In reply to Post #29
The lakes that I am fishing are not runs waters as such, and are mature club waters. However, I think that the stocking policy of the club is flawed in many ways. What I mean by this is that one particular lake was well known for carp fishing and there were plenty of carp between say 9lb and 26lb. It was never a runs water, but you could have some good sport and the banks were reasonably tidy and snag free. Over the years the club seems to have just stocked bream, roach, crucians and carp, but with no real plan for the lake. I presume they want to make it a mixed fishery. They have also let trees grow unchecked out into the lake and lilies and snags are common place in most swims. The swims have also slowly become overgrown and some are actually unfishable.
My comment about fish mouth damage was only my opinion, and I only stated that if they are using the same type of methods that I am using and they are encountering smaller carp, then they must also be coming up against the mouth damage issue. This being the case, how many posts, magazine articles, facebook posts or you tube videos actually broach this subject so that carp anglers can avoid falling into these pitfalls. It would be great if they would say things like 'if you're using a soft supple braid, then keep your lead size to 2oz or below if fishing for smaller / younger fish'. Or when using 4oz or 5oz leads be aware that a coated hooklink would be a far better option than supple braid in order to prevent mouth damage. I think that the amount of carp that we encounter that do have mouth damage far outweighs the number of posts or vlogs etc that we see that are trying to solve this problem.
This must be a problem at hundreds of carp lakes nationwide, as I could list loads of called carp fisheries that have stock ranging from 10lb up to 50lb and many carp anglers are using 4 oz leads and supple braid etc. so they must be encountering some mouth damage.
I'm not having a go at carp anglers, as like I said on the whole I am a carp angler. I just think that the big companies and big names could try a lot harder to make sure that everyone is educated in the issues that their end tackle components could cause.
The lakes that I am fishing are not runs waters as such, and are mature club waters. However, I think that the stocking policy of the club is flawed in many ways. What I mean by this is that one particular lake was well known for carp fishing and there were plenty of carp between say 9lb and 26lb. It was never a runs water, but you could have some good sport and the banks were reasonably tidy and snag free. Over the years the club seems to have just stocked bream, roach, crucians and carp, but with no real plan for the lake. I presume they want to make it a mixed fishery. They have also let trees grow unchecked out into the lake and lilies and snags are common place in most swims. The swims have also slowly become overgrown and some are actually unfishable.
My comment about fish mouth damage was only my opinion, and I only stated that if they are using the same type of methods that I am using and they are encountering smaller carp, then they must also be coming up against the mouth damage issue. This being the case, how many posts, magazine articles, facebook posts or you tube videos actually broach this subject so that carp anglers can avoid falling into these pitfalls. It would be great if they would say things like 'if you're using a soft supple braid, then keep your lead size to 2oz or below if fishing for smaller / younger fish'. Or when using 4oz or 5oz leads be aware that a coated hooklink would be a far better option than supple braid in order to prevent mouth damage. I think that the amount of carp that we encounter that do have mouth damage far outweighs the number of posts or vlogs etc that we see that are trying to solve this problem.
This must be a problem at hundreds of carp lakes nationwide, as I could list loads of called carp fisheries that have stock ranging from 10lb up to 50lb and many carp anglers are using 4 oz leads and supple braid etc. so they must be encountering some mouth damage.
I'm not having a go at carp anglers, as like I said on the whole I am a carp angler. I just think that the big companies and big names could try a lot harder to make sure that everyone is educated in the issues that their end tackle components could cause.
In reply to Post #27
Hi there, I'm not fishing for single figure fish with a 5oz lead and a size 4 hook. I'm fishing for 20lb plus fish with a 4 oz lead and a size 6 or 8 hook.
The trouble is that the club that runs the lake (this particular lake is gravelly not silty) has recently stocked (in the last 3 months) 1000 smaller fish. The lake used to be predominantly carp between say 9lb and 24lb (with rumours about 26lbers and higher etc). This has meant that lots of the smaller fish are getting caught whilst waiting for a run from their heavier and older counterparts.
They have also let the trees, snags and lilies etc grow out of control and the banks are becoming overgrown and some swims unfishable. So, I'm glad I posted this topic as out of it all I have actually decided to stop fishing these club waters and move on elsewhere, as the stocking policies and lack of lets say 'gardening' on the lakes has given rise to more issues, that to be honest are not going to be solved any time soon (and I am getting on a bit).
I am very grateful for everyone's posts in reply to this topic, as it has produced some great ideas, some points worth pondering over and has got my old grey matter ticking over nicely.
Hi there, I'm not fishing for single figure fish with a 5oz lead and a size 4 hook. I'm fishing for 20lb plus fish with a 4 oz lead and a size 6 or 8 hook.
The trouble is that the club that runs the lake (this particular lake is gravelly not silty) has recently stocked (in the last 3 months) 1000 smaller fish. The lake used to be predominantly carp between say 9lb and 24lb (with rumours about 26lbers and higher etc). This has meant that lots of the smaller fish are getting caught whilst waiting for a run from their heavier and older counterparts.
They have also let the trees, snags and lilies etc grow out of control and the banks are becoming overgrown and some swims unfishable. So, I'm glad I posted this topic as out of it all I have actually decided to stop fishing these club waters and move on elsewhere, as the stocking policies and lack of lets say 'gardening' on the lakes has given rise to more issues, that to be honest are not going to be solved any time soon (and I am getting on a bit).
I am very grateful for everyone's posts in reply to this topic, as it has produced some great ideas, some points worth pondering over and has got my old grey matter ticking over nicely.
In reply to Post #28
Hi there, yes you are spot on with your comments. It seems that the 20lb supple hooklink that I have been using is like a cheese wire, and that I have placed too much faith in the massive Kompany which sells this product, to provide carp safe end tackle components. I only used the 20lb version as this was the closest to the 16lb mainline that I have been using, which I think sounds sensible, but is obviously not a good idea.
I am having the same issues on both the silty lakes that I fish and the gravelly waters that I fish, because as you stated I thought that silty waters would contain fish that had softer mouths than those on gravelly waters. However, the cheese wire effect seems universal. I agree with you and think that these types of braid should be banned, but who is going to speak up and broach this subject in magazines, podcasts or you tube channels ???
I'm definitely going to up the braking strain of my hooklink as you suggest. I wonder if the tackle shop will give me a refund of the £15 I paid for the cheesewire stuff ???
Hi there, yes you are spot on with your comments. It seems that the 20lb supple hooklink that I have been using is like a cheese wire, and that I have placed too much faith in the massive Kompany which sells this product, to provide carp safe end tackle components. I only used the 20lb version as this was the closest to the 16lb mainline that I have been using, which I think sounds sensible, but is obviously not a good idea.
I am having the same issues on both the silty lakes that I fish and the gravelly waters that I fish, because as you stated I thought that silty waters would contain fish that had softer mouths than those on gravelly waters. However, the cheese wire effect seems universal. I agree with you and think that these types of braid should be banned, but who is going to speak up and broach this subject in magazines, podcasts or you tube channels ???
I'm definitely going to up the braking strain of my hooklink as you suggest. I wonder if the tackle shop will give me a refund of the £15 I paid for the cheesewire stuff ???
Another point I would like to add is sharpened hooks, specifically those sharpened on one plane. I have recently stopped using pre sharpened hooks as many of my hook holds would have sliced from their original hold causing damage. I don't know if this applies to all sharpened hooks but certainly the ones sharpened on a single plane, since going back to packet sharp hooks the holds have significantly improved and now I find them still in the original point of entry and require some effort to pop out. Be interesting to know if anyone else has found this but this might also be a factor if you are using similar hooks that have been sharpened in this way.
In reply to Post #34
Hi there, what pre sharpened hooks were you using ??? Did they come in a little black, white and red box ??
Hi there, what pre sharpened hooks were you using ??? Did they come in a little black, white and red box ??
So, I will have a look at purchasing longer, through action rods in a lighter test curve (recommendations appreciated), but this will probably be my last port of call due to cost £££
The hooklink braid is 20lb KORDA DARK MATTER SUPER-HEAVY BRAIDED HOOKLINK, I have now purchased the same braid in 30lb, some 20lb ESP TUNGSTEN LOADED SOFT and some SEMI STIFF 20lb KORDA N-TRAP ... so we shall see if this makes a difference
I have made a load of new rigs in longer lengths and am going to make them gradually shorter to see if the length is making a difference.
I have made the rigs with 2 different hooks attached, the KORDA wide gape and the sharpened KORDA KAMAKURAs in sizes 6 and 8, to see if this makes a difference.
I have also bought some lighter leads 3oz, 2.5oz and 2 oz, to see if this makes a difference.
I am also going to drop the lead, to see if this makes a difference.
Lots to be going on with, but at least it will keep me busy
The hooklink braid is 20lb KORDA DARK MATTER SUPER-HEAVY BRAIDED HOOKLINK, I have now purchased the same braid in 30lb, some 20lb ESP TUNGSTEN LOADED SOFT and some SEMI STIFF 20lb KORDA N-TRAP ... so we shall see if this makes a difference
I have made a load of new rigs in longer lengths and am going to make them gradually shorter to see if the length is making a difference.
I have made the rigs with 2 different hooks attached, the KORDA wide gape and the sharpened KORDA KAMAKURAs in sizes 6 and 8, to see if this makes a difference.
I have also bought some lighter leads 3oz, 2.5oz and 2 oz, to see if this makes a difference.
I am also going to drop the lead, to see if this makes a difference.
Lots to be going on with, but at least it will keep me busy
In reply to Post #36
I don't think it's your rods to be honest. The carp pull back just as hard on lighter rods.
I don't think it's your rods to be honest. The carp pull back just as hard on lighter rods.
In reply to Post #36
I fish pretty much the same as you apart from the lead size , I use 2.5 Oz inlines in bags and don't drop the lead , I don't get the mouth damage that you seem to get . Are you sure it's you that's causing the damage ?
I fish pretty much the same as you apart from the lead size , I use 2.5 Oz inlines in bags and don't drop the lead , I don't get the mouth damage that you seem to get . Are you sure it's you that's causing the damage ?
In reply to Post #36
Please feedback, it will be interesting to hear
Please feedback, it will be interesting to hear
In reply to Post #38
what hooklink are you using ???
what hooklink are you using ???
Dark matter braid is relatively thick for its breaking strain
In reply to Post #35
JP Precision, very sharp and strong, just appear to slice occasionally
JP Precision, very sharp and strong, just appear to slice occasionally
In reply to Post #39
In reply to Post #40
Korda supernatural sinking braid 18lb bs or fox reflex camo in 20 lb . Both finer diameter than the korda dark matter .
Korda supernatural sinking braid 18lb bs or fox reflex camo in 20 lb . Both finer diameter than the korda dark matter .
In reply to Post #36
Kindfisher, it's really good to see someone going to such effort for fish safety. I wish everybody cared as much as you.
You're doing everything right - all those things you've identified are going to reduce the chances of damage.
I'm no Korda fanboy, but as it happens that 30lb braid you just bought is the one I use in solid bags, specifically because I think it's kind on mouths. I do feel it's a little stiff for the hair though, so I use something much lighter for the hair itself. (usually light braid nicked off my lure rod - think it's maybe 8-10lb)
Kindfisher, it's really good to see someone going to such effort for fish safety. I wish everybody cared as much as you.
You're doing everything right - all those things you've identified are going to reduce the chances of damage.
I'm no Korda fanboy, but as it happens that 30lb braid you just bought is the one I use in solid bags, specifically because I think it's kind on mouths. I do feel it's a little stiff for the hair though, so I use something much lighter for the hair itself. (usually light braid nicked off my lure rod - think it's maybe 8-10lb)