Hooklinks-Braid or Mono?

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tenchmagic	Hooklinks-Braid or Mono?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 402 (10/01/06 19:19:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I'm talking about maggot feeder fishing here.I used to be quite happy using mono links of 4 or 5lbs with a 14 or even a size 10 specimen hook.But recently I've been trying coated braids with the same size hooks, stripping back the coating near the hook.Maggots mounted on the hook as usual.Do you think that this presentation has any benefits over mono, or am I just overcomplicating things.Tell me what you think? Lets get this board going, guys.Chris.
stuart harvey	Re: Hooklinks-Braid or Mono?	#1	[-]
Posts: 119 (10/01/06 19:49:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i wouldn't bother with coated hooklinks. Not sure what they offer over nylon, fluoro or normal braid. Mind you I only use 2-3 inch hooklinks and tend to stick to Drennan Microbraid. this season I might try some WB Clarke Match line. How long are your hooklinks?
Drew	Braid for me!	#2	[-]
Posts: 1132 (10/01/06 20:43:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Chris, It's braid for me mate. I fish feeders - usually big heavy ugly home-made jobbies, so I use a mainline of 10 or 12 lb depending on the weed situation. I use either Silkworm or Fox Deluge. (It's a bit like the difference between Carling and Carlsberg etc. When it's my round, I always buy my mates the CHEAPEST LAGER! None of them know any different.) Both are just fine. Last year I played around with hooklengths a great deal. I tried stiff rigs as well as ordinary mono hooklengths of various lengths. I couldn't get the stiff rig to work. I got twitches. I need to learn more about that and develop it. This summer I intend to try the sort of hooklength Chris describes above. I see this as having the advantages of braid and the same function as the stiff rig. Best of all was always the braid hooklength rod, whether I used short or long hooklengths. But in fishing there are all the other variables to consider. I don't THINK I gave the braid rod preference in position, baiting and attention, but ......... it's impossible to be objective and, as always, I finish up going with a feeling. Incidently, last year I mostly used Drennan Barbel super specialist hooks in 12 a
Drew	part 2!	#3	[-]
Posts: 1132 (10/01/06 20:53:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	HOOKS! as I was saying..... Drennan Barbel hooks in 12 and 14. I liked them. Strong for the size and just the shape of hook I like for my feeder rigs. I did find that they didn't last long in terms of sharpness, and a tenching friend had the point turn over on two hooks whilst Spring fishing and warned me off the Drennans in no uncertain terms. For fishing a bigger bait, I used the Mugga hook in 8 or 6. A mussel on a short hair proved terrificaly effective. Again the hooklength was braid, usually 12lb silkworm or similar. Good hook - wish they did it in a 12...... Drew
mototench	hooklinks	#4	[-]
Posts: 775 (11/01/06 10:50:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I prefer to use mono, however this really is only possible on completly clear gravel bottoms- so a rare occurance, and most of the time I use Braid (drennan super spec sinking) in the 8-10lb strengths, as in even a little weed it seems to rest on top and be a little less visable, I have used stiff links to "push" the bait straight away from the lead, however I am not convinced enough to use it unless "scratching" for bites
tenchmagic	Re: hooklinks	#5	[-]
Posts: 402 (11/01/06 18:51:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Drew, my thinking behind trying the coated hooklinks was based on looking for a stiffish length to push the hookbait away from the feeder to straighten the link out.Then the stripped back part is pure braid,not too fine like a micro braid, and less prone to tangle,but with the suppleness I'm looking for giving natural movement to the hookbait,when that big tench comes in.Added to that you get the benefit of a high breaking strain link,which balances out the mainline needed for big feeder/weedy waters,i.e 10 to 12lbs.Hope that makes sense. It worked well for me last season, both in-line and heli rig with big feeders.I also did ok with 8-10 lb Fluoro,but I would choose the coated links for reliability.Mono has had it's day as a hooklink for big fish, i reckon. Moto and Drew,both interesting replies,thanks.I have also tried Drennan Barbel hooks.Brilliant in 14 and 12,cause no one else makes a big fish hook that small.I also love the Korda widegape in 10's.But I always use a couple of artificial casters on the hook as counterbalance.Makes all the difference. My links are normally between 3-7 inces,using rig putty on the longer links.Mostly bunches of maggots or hair-rigged casters (rubber). Can't wait to get out fishing again!Cheers guys.All the best,Chris.
Drew	just a quickie	#6	[-]
Posts: 1132 (11/01/06 22:02:49) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	worked 12 hrs today and got another 12 hrs of it tomorrow, so just a quick one. Stuart, I missed your post, took me so long the write the last. Re the length of hook link, thats a good point - I tie mine AS SHORT AS I CAN. The limiting factor is the the knots - they usually finish up about 2 inches, but on a good day might be 1 1/2 inches. Braid allows that as the loops in the knot (grinner/uni) are smaller and more flexible. I usually use a tiny pair of dissection forceps to hold the line! Course, now I'm writing a reply, I can't the other posts! Either Moto or Magic made a good point about trying new thing when we are scratching. If only we had the balls the ring the changes when the big girls are on the prod! In August when my lake got twitchy, I upped my hooklengths - oxymoronic cos I can't shorten them!!! At 18 -24 inches with a magaligner and two live maggots I got slow sailaways! Usually with my rig, nothing happens til suddenly the spool is spinning and the rod jumping up and down in the rests. To quote my mate Simon: "With that rig Drew, the only thing that twitches is the rod rests!" I am interested in the stiff-rig. - it's mechanics. the reason I am thinking about a coated combi-type rig is to get some of the stiff-rigs advantages whilst also maintaining the braids softness at the business end. But does that compromise render the stiffness of the S.R. redundant? One more thing - If you get an e-mail about downloading a screensaver of the budweiser frogs - DELETE IT! It's a horrible virus. Got a rendevous with a bottle of Rioja now! Cheers! Drew
tenchmagic	Re: just a quickie	#7	[-]
Posts: 402 (12/01/06 14:14:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Drew, do you think that wised up pressured fish, back off the feeder sometimes?Maybe that's why a change to a longer link works so well.I sometimes use PVA bags of maggot or casters and a lead,instead of a feeder,but it's a little expensive. Anyone else got any ideas on this?
Drew	Stiff links	#8	[-]
Posts: 1132 (18/01/06 21:29:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Watching the Korda film (part 1), pushing the bait out from the lead/feeder is exactly what it did. I find this quite appealing, especially with a shortie hooklength. I couldn't get it right last year and will be trying a stiff comb rig this year. Kordas Hybrid looks the best stuff for this - anyone tried it. It all looks so easy in January doesn't it!?
Drew	PVA bags	#9	[-]
Posts: 1132 (18/01/06 23:28:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Magic (Previous relpy was to Motos post) Yes, when they are spooky you've got to reduce the chances of the rig being seen/felt. Longer hooklengths/smaller hooks/lighter line. But I am always trying to get the bait in big time and the palaver I had with pva resulting in a feeling that I'd rather go to Work for a rest! I've had runs seconds after casting my BIG feeders so many times that I think getting food in is everything (Korda films don't necessarily support this. ) So I use soft sinking braid, the smallest hook I can get away with and a shortie to maximise hooking to pickup ratio. Sometimes they just pig out - I think the pacific mussels are a case in point. Tench are smart - we know that - but some days not as smart as other days: good coditions or competetive feeding? I like to concentrate on one swim for weeks at a time. I usually fish 3 mornings a week and I put loads of bait in and loads more before leaving. I think the tench like to live there and bear up to the shame of being caught by a muppet like me once in a while. But then the whole lot: every tench in the area, can suddenly chew my maggies without getting pricked! And I jump up and down like a beginner. Strangely, those are the most memeorable sessions .... the reason I love tenching.

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Hooklinks-Braid or Mono?

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