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Hooklengths

Author	Comment
rayo	Hooklengths	Lead	[-]
Posts: 93 (17/09/01 07:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi all, When ledger fishing I tend to use a hooklength of approx 24 to 30 inches,I occasionally reduce this to about a foot,in hope that when using a lighter bait ie casters,that it that it keeps the hookbait closer to the bottom,usually dependant on the flow.I would much appreciate any advice as to using a longer hooklength,I have considered going up to possibly 5 or 6 ft and was wondering what your views, or possible experiences of a long hooklegth might be. Cheers for now Rayo Perchance to dream
paul4barbus	Re: Hooklengths	#1	[-]
Posts: 4250 (17/09/01 12:20) paul whiteing BFW Team Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Rayo My normal hooklength is 12-15" from hook to swivel and 2 swan-shot pinched just below the swivel. This may not suit some of you who fish bigger/faster rivers but it suits me. I would worry that a 5-6ft hooklength - I take it that you mean length between hook and weight? - would allow the bait to waver about as if freelined (which may not be what you want) or that hookbait would not 'follow the weight' when cast and could end up 'who knows where' paul
Andy Davies	Hooklengths	#2	[-]
Posts: 2995 (17/09/01 13:04) andy davies administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I generally use short hooklengths (<12") but if you wanted to use a longer one you could mould a little heavy metal or use a shot near the hook to keep the bait near the river bed.
rayo	Re: Hooklengths	#3	[-]
Posts: 93 (17/09/01 14:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Andy/paul, The reason I,m thinking of a longer hooklength is because I read somewhere a report by some guy who had the opportunity to study Barbel feeding behaviour when a line was out . It seems that they are easily spooked by any sort of bowline,something that I have a problem with in windy conditions.I was thinking that if I had my hookbait as far away from this as is possible ,my catch rate may increase. As you say Andy a small weight about 12 inches from the hook should keep the bait down to the bed ,as for the casting ,I think a little bit of trial and error is going to be needed. Cheers for now Rayo perchance to dream
thisisjohn	Re: Hooklengths	#4	[-]
Posts: 8599 (17/09/01 14:49) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	hooklengths= usually between 12-20inches varying according to conditions and river, sometimes come down to 8-12 ins. dependant on bait, tried using much longer h/lengths but no longer due to bite sensitivity and hooking + a few smaller reasons...... john.w. john walker
MAXIMUS BARBULAS	Re: Hooklengths	#5	[-]
Posts: 1536 (17/09/01 17:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My standard downstream hooklength is 6 - 8 inches, and when upstream fishing i increase this to 12 - 18 inches. I have observed barbel feeding and taking the bait on short hooklengths, and they do not seemed bothered by the proximity of the lead (my leads are always coated to match the bottom i'm fishing). Bites are always very positive and i have had very little trouble with foul hooking fish on short hooklengths where as i have on the longer hooklengths. Cheers Jon
Andy Thatcher	Re: Hooklengths	#6	[-]
Posts: 6442 (18/09/01 04:28) andy thatcher administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I also keep my hooklengths to around 10" for downstream fishing but oddly reverse to Jon shorten my hooklength for upstreaming to 6". I have used hooklengths up to 6ft but that was a overhanging tree that I couldn't roll the bait under. I copied a Miles trick of looping the hooklength with PVA and using a bouyant bait to get the hook to a place that the barbel might take it. One made a mistake. Cheers Andy
Graham Elliott	Re: Hooklengths	#7	[-]
Posts: 4258 (18/09/01 07:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As a general rule I use 12/18inches on most rivers. Although often on the Thames when in flow and using feeder and particles ie. maggots etc. I may go/try as long as 6 feet and have great success. The reason for this is that I believe the bait often will spill out of the feeder and loop up in the disturbed water. Why this is so effective on the Thames especially I know not. What I do know is that it pays to try various lengths most days. As a second thought, as mentioned before. When feeder fishing it is often worth having a longer cast with very few maggots etc, in the feeder to pick up fish that can hang back 10 yards or so from the bait imput point.
Andy Davies	Hooklengths	#8	[-]
Posts: 2995 (18/09/01 13:50) andy davies administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Rayo, Have you tried using any kind of backlead - this may alleviate the problem and still allow you to use shorter hooklengths - look at the old thread about this - I use Heavy Metal up the line but others use different methods. Andy D

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