Does checking your rig for turning over and catching into your palm actually equate to a good or bad rig ? I'm not sure it's an accurate way of testing if a rig works well? Thoughts people ?

In reply to Post #1
Nope, unless you're trying to catch hands

In reply to Post #1
If you are using a rig that you want to turn and be point down as a fish straightens the hook length then yes I think it's a good test. For pop ups not so good and if the fish are sucking and blowing again not so relevant.

I do find it shows up the sharpness of the hook, the difference between a really sharp hook and a "sharp" hook shows up well.

In reply to Post #1
Absolute waste of time. It doesn't even nearly represent how your rig behaves when a fish is taking it in.

I'm with Posts 2 and 4

Edit
And post 5 for the nail test

In reply to Post #1
Waste of time IMO . . .the nail test for sharp hooks is the only one I do and frequently. . .

I don't bother with the "palm test" as such as in reality, where is a flat surface in a Carps mouth for the hook to turn over and catch.

All I do is draw the rig over the back of my hand or a finger with the hook and bait dangling over the side of my hand or finger and if the hook turns and sticks into my hand or finger, that is good enough for me as it represents the hook and bait in a Carps mouth and as it turns and moves off, it catches on the inside of its mouth.

It is surprising though how many times the hook will not turn doing it this way and you have to alter things to make it do so.

Palm test is so 1980's you want to buy a silicone vagina and drag it across that the lips are much more representative of a carp's mouth, go on tell me that's not a better test.

There is a video somewhere of using something like a coke bottle over a rig to simulate a carps sucking and blowing
That I can see being more akin to what you need if you want to see how it reacts.

I still do it but absolutely no idea why - but it feels good in my head, and proves to me a proper old school line aligner does exactly as it is supposed to (on dry land on my hand) and on landed fish. The best thing I have learnt in recent years (by many anglers) is to get a decent tether weight (on all baits) 2" below the hook, shot, putty whatever, getting the hook to drop once the mouth is closed or on attempted ejection is more important to me

Back of hand test 100%, if it fails this I won't put it out. Rig mechanics are pretty simple once you work out where the fundamental factors are and how they work even in a suck / blow situation. Sharp hook is key..

KD rig will fail the palm test over and over

I do a version of it all of the time when trying a new rig . bait combo.

bait goes in the middle of my open palm & hooklink goes between my forefinger & thumb, attached to a lead. I bring my finger & thumb together & then lift my hand up, as the hooklink tightens, the hook should catch on my palm / finger / thumb. size of bait, length of hair, suppleness of hooklink, kicker type all make a difference IMO.

deffo a correlation between the rigs that catch the quickest / every time compared to bites from the lake.

In reply to Post #13
Interesting approach, I'll be trying this next time I'm on the bank.

Sharp hook is essential and should be checked all of the time, thats N1

I have played around with the palm test. I use my thumb and forefinger to make a ring, aka ****er style and pull the rig thought this with the thinking its like a carp mouth, hook should flip over if that's what you are looking to test.

Just for the record, we are talking fishing, palm test ****ing style

In reply to Post #1

In reply to Post #12
Because of that. do you not rate that rig Leroy? I've found it to be one of the best hookers of carp I've ever used. Stopped using it because without PVA it would constantly wrap round the hook on the cast. The reason it works so well I think is. As well a decent amount of separation between the hook and the bait there is not much impeeding the hook taking hold. Never held much sway in the palm test so never tried it with that particular rig.

In reply to Post #17
Nope, I rate it well, think it absolutely proves the palm test is a load of cobbles. I used to use a KD rig, merlin braid, size 4 muggy, about 3 inches long, then with a 3 inch hair. Looked absolutely awful but It caught, can't bring myself to use it now as It looks so wrong

In reply to Post #18
Don't no why I stopped using it. Little bit of pva on the cast and it worked how it was meant. Laziness on my part I suppose. Use a lot of nylon rigs now. In hindsight a nylon hair might be less prone to tangle..

In reply to Post #19
Basic complicated rig Is just like a kd only with flourocarbon, it hardly tangles at all 🙂

In reply to Post #20
Steve Renyard wasn't it.? Nothing new in carp angling.

In reply to Post #18
Yes, i used to use braid hooklength with a 2 inch hair and size 8 hook. Caught plenty. How things change. I bet it would work tomorrow if i tried it. I did used to put foam on the hair to stop a tangle. I'm out next week might give it a go for 24 hrs.

I could write lots on rig efficiency and proof of effectiveness, but what I will say is this. Do any rig testing with a hook bait attached and under water! You will be supprised at what can make a difference. Then there is the different angles involved, how much free moverment, hook point loading - Dont get me started