I'm after some help solving some hook pull issues I've been having on my last 48 hour session.
I'm using ESP tungsten braid rig of about 4" in length. A bank tackle size 6 wide gape hook with a fox mini flipper. Inline lead set up of 2.5oz all in a PVA bag.
I lost about 10 fish 5 lifting into nothing and 5 to hook pulls some of them were big fish but still landed 5.
I don't really know what's going on causing the pulls after a minute or so of playing the fish in open water and not bullying the fish either.
Any ideas or recommendations on changes that would help?
Thanks
Darren
I'm using ESP tungsten braid rig of about 4" in length. A bank tackle size 6 wide gape hook with a fox mini flipper. Inline lead set up of 2.5oz all in a PVA bag.
I lost about 10 fish 5 lifting into nothing and 5 to hook pulls some of them were big fish but still landed 5.
I don't really know what's going on causing the pulls after a minute or so of playing the fish in open water and not bullying the fish either.
Any ideas or recommendations on changes that would help?
Thanks
Darren
In reply to Post #1
What are the mouths like on the fish you've landed?
What are the mouths like on the fish you've landed?
In reply to Post #2
Generally they are OK, it's a day ticket water so some of the fish have been hammered. After the first loss I did put it down to a fish with a dodgy mouth bad luck but with so many I started to think it was a rig issue.
Generally they are OK, it's a day ticket water so some of the fish have been hammered. After the first loss I did put it down to a fish with a dodgy mouth bad luck but with so many I started to think it was a rig issue.
In reply to Post #1
I have a general rule that works for me:
If Inam hooking fish hooked dead centre of the bottom lip the hair and rig length is right.
If I am hooking fish at the back of the mouth, the hair and rig is too long.
If I am losing fish to hookpulls, nothing on after indication of a run, or hooking right at the very front of the lip, then the hair and rig is too short.
Each one is a simple fix.
In theory an inline lead gives instant indication of a take, pulls the hook in as the fish moves and hits the lead.
Going by my rules above,
I would lengthen the rig, ( by a couple of inches) and the hair length so that you have a proper gap between the bait and the hook. It can be as simple as using an extender bait stop, or you may need to actually tie a longer hair.
I have a general rule that works for me:
If Inam hooking fish hooked dead centre of the bottom lip the hair and rig length is right.
If I am hooking fish at the back of the mouth, the hair and rig is too long.
If I am losing fish to hookpulls, nothing on after indication of a run, or hooking right at the very front of the lip, then the hair and rig is too short.
Each one is a simple fix.
In theory an inline lead gives instant indication of a take, pulls the hook in as the fish moves and hits the lead.
Going by my rules above,
I would lengthen the rig, ( by a couple of inches) and the hair length so that you have a proper gap between the bait and the hook. It can be as simple as using an extender bait stop, or you may need to actually tie a longer hair.
Sometimes even just going up a hook size or two and size of the gape can make all the difference.
If you are getting that number of runs you are doing pretty much everything right so don't change anything for the sake of it. If it was me using solid bags I would start by lengthening the hook link by 2 ins and if problems persist play with longer and shorter lengths. Change one parameter at a time
In reply to Post #1
Lengthen your rig a bit, even better imo double it, use a stick instead of a bag, and up the hook size. The bank hooks come up quite small. Gap of 5mm or so from bend of hook to bait. Job should be a goodun
Lengthen your rig a bit, even better imo double it, use a stick instead of a bag, and up the hook size. The bank hooks come up quite small. Gap of 5mm or so from bend of hook to bait. Job should be a goodun
In reply to Post #1
Are you making sure your hook is razor sharp after each fish or even better touching it up so its sharp after each fish ? The bank tackle hooks aren't the sharpest of hooks on the market so make sure you inspect each hook before use 👌🏻
Are you making sure your hook is razor sharp after each fish or even better touching it up so its sharp after each fish ? The bank tackle hooks aren't the sharpest of hooks on the market so make sure you inspect each hook before use 👌🏻
In reply to Post #9
Totally agree !
Totally agree !
In reply to Post #1
Just use muggas. You won't lose any fish then.
Just use muggas. You won't lose any fish then.
In reply to Post #1
Sounds like your getting plenty of bites, so if it was me I'd fish two rods on the spot and not fish one in a bag.
Use whatever rig suits the approach and compare. See what happens and adapt from there.
Sounds like your getting plenty of bites, so if it was me I'd fish two rods on the spot and not fish one in a bag.
Use whatever rig suits the approach and compare. See what happens and adapt from there.
In reply to Post #1
Thank you everyone for your replies.
Both rods are sat 12ft apart on spots I've a spread of bait so probably close enough to class it nearly the same spot.
I'll change the length of the rig to 5.5 to 6" and see how it goes the next time I'm there and see how it goes.
Although the hooks feel sharp and dig in I've ordered a sharpening kit to give them a tweek.
Thank you everyone for your replies.
Both rods are sat 12ft apart on spots I've a spread of bait so probably close enough to class it nearly the same spot.
I'll change the length of the rig to 5.5 to 6" and see how it goes the next time I'm there and see how it goes.
Although the hooks feel sharp and dig in I've ordered a sharpening kit to give them a tweek.
In reply to Post #1
I find actually striking the rod on the take helps, I'm not saying your not.. I see all too often people just lifting the rod up on a take thinking that the lead has set the hook when in reality it probably hasn't.
Checkout some of the I think, Rob Hughes underwater films on YouTube where he picks up the hook underwater. He didn't really feel the hook point digging in on lighter leads under four ounces. He was also able to move the rig a few feet whilst showing very little indication at the rod end. Certainly food for thought
I find actually striking the rod on the take helps, I'm not saying your not.. I see all too often people just lifting the rod up on a take thinking that the lead has set the hook when in reality it probably hasn't.
Checkout some of the I think, Rob Hughes underwater films on YouTube where he picks up the hook underwater. He didn't really feel the hook point digging in on lighter leads under four ounces. He was also able to move the rig a few feet whilst showing very little indication at the rod end. Certainly food for thought
In reply to Post #14
Best bot to watch videos like that else you'll question everything you do and won't settle.
Best bot to watch videos like that else you'll question everything you do and won't settle.
In reply to Post #14
I watched a frank Warwick video from Sonik and he said the same about leads not setting the hook in his finger until 5oz.
I normally wind down onto the fish then lift into it.
I watched a frank Warwick video from Sonik and he said the same about leads not setting the hook in his finger until 5oz.
I normally wind down onto the fish then lift into it.
In reply to Post #15
lol there is that! I was shown to strike though (a very long time ago) so it's never been a bother for me..
lol there is that! I was shown to strike though (a very long time ago) so it's never been a bother for me..
In reply to Post #1
Just wanted to update on some changes I made, lengthened the hooklink to 6" and changed to a mugga hook. Also stepped up to a 3oz lead and of 4 runs last night 3 on the bank. Lost a good fish after 5 mins of playing due to a hook pull though but I think that's more to do with the state of the fishes mouths.
Just wanted to update on some changes I made, lengthened the hooklink to 6" and changed to a mugga hook. Also stepped up to a 3oz lead and of 4 runs last night 3 on the bank. Lost a good fish after 5 mins of playing due to a hook pull though but I think that's more to do with the state of the fishes mouths.
In reply to Post #18
Good advise, increase the rig length and increase the lead size
May sound like stupid question, are you striking into the fish or just lifting into it?
Also, are you playing them in hard?
Lot of hook pulls that, concerns me though after the adjustments?
Good advise, increase the rig length and increase the lead size
May sound like stupid question, are you striking into the fish or just lifting into it?
Also, are you playing them in hard?
Lot of hook pulls that, concerns me though after the adjustments?
In reply to Post #14
Unless it's an absolutely screaming run I always give it a good hit after winding down on picking up the rod. It's just the way I was taught to do it.
Unless it's an absolutely screaming run I always give it a good hit after winding down on picking up the rod. It's just the way I was taught to do it.
In reply to Post #19
The fish I lost last night was after a screamer and was on for 5 mins. I did play it a bit hard as it was making it's way towards a reed bed.
All of the fish I have had out of that lake have pretty bad mouths so maybe it's because of that and trying to turn it away from the reeds.
Ideally I need to reset by fishing somewhere else without the bad mouths.
The fish I lost last night was after a screamer and was on for 5 mins. I did play it a bit hard as it was making it's way towards a reed bed.
All of the fish I have had out of that lake have pretty bad mouths so maybe it's because of that and trying to turn it away from the reeds.
Ideally I need to reset by fishing somewhere else without the bad mouths.
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