Hook Lengths Shallow????

[TF_cheffieVRSParticipant]

Hi guys,
Just wondered what your thoughts were on hook lengths when
fishing shallow??
If so, How long? What Diameter, Which is your favored Line you use??? ~think

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

For fishing really shallow ie 12inches to 2 feet my hooklengths are 4 inches in length. Diameter depends on size off fish though but anything from 0.14-0.18 in the summer for Carping. Line is Shimano antares silk shock.

[TF_Jon W]

I would. It will allow you to easily change your hook if it starts to blunt and ensures the weaklink in the rig means on the hook will end up in the fish.

4-6 inches is about right. I tie my HL’s generally at 6inches which allows me to shorten if required.

Ultima power match in varying diameters to suit main line/laccy and the fish I’m after.

J

[Nick D]

I always use a hooklength. I tie mine 6 inches long.

[TF_cheffieVRSParticipant]

Thanks for a quick response Steve. Sorry meant to say F1 Style fishing, Using a MW Pea or Cookie

[TF_Jon W]

Just make sure you keep working your hookbait. not just lifting and dropping, keep varying it to see what works best on the day: slap, lift/drop, lower quickly, lower slowly (can be deadly as line is naturally tight to pole tip). Also, try and feed so over spray is kept to a minimum and dont be afraid to work the rig around the feed area.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

I am a big fan of hooklengths, but I must admit that although there are f1’s on my local, they aren’t very prolific and they tend to feed anywhere between 1-3 feet. Its pretty impossible to get them any shallower because of the lack of numbers and as a result they don’t need to compete for the feed. Consequently I fish straight through,then keep altering the depth until i get bites. To be honest though its a bit of a pain in the ar*e, and you are better off targeting the proper carp.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

4 inch for F1’s with cookies and peas. Shorter hooklength makes the rig more positive and leads to less missed bites.

[Anonymous]

@carpmagic wrote:

4 inch for F1’s with cookies and peas. Shorter hooklength makes the rig more positive and leads to less missed bites.

Steve Why is it a shorter hooklength makes it a more positive rig??

[TF_cheffieVRSParticipant]

Thanks Guys, Some VERY interesting comments.~clap ~clap

[TF_simmy]

Steve would you stick with 0.14 for f1s and which hook pattern would you use!

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Less movement in the hooklength in comparison to a longer one. Maybe that isnt quite worded right, there is movement in the hooklength but not as much movement in the complete rig. I tend to stick with 0.14 and a size 18 eyed 911 with a hair rigged pellet completing the set up.

[TF_Gary]

Steve, what do you mean by ‘movement’? Do you mean you want to have a ‘stiffer’ rig? If so, can you achieve this affect by using thicker or a less supple brand of line?

[TF_Gary]

Also, do you have any shot down the line when fishing shallow?

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

For F1’s i am thinking along the line of a stiffer mainline and then a more supple hooklength. It’s difficult to explain in words but thats the basis of my thinking.
If im fishing just 6-12 inchs deep then i wont usually have any shot down the line at all.

[TF_Gary]

Thanks Steve.

I think you must have been a carp in a past life! It must feel like Harry Potter talking parcel tongue at times – you do not even realise you are doing it! LOL!

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