I've started doing a bit of zig fishing of late and have been left a little frustrated . Although I've had a couple I've suffered a couple of hook pulls which never happens to me . Is this a common down side of zigging and if so is there anything I can do to help ? I've been using adjustable s with 11mm pop ups on a size 8 mixa hook . The two I had were well hooked but thinking of perhaps going up to a size 6 , any help please 👍
In reply to Post #1
Blunt hook perhaps or at least not as sharp as it needs to be?
I would think a size 6 would be too big and could be seen so will reduce the amount of takes.
Blunt hook perhaps or at least not as sharp as it needs to be?
I would think a size 6 would be too big and could be seen so will reduce the amount of takes.
In reply to Post #1
My own experience and others I have spoken to is there is an increase in the number of hook pulls when zigging. Just something we have to live with. You are not going to hook these fish by any other method so take what you can get. Doesn't mean you shouldn't look at hook, line and presentation to get the best results.
My own experience and others I have spoken to is there is an increase in the number of hook pulls when zigging. Just something we have to live with. You are not going to hook these fish by any other method so take what you can get. Doesn't mean you shouldn't look at hook, line and presentation to get the best results.
In reply to Post #3
Thanks for replies . People I've spoken to have suggested the same but being new to the method I was wondering whether there was anything that would help . Perhaps I'll fish a 6 and an 8 side by side and see if there is a noticeable difference , thanks .
Thanks for replies . People I've spoken to have suggested the same but being new to the method I was wondering whether there was anything that would help . Perhaps I'll fish a 6 and an 8 side by side and see if there is a noticeable difference , thanks .
In reply to Post #1
Part and parcel of zig fishing mate. Size 6 is absolutely fine
Part and parcel of zig fishing mate. Size 6 is absolutely fine
Due to the lead being so far away from the lead plus the heavy TC of most rods around today the odds are stacked against you as you have little contact with the fish. Try to use the lightest lead possible, or maybe drop it if you have too. I wouldn't normally advocate dropping the lead but if your zig fishing into possible weed or snags then you may have to to not put the fish in danger. A bigger hook may help, or if your fishing very long zigs then try an adjustable zig rig so that you only have a 2-3 ft hooklength rather than say 6+ ft.
In reply to Post #2
People still catch loads of fish with big hooks on zigs though... Question of confidence i believe, and self experience with different tactics and rigs
People still catch loads of fish with big hooks on zigs though... Question of confidence i believe, and self experience with different tactics and rigs
In reply to Post #2
The fish dont know what a hook is. I use 6's all of the time.
I drop the lead on anything over 6ft and i use big leads. Adjustables are great but you definitely lose more fish on them
The fish dont know what a hook is. I use 6's all of the time.
I drop the lead on anything over 6ft and i use big leads. Adjustables are great but you definitely lose more fish on them
In reply to Post #8
If fish don't know what a hook is, can you explain why I get more aborted takes on the surface when using hair rigged baits against totally hiding the hook?
My point is you will catch using a 6 but all other things being equal I believe you should get a bigger quantity of more confident takes with a less visible hook.
If fish don't know what a hook is, can you explain why I get more aborted takes on the surface when using hair rigged baits against totally hiding the hook?
My point is you will catch using a 6 but all other things being equal I believe you should get a bigger quantity of more confident takes with a less visible hook.
In reply to Post #9
Thanks for the replies . I'm going to try using a 6 alongside an 8 and see if there is a difference in number of bites , thanks.
Thanks for the replies . I'm going to try using a 6 alongside an 8 and see if there is a difference in number of bites , thanks.
In reply to Post #9
Easily.....
When surface fishing, anything with an unhidden hook will make a different silhouette against the sky to your free offerings so they will be more suspicious of it
The vast majority of things that the fish eat in the water column have legs and other bits sticking out of them, they cant tell what is a hook and what is a leg
Ive caught 700-800lb of carp on zigs in 48 hours on a few occasions and never use anything smaller than an 8, but normally a 6. As long as the hooks arent really shiny and the foam or whatever is boyant enough, hook size (within reason) makes no difference.
Easily.....
When surface fishing, anything with an unhidden hook will make a different silhouette against the sky to your free offerings so they will be more suspicious of it
The vast majority of things that the fish eat in the water column have legs and other bits sticking out of them, they cant tell what is a hook and what is a leg
Ive caught 700-800lb of carp on zigs in 48 hours on a few occasions and never use anything smaller than an 8, but normally a 6. As long as the hooks arent really shiny and the foam or whatever is boyant enough, hook size (within reason) makes no difference.
In reply to Post #11
Thanks for that 👍
Thanks for that 👍
In reply to Post #11
Spot on. A nice big size 6 makes a zig look better imo.
Spot on. A nice big size 6 makes a zig look better imo.
In reply to Post #13
When you see one in the margin with a big hook wafting around, i have to agree
When you see one in the margin with a big hook wafting around, i have to agree