Q What length of hooklength do you start with when you fish on the bomb with pellets? When do you change to a shorter or longer one? What lines and hook do you use – do they vary depending on bait size?
Malc Stephenson, Birmingham
Steve says: This question is very relevant at this time of year when bomb and pellet fishing really comes to the fore.
If it’s bomb and pellet for carp averaging 6lb to 8lb, I will always start on an 18ins hooklength.
I’ve spent a lot of hours experimenting with my hooklengths on the bomb, and firmly believe 18ins is the optimum length.
However, there are two occasions when I will change this length of the hooklength I use.
The first is if I feel carp might be getting away with it, as in picking up the hookbait and ejecting it without getting hooked.
If this is happening I’ll shorten the hooklength to 12ins so the carp
haven’t got much time once the hookbait is sucked in before they feel the weight of the lead and bolt, hooking themselves in the process.
The only other time I’ll make a change is in the winter, if the water is very clear.
This is when carp feed a lot on sight, and sometimes a slower-falling hookbait can produce more bites.
So if I’m struggling for bites but I feel there are a few carp in the swim I will simply lengthen the hooklength to 32ins so the bait falls more slowly through the water. Sometimes this can help catch me a couple of extra fish in the cold.
As for hook and line size, my hooklengths are 0.19mm N-Gauge and hook choice for bomb and pellet is always a size 10 or 12 QM1 hook.
When fishing for carp I’m not convinced that hook size and line diameter make a huge difference, and I don’t feel that going lighter produces more bites.
The other important fact to bear in mind is, you have to land everything you hook. There’s no point hooking fish you can’t land because your hooks or line aren’t up to the job!