how low would you go!

[dave_3]

just wandering how small of a hook you guy's are willing to use when fishing for large carp (30+). i've been using hair rigged maggot for a while with size 8 kurv shank's. not had much success so went to a size 14 kamazan but keep loosing fish.

 

any thoughts?

[welshcarp1985]

just wandering how small of a hook you guy's are willing to use when fishing for large carp (30+). i've been using hair rigged maggot for a while with size 8 kurv shank's. not had much success so went to a size 14 kamazan but keep loosing fish.

 

any thoughts?

 

what makes you think it is the size of the hook that is causing you to lose fish? As if that is the case then why use a smaller hook? I would use a larger hook, say a size 6. Just make sure that the hook is sharp (see if it bites into your nail), and also the placement of the hair and you could possibly try a different shaped hook as i cant really comment on a kurv shank hook as i have not used them, i use the korda hybrids with a bit of silicone tubing to give that slight angle to help the hook turn. Just something you could try.

 

Also at what point are you losing the fish, just after the take, mid playing it or at the net? And the fish that you do land where would you say that the fish is hooked? top, bottom, side, deep or just on the lip? Slight alterations to the hair will make the hook catch in different positions on the lip.

[dave_3]

just wandering how small of a hook you guy's are willing to use when fishing for large carp (30+). i've been using hair rigged maggot for a while with size 8 kurv shank's. not had much success so went to a size 14 kamazan but keep loosing fish.

 

any thoughts?

 

what makes you think it is the size of the hook that is causing you to lose fish? As if that is the case then why use a smaller hook? I would use a larger hook, say a size 6. Just make sure that the hook is sharp (see if it bites into your nail), and also the placement of the hair and you could possibly try a different shaped hook as i cant really comment on a kurv shank hook as i have not used them, i use the korda hybrids with a bit of silicone tubing to give that slight angle to help the hook turn. Just something you could try.

 

Also at what point are you losing the fish, just after the take, mid playing it or at the net? And the fish that you do land where would you say that the fish is hooked? top, bottom, side, deep or just on the lip? Slight alterations to the hair will make the hook catch in different positions on the lip.

 

i'm loosing the fish on the initial take. i wanted to make the hook smaller because the lake i fish is fished alot and pressure is high. a hook as big as a size 8 next to 3 maggots must stick out like a sore thumb. i'm probably talking rubish. i just think that every little helps!

[paulmlpss]

Yeah your pobably right about the hook sticking out like a sore thumb with 3 maggotts. I would use a 10 or a 12 but in a korda or something. And i would try and get as many maggotts on the clip as i could so its a nice juicy bunch.

[welshcarp1985]

Ok sorry i forgot about the maggots, i was thinking of a 14-16mm boilie with that hook size. Maybe a thought could be using the medusa rig with a size 6 hook. Then you have more of an attracter, larger bait, deters the smaller fish a little and also you can use the bigger hook fer a better chance of a good hookhold.

 

Or another possibility is buying them enterprise maggots, the ones where the maggots slide onto the hook and also you can use a maggot as a line aligner The hook is almost invisible then and you can change the size of hook with the amount of maggots you place on there.

[marker]

i don't think i've ever used anything smaller than a 10 for carp fishing

[beanz]

the actual size differs for each company and style

 

iv got some esp G4 raptor size 10 which are smaller than fox arma LS size 10 ( which i used on a zig to catch at the weekend) korda long shank size 12 look twice the size of the above 2

 

i find its better to use a hook that suits the bait size than go off the number on the packet

[Guest fenboy]

My standard starting point now days is a size 10 korda kurve or widegape dropping to a size 12 for floater fishing .

I have landed two catfish over 30lb this season with no problems ,also carp to over 30lb too so I would say change your hook pattern or maufacturer .

I would suggest that a size 14 is a little small for decent size carp though .

If your hair rigging maggots I would use a 10 with a bouyant fake maggot threaded up the shank to take away some of the hook weight.

[bluebirdjones]

i don't think i've ever used anything smaller than a 10 for carp fishing

 

I haven't either, i've only used sizes 4,6,8 & 10. I've only ever used a size 4 in France and I mostly use size 8.

[joeyb]

Have only ever used hooks from 6-10 for carp fishing. My PB was caught on the size 10

 

Although as said already, different companys are sized different and the ones im using at the moment are by the looks of it one size bigger than say korda for example.

[thomasbecker]

Over here in Australia, many people think carp are just a "rubbish" fish and they can be caught on any bait and it doesn't matter what size hook or rig you use.

 

Although in Australia, we don't get those specialisted carp rods, hooks, gear....

 

So all I use is size 6-10 hook in baitholder, suicide or short shank. I find that anysized hook can catch any sized carp.

 

 

edited to remove censored

[hughwilliams]

I agree - any size hook will catch any size carp - but will any size hook land any size carp!

 

Last week I was fishing Saffron Lake in France and I caught a 38lb 4oz fish on 2 grains of sweetcorn on Drennan Super Specialist size 10 barbless hook -this was float fishing under a bush. I also had 2 forties (and several smaller fish) on a size 4 Drennan Super Specialist Barbless free lining floating crust - who said French fish won't take crust!!

 

Hugh

[salokcinnodrog]

Personal choice is that I won't go below a size 10, maybe a 12 for bottom baits when fishing for exclusively carp or even chub.

 

If I use sweetcorn as bait then 2 grains nicely cover a 12, but with maggots I won't use Maggot Clips, so usually tie a rig ring or proper hair on a size 6, 8 or 10.

 

With a size 10 then my view is that 4 maggots is the minimum I need to make it look attractive.

 

With Medusa rigs (a cork ball covered in maggots), I prefer a size 6 or even 8 and the ball attached to the hair.

 

I think that smaller hooks than those mentioned above get lost in the carps mouth, and so you often find you are unable to get a good hookhold.

[artaj007]

you may be dropping fish because the wire gauge is light this will act as a cheese wire and simply cut through the fishes flesh. i like to use a 12 to a 6 in a medium to heavy gauge. if the fish are spooky use a 10 with a big ball of magots or use the Mag-Aligne and hide the hook with grubs.

[poleaxe21]

Losing them on the take? Sounds to me like u are not hooking carp at all. Either nuisance fish or liners mate.

[coops_northants]

How are you attaching your maggots?? i normally fish 10lb fluro then where the hair would nomally be i dot the fluro with a lighter then i thread maggots onto a piece of cotton the tie this to the fluro and it locks on the blob, this help them to stop wriggling around and masking the hook. I normall fish a mugga size 10 for this but most hooks will do the biz. This is tied up almost KD rig style again to keep the maggots away from the hook.

 

Try balencing the hook with a fake one or something too, just super glue one to the shank or something. or slide it up the fluro hair then blob it after...... loads of ways but hopefully you can see a way that will work for you.