

I know, I deserve a good ribbing. I've felt a right plum all day, I Can fish honest

So that arrangement of foam is your go to? Is that a supple hair? I have 10 & 12 lb mono, would you go heavier in dense canadian weed? I've only ever had pasties & perch, with foam or the bugs.

My brain has turned to mush!! Had a week to forget! I have been on about chods, since Thursday & there you are offering your wisdom on zigs. My bad, sorry. So back on topic, which hook type?? I've tried wide gape, curve shank & chod, but wouldn't be more confident in any of them. Cracking fish! Did you bait the area?

Looks good, that foam looks a lot wider than the type I have.

Noted. Sorry, I meant the hook link length from ring swivel to hook. I try to get the short, but with my chubby fingers I normally end up around 2-3 inches.

Stupid as it's so simple, but I'd never thought of that! Cool How long would you have your hook link in the weed?

Do you use an aligner or just a band?

Just off to have a play at my local for a few hrs, no weed so a bit easier than the syndicate.

I appreciate your help, & I'm feeling confident as your respones are in line with my thoughts. Now at the business end, pop up? I know some lasso them, I use a fine bait needle & floss, I can't bear the thought it may come loose. the pop ups, I use don't tend to take on water. Still buoyant after 12+ hrs. Sometimes I will whittle them to a dumbell shape. Since this conversation has started, I'm wondering wether to to try zig foam or something different to the norm. Any pointers welcome

Again I've heard differing theories, heavy or light lead??

My inline, will drop the lead. & the hook link, tied to the double ring swivel, is cushioned by tail rubber to the swivel, on a take. Excuse my stupidly, but wouldn't the clip have to be the wrong way round to drop the lead on the zig, helicopter presentation?? Or do you mean clips to hold the hook length up the line?

Yes I'm always naked!!! 😉 I meant the lead drop systems. I use the naked chod beads. Ensuring the rig will go to the swivel when any tension is applied, Swivel, protect the line with anti tangle sleeve wrong way round, with a tail rubber holding it in place on the inline insert. I've heard different theories on this, but do fish slack or tight line?

There was talk of banning them when the lake record died pre spawning, but I'd be OK. I've not had a lot of luck with them. The drop lead rule kind makes it all a bit gangly! I've tried the fox & Korda systems, but don't feel too confident in them. I make my own with a bit of tubing and anti tangle sleeve. I hate the thought of there being a snag in the weed, if the lead didn't drop, it could end up just smacking the fish.

Are they the ones that need a wire to connect the alarms to each other? If so pm me

From what I've seen you do very well and I'm guessing you have a good head of fish to go for on your water. My decent syndi is 9 acre with only 32 known fish. My targets are the 4-5 Redmire strain commons, all 30+. I'm intending to use Scopex Squid next time out, + kamakura's😉. I only get the odd 48 sesh. I want to maximize my chances anyway possible. I've only had a small stocky so far, better than some but the weekly lads do 6-10 a season. I'm confident in the rig I caught on, but would like to try something new on the other rod(2 rod only) which I always try something different with. Which rig would you suggest, known spots in each swim & 3-4ft canadian everywhere else!!!

Is that with bigger hook baits? I normally have 18-20mm boilies, trimmed with pop up to required position 2-6"

This is what I have. Paid the same money in the tackle shop. https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/JAG-Hook-Sharpening-Kit-Carp-Fishing-Tackle/897871507?iid=152613105918&chn=ps&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-134428-41853-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fp%252FJAG-Hook-Sharpening-Kit-Carp-Fishing-Tackle%252F897871507%253Fiid%253D152613105918%2526chn%253Dps%26itemid%3D152613105918%26targetid%3D489915641474%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D1006689%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D1458126932%26adgroupid%3D55146917885%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-489915641474%26abcId%3D1139086%26merchantid%3D7441614%26gclid%3DCj0KCQjwrszdBRDWARIsAEEYhrfRLqBeQjNvYZwkRy_0WZie0uo6R2Y9pPwXJe5VDfIMJ-CzwfW57rMaAh3BEALw_wcB%26srcrot%3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1689902506745%26rvr_ts%3D36621d081660a99c6231b2e6fff4e1fe Sorry about the enormous link. Lol. No good with tech

I prefer the flat file, in the vice, it's more uniform the amount of strokes in a given direction.

I wouldn't know, but take your word for it bud. Ive done well with them so gives me confidence. I'm going to order some size 6 Kamakuras. Snowman popped off the bottom is my usual hook bait. Whats your preferred size yonny? Do these count as bent hooks?? Not an issue for my ticket waters, but I have noticed some rules on various venues have a ban on bent hooks.