STEEL WORMS
What do you do in spring when you need a hook that will catch flatties and be relied upon to land any early season smoothhound? James Madsen offers one solution
COX & RAWLE LONG RANGE WORM RRP:RRP: £2.50 SPRING FISHING
During the spring months many anglers, myself included, like to get out targeting flatfish. I love plaice fishing during the spring, especially on those crisp, calm days with a clear blue sky. Along with just fishing for pleasure, I also have a run of fishing competitions in the spring, at many of which I will be targeting flatfish. However, as the temperatures begin to rise we will also start seeing many of these same venues producing smoothhounds and therein lies my problem. I don’t want to sacrifice a good hook-up ratio when targeting smaller fish, with a heavier gauge of wire because of smoothhounds, or any other bonus fish for that matter. I want a hook which is suitable for catching small fish but still just about strong enough to land something bigger.
SOLUTION
One solution is the Long Range Worm hook from Cox & Rawle. is pattern of hook has quite a deep gape, a medium length shank and two barbs on that shank to help prevent your baits from slipping back off the hook. Made with a high content of good quality steel, the wire will bend and not snap. ey have a needle style point that makes these hooks more durable and you will find they stay sharper for longer. I’m more interested in a size 4 and a size 2 when targeting smaller fish during the spring, especially flatfish and small bass. Under closer inspection, you will see these hooks in aforementioned sizes look really compact and reasonably strong. I’ve actually already had some great results with the Long Range Worm hooks in the past, landing conger eels, rays and smoothhounds. Don’t be fooled by the name either. Because of those barbs on the shank of the Long Range Worm this hook will also be a great pattern for a good selection of fish baits and peeler crab. I remember landing smoothhounds once on the
Long Range Worm hooks in a size 2 and that was while catching small bass and flounder at a fishing competition in South Wales. I’ve already landed some nice plaice on the Long Range Worm hooks this year and I have a match coming up a Chesil soon where this hook pattern will also come in very handy.
■ Available sizes: 4, 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/o