CARP TACTICS
Losing fish to hook pulls? Big-carp expert Lewis Read explains what to do
Hone your hookpoints
LOSING a big fish halfway through the fight or, worse still, at the net, is absolutely galling.
Some of these losses might be down to tackle breakages or unseen submerged obstacles, but in many cases a poor hook hold is to blame.
So how can you avoid such disasters? Preventing your rig tangling is a vital consideration, as is ensuring its mechanics are working effectively. Simply making sure that the hair, bait size and hooklink length are all in proportion is central to gaining secure hook holds.
Some anglers seem to suffer far more hook pulls than others, and while the reasons can be extremely varied they are all easily fixable!
If you’re one of those unlucky anglers, then hopefully I’ll be able to suggest a couple of solutions that will help.
Stay sharp
The obvious starting point is the hook itself. It’s essential that it is able to prick and penetrate quickly, with minimal resistance. If it’s anything other than sticky sharp you will be instantly making your rig less effective. It’s that simple.
This could lead to ‘unmissable
runs’ being missed, or fish falling off a few seconds into the fight because the hook is failing to penetrate properly.
After every fish I catch I make sure to test the point of the hook on my thumbnail. If it’s not ‘sticky sharp’, I’ll either resharpen it or tie up a completely new rig.
Find the right length
The length of the hooklink has a big bearing on hook holds too, especially in relation to any detritus or weed on the lakebed which could affect penetration.
If your hookbait and rig is buried in weed, the rig cannot work as intended. Tying a longer hooklink ensures that the hookbait doesn’t get dragged down into the muck when the lead plummets to the lakebed. Sometimes, just adding a few inches to your hooklink can be all it takes to improve hookholds.
It’s also important to consider how the rig settles on the deck. If it falls too quickly and lands in a tangled heap its effectiveness will be reduced. An easy way to slow the rig’s descent so it settles on top of any detritus is to thread a PVA bag of boilie crumb down the hooklink before casting out, and use a balanced hookbait such as a wafter or a snowman rig.
Consider these key factors this weekend and you should see your losses plummet – just remember to always keep testing that hook!