In reply to Post #14
If I'm not beachcaster fishing I usually go very short on hooklink lengths these days if I can get away with it; 6' mucilin greased links of lower bs lines can be difficult to cast and control / mend unless its flat calm.
Prefer to use an MCF egg float (the current Fox Exocet floats are the closest poor cousins) in conjunction with a spool of ye olde Kryston Multistrand - I've been having success using hooklinks of no more than a foot long - this when paired with a heavy egg float (that they weirdly don't seem to spook off) can result in aggressive self hooking takes - a floating bolt rig basically . . .its also a rig that most others these days would never consider so can work when lakes get hammered by the end of the summer
If I'm not beachcaster fishing I usually go very short on hooklink lengths these days if I can get away with it; 6' mucilin greased links of lower bs lines can be difficult to cast and control / mend unless its flat calm.
Prefer to use an MCF egg float (the current Fox Exocet floats are the closest poor cousins) in conjunction with a spool of ye olde Kryston Multistrand - I've been having success using hooklinks of no more than a foot long - this when paired with a heavy egg float (that they weirdly don't seem to spook off) can result in aggressive self hooking takes - a floating bolt rig basically . . .its also a rig that most others these days would never consider so can work when lakes get hammered by the end of the summer
In reply to Post #14
What you said makes no sense.
On the one hand you're telling the guy to make his hooklength float with mucilin, and on the other you're telling him to degrease it so it sinks.
OP. 7 strands of 2lb line will give you an undetectable hook link. Do not twist them together when tying it up. Take the time to get them all the same length and you have....multistrand. showing my age here in that I remember when multistrand was a thing.
Chunk of Cork banded to the hook. Loop the band over the hook shank and pull it through itself, secure with a spot of spuerglue. Cut a slit in the cork with a knife so the band sits in the cork, never have to rebait again.
Hundreds, thousands even of carp have fallen to this just to me alone, both with a controller and fly fishing.
What you said makes no sense.
On the one hand you're telling the guy to make his hooklength float with mucilin, and on the other you're telling him to degrease it so it sinks.
OP. 7 strands of 2lb line will give you an undetectable hook link. Do not twist them together when tying it up. Take the time to get them all the same length and you have....multistrand. showing my age here in that I remember when multistrand was a thing.
Chunk of Cork banded to the hook. Loop the band over the hook shank and pull it through itself, secure with a spot of spuerglue. Cut a slit in the cork with a knife so the band sits in the cork, never have to rebait again.
Hundreds, thousands even of carp have fallen to this just to me alone, both with a controller and fly fishing.
Personally my idea of floatant for Carp is a quick rub of the index finger down the nose or behind my ear, guess it depends on your complexion 
As for original Mucilin, on hot sunny days you'll be wearing most of it in your pocket (for those not familiar think vaseline). There are however others which are temperature stable.
Re the multi strand, oddly enough cross over with fly fishing again, furled leaders. They have a dual use in fly fishing, being able to kick the fly out more easily but more relevant, they move more freely with the water currents to make the fly appear like its moving naturally.
Sounds to me like they could be used for Carp, I am thinking of trying it, I cant see any fault with the logic, and there are Carp flies so its probably been done already....anyone? Again floatation pastes apparently take more easily to a furled leader than a single line, I've never tried it though so that's not personal experience. You heard it here 1st Carp tackle companies, fill your boots
Now you've got me thinking about floatants how about a bit of Frogs fanny or Otter Butter...those names...I just can't shrug them ....cue the Carp connotations.
As for original Mucilin, on hot sunny days you'll be wearing most of it in your pocket (for those not familiar think vaseline). There are however others which are temperature stable.Re the multi strand, oddly enough cross over with fly fishing again, furled leaders. They have a dual use in fly fishing, being able to kick the fly out more easily but more relevant, they move more freely with the water currents to make the fly appear like its moving naturally.
Sounds to me like they could be used for Carp, I am thinking of trying it, I cant see any fault with the logic, and there are Carp flies so its probably been done already....anyone? Again floatation pastes apparently take more easily to a furled leader than a single line, I've never tried it though so that's not personal experience. You heard it here 1st Carp tackle companies, fill your boots
Now you've got me thinking about floatants how about a bit of Frogs fanny or Otter Butter...those names...I just can't shrug them
....cue the Carp connotations.
In reply to Post #17
Yes, you are correct.
I should of added that the 12" or so to the hook doesn't need to have mucilin applied and should be regularly degreased with a clean cloth, sponge or pad.
Yes, you are correct.
I should of added that the 12" or so to the hook doesn't need to have mucilin applied and should be regularly degreased with a clean cloth, sponge or pad.
Lots of good replies / info
the beachcaster method is my prefered way as its less likely to spook them and you can target your fish by simply lifting it up if a small carp wants your bait and you dont want to catch it
i found small cat biscuits to be best and cheap as well but you could use floating pellets
the trouble with dog biscuits is it just filled them up too quick and the carp drifted away before they were all competing for the biscuits
i am surprised no one has mentioned my favourite hookbait for floater fishing
the imitation fly or insect from the fly fishing world loads of different patterns etc but i found the best was just a brown ball of fluff / deer hair ? just hook the ball on a size 10 / 8 hook with a 2ft hooklink of your choice its a deadly method
the beachcaster method is my prefered way as its less likely to spook them and you can target your fish by simply lifting it up if a small carp wants your bait and you dont want to catch it
i found small cat biscuits to be best and cheap as well but you could use floating pellets
the trouble with dog biscuits is it just filled them up too quick and the carp drifted away before they were all competing for the biscuits
i am surprised no one has mentioned my favourite hookbait for floater fishing
the imitation fly or insect from the fly fishing world loads of different patterns etc but i found the best was just a brown ball of fluff / deer hair ? just hook the ball on a size 10 / 8 hook with a 2ft hooklink of your choice its a deadly method
In reply to Post #18
A furled leader is not multistrand in the way I understand it - I thought they were twisted like twine to improve casting etc? The original Kryston is a genuine multistrand ie multiple fine fibres that can be pulled apart to appear less linear on the surface - tbf its not perfect and can be a pain to manage if not careful hence the short hooklink method. . .def room for development here however in terms of a genuine floating multistrand hooklink that perhaps forces itself apart when in contact with water?
A furled leader is not multistrand in the way I understand it - I thought they were twisted like twine to improve casting etc? The original Kryston is a genuine multistrand ie multiple fine fibres that can be pulled apart to appear less linear on the surface - tbf its not perfect and can be a pain to manage if not careful hence the short hooklink method. . .def room for development here however in terms of a genuine floating multistrand hooklink that perhaps forces itself apart when in contact with water?
Anchored crust job done.
In reply to Post #12
With the enterprise fake mixers, I cut a slot opposite the weight and slide the shank in, making minor adjustments so it floats with the hook secured in place and on top of the bait.
The hook has a hair Knotless knot style, which is threaded through the bait to come out of the weight hole and the split shot is pinched onto the hair loop and pushed back into the hole.
With the enterprise fake mixers, I cut a slot opposite the weight and slide the shank in, making minor adjustments so it floats with the hook secured in place and on top of the bait.
The hook has a hair Knotless knot style, which is threaded through the bait to come out of the weight hole and the split shot is pinched onto the hair loop and pushed back into the hole.
In reply to Post #14
Not tried it yet, but I have often considered using flurocarbon for the last 6 inches of the hook length.
The was a fantastic 'Wildlife on 2' on BBC2 a good few years ago, about a couple of trout anglers trying to imitate the excatc underwater view of dry flies and leader.
Not tried it yet, but I have often considered using flurocarbon for the last 6 inches of the hook length.
The was a fantastic 'Wildlife on 2' on BBC2 a good few years ago, about a couple of trout anglers trying to imitate the excatc underwater view of dry flies and leader.
In reply to Post #17
Have you tried deer hair imitation mixer flies. If so, how have you found them?
Have you tried deer hair imitation mixer flies. If so, how have you found them?
In reply to Post #18
I have found Gink to be good as a line floatant.
A floating braid is good for a main line/hook link, too, where you can use it.
I have found Gink to be good as a line floatant.
A floating braid is good for a main line/hook link, too, where you can use it.
i am surprised no one has mentioned my favourite hookbait for floater fishing
the imitation fly or insect from the fly fishing world loads of different patterns etc but i found the best was just a brown ball of fluff / deer hair ?
Do you deliberately like to make life hard for yourself by having a fav that doesn't work as well :-P Good to hear they work well too, I wonder if the ripples from twitching a fly might pre occupy the Carp or aid hiding the line etc...hmmm surely that would negate the effects of them blowing at them to see how they move, lets face it a live fly/insect will go where it wants and not at the pace of other stuff, precisely what makes it stand out to fish I would have thought. I will be giving them a go 
A furled leader is not multistrand in the way I understand it
We have different ways of looking at it, I can be like that...lol. To me multi strand outside of fishing means just that many strands irrespective of how they're arranged. Yes furled leaders are twisted around each other, sort of platting or braid I suppose, still made up of multiple strands. I'm kind of glad they're not like the Kryston stuff, imagine using a silk version of that with fingers rough as a bears arse the main reason I hated tying the kryston stuff on the bank for all those years :-(
I have often considered using flurocarbon for the last 6 inches of the hook length.
I suppose in theory if that last 6" is subsurface it could be a bonus, never tried it so can't comment. If it was floating, as FC is usually larger in diameter lb/lb with nylon I don't see any benefit as it'd still be visible in the surface tension.
Have you tried deer hair imitation mixer flies. If so, how have you found them?
Not yet but it looks like digger360 has. I do like the idea of them as they're natural, I don't like losing plastic, mostly from the pov if something smaller eats it, it could block it's intestine and it's a long lasting bait so it could kill again and again and again...you get the idea. How dense are those deer hair flies, could they be passed more easily than say a solid immitation or are they just as solid?
the imitation fly or insect from the fly fishing world loads of different patterns etc but i found the best was just a brown ball of fluff / deer hair ?
Do you deliberately like to make life hard for yourself by having a fav that doesn't work as well
:-P Good to hear they work well too, I wonder if the ripples from twitching a fly might pre occupy the Carp or aid hiding the line etc...hmmm surely that would negate the effects of them blowing at them to see how they move, lets face it a live fly/insect will go where it wants and not at the pace of other stuff, precisely what makes it stand out to fish I would have thought. I will be giving them a go A furled leader is not multistrand in the way I understand it
We have different ways of looking at it, I can be like that...lol. To me multi strand outside of fishing means just that many strands irrespective of how they're arranged. Yes furled leaders are twisted around each other, sort of platting or braid I suppose, still made up of multiple strands. I'm kind of glad they're not like the Kryston stuff, imagine using a silk version of that with fingers rough as a bears arse
the main reason I hated tying the kryston stuff on the bank for all those years :-( I have often considered using flurocarbon for the last 6 inches of the hook length.
I suppose in theory if that last 6" is subsurface it could be a bonus, never tried it so can't comment. If it was floating, as FC is usually larger in diameter lb/lb with nylon I don't see any benefit as it'd still be visible in the surface tension.
Have you tried deer hair imitation mixer flies. If so, how have you found them?
Not yet but it looks like digger360 has. I do like the idea of them as they're natural, I don't like losing plastic, mostly from the pov if something smaller eats it, it could block it's intestine and it's a long lasting bait so it could kill again and again and again...you get the idea. How dense are those deer hair flies, could they be passed more easily than say a solid immitation or are they just as solid?
In reply to Post #27
I've always thought a 'floating combi rig' might be a good idea just to give the last 2" a bit more freedom of movement - on the proviso the braid floats. I have experimented with this on my beachcaster rigs with some success however one of the benefits of a stiff hooklink when using the beachcaster is its stability in a chop / a bit of breeze so the braided element can work against you in this instance . . . def an advocate of steering clear of knotless knots (as per another posters comments) when traditional mono hooklink floater fishing - the line exits at an angle forcing the last few inches subsurface which is not ideal IMO
I've always thought a 'floating combi rig' might be a good idea just to give the last 2" a bit more freedom of movement - on the proviso the braid floats. I have experimented with this on my beachcaster rigs with some success however one of the benefits of a stiff hooklink when using the beachcaster is its stability in a chop / a bit of breeze so the braided element can work against you in this instance . . . def an advocate of steering clear of knotless knots (as per another posters comments) when traditional mono hooklink floater fishing - the line exits at an angle forcing the last few inches subsurface which is not ideal IMO
In reply to Post #25
Tried them? I've tied hundreds of them lol. Just cut a good pinch of deer hair, catch it in the middle halfway down the shank, pull the thread as hard as you dare until the deer hair 'balls up' so to speak. Whip finish then trim to rough biscuity shape.
They're OK, they work OK but do get rejected quite a bit, but eventually they sink when they get waterlogged due to the trimming.
Had way more fish on cork. Which obviously never sinks, and never comes off as long as you slice it with a blade and work the bait band into the cuts.
Even plain cork balls straight out of the packet work wonders except on very pressured waters.
Tried them? I've tied hundreds of them lol. Just cut a good pinch of deer hair, catch it in the middle halfway down the shank, pull the thread as hard as you dare until the deer hair 'balls up' so to speak. Whip finish then trim to rough biscuity shape.
They're OK, they work OK but do get rejected quite a bit, but eventually they sink when they get waterlogged due to the trimming.
Had way more fish on cork. Which obviously never sinks, and never comes off as long as you slice it with a blade and work the bait band into the cuts.
Even plain cork balls straight out of the packet work wonders except on very pressured waters.
In reply to Post #29
I think every bait has its day its just finding which one they prefer on that day like you i have tried everything and these imition biscuits are up there with the best considering there is no flavouring a bit like zig foam / fishing in theory it shouldnt work according bait companys but its a deadly tactic on the right day
yes they do eventually sink thats why i love the beachcaster method you can lower or lift it up when you want so it can stay out longer than with a surface controller so less disturbance and when its gets wet just squeeze it out and blow on it a few times
these are pretty good from ebay if people dont know how to make them
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304808095894?hash=item46f7fa7096:g:qgYAAOSwHz1j7n8u
always worth having a packet in your bag
I think every bait has its day its just finding which one they prefer on that day like you i have tried everything and these imition biscuits are up there with the best considering there is no flavouring a bit like zig foam / fishing in theory it shouldnt work according bait companys but its a deadly tactic on the right day
yes they do eventually sink thats why i love the beachcaster method you can lower or lift it up when you want so it can stay out longer than with a surface controller so less disturbance and when its gets wet just squeeze it out and blow on it a few times
these are pretty good from ebay if people dont know how to make them
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304808095894?hash=item46f7fa7096:g:qgYAAOSwHz1j7n8u
always worth having a packet in your bag