Favorite hook size for barbel?

[Stephen Bond]

Obviously it mostly depends on the bait you are using but what size hook do you find yourself using the most?

Personally I carry pretty much everything from a size 1 down to a size 14 for barbel.

 

[Andrew Boyne]

Size 10 Drennan Super Specialist or a size 11 Drennan S.S. Barbel, voted for the 11 since no one else has yet!

 

[Pete Dalton]

Generally size 9/10 ESP Curve Shanks also like the Drennan Barbel specialist in 12/14 for small baits.

 

[John Newman]

I am using Korum XPert Power hooks at the moment which I am liking very much. Given up on the Drennans as I find the points turn over too easily. Using 8's but sure I could go down to 10's. At £1.25 for a packet of ten they are very reasonably priced for a good quality hook.

 

[Roger Carswell]

As Steve Bond says, it's all dependent on the bait you are using. A 2" cube of meat would look pretty stupid on a size 16! Back in the seventies when I started doing a lot of match fishing for barbel on the Severn with casters and maggots it was pretty near impossible to get strong, reliable size 16 and 14 hooks. Most of my friends settled on an Au Lion d'Or beaked pattern which we had to send off for. Nowadays anglers are spoilt for choice and quality is excellent. If you're a thinking angler you'll need a range of hook sizes - remember, barbel fishing isn't just about fishing boilies and pellets!

PS I was more than happy with Korum S3's - why on earth did they stop selling them?

 

[James Healey]

Big lump of meat on a size 4 G pattern Kamagatsu hook, or a size 10 if I'm hair rigging. But I voted 4 because fishing with meat is my preferred barbel bait. Doesn't seem to be working well this summer though.

 

[Ian Crook]

IMO it TOTALLY depends on the bait in use, pretty pointless question really.

 

[Neil Blood]

Yep dont get the question, I carry size 14 to size 4, and use them all depending on bait size and conditions.

 

[Paul Thomas]

The sharpest one of whatever size I need to use....dependent on the bait chosen for that cast....

....smallish for boilies

biggun for worms

Meat hook for.................well, meat

Odd question?


Paul

 

[Stephen Bond]

Obviously it mostly depends on the bait you are using but what size hook do you find yourself using the most?

Most people likely use a particular bait the majority of the time and hence likely a corresponding hook size. If you really are not using a particular size the majority of the time i.e. you use different hook sizes equally then agreed, you have no valid answer.

Enjoying the results so far! Thanks for the votes and the posts

Stephen

 

[David Hall]

I use a size that matches my bait, it's not unusual to go down to 2's if using half a can of meat.

 

[Chris Cheshire]

I've heard people talking of using half a tin of meat and always thought it was said tongue in cheek, do you REALLY use half a tin?

 

[Kevin Daly]

Is this a windup?

 

[Stephen Bond]

Probably a 200g can, not a 340g one unless catfish are the quarry?!

High coloured water there is surely no bait which can beat a large lump of smelly meat?

Stephen

 

[Jeremy Evans]

I will happily use half a 340 gram tin when fishing high coloured water and i know plenty of others who fish the same. Regarding hook size for a small bait i use a big hook and for a big bait i use a bigger hook lol.

 

[Adrian Williams]

Double maggot size 18 hook to 4lb bottom, 6lb mainline and a JW Avon quiver accounted for thousands of barbel through the 80s and 90s. I only stopped because certain people frowned on me using tackle that light.
If only they knew that when it got really tough I would drop to a single pinky on a 22 and 1.7 bottom.

 

[Neil Smart]

IMO it TOTALLY depends on the bait in use, pretty pointless question really.

Agreed, I use as small as a 14 for small pellet, and up to a 2 for big meat.

 

[Chris Avis]

Double maggot size 18 hook to 4lb bottom, 6lb mainline and a JW Avon quiver accounted for thousands of barbel through the 80s and 90s. I only stopped because certain people frowned on me using tackle that light.
If only they knew that when it got really tough I would drop to a single pinky on a 22 and 1.7 bottom.

I would need a magnifying glass for a 22 hook,

great question, a real thought provoker.

Me I use size 8 sea fishing hooks for large boiles, kind of semi circle hooks like the gardner mugga.

Meat, I use huge lumps of meat 3/4 of a large tin so I opt for aberdeen size 1's.

Maggot and the small stuff its hook to nylon for me, usually drennan brand as they never fail me.

Avvy

 

[Albert Watkinson]

I use a size 10 ESP raptor and find it ok for double pellet and a fair size lump of meat.if they don't like that its abit of hard luck they are having.
Albert

 

[Iain J McDonald]

16s 14s and 12s all used with mags or caster,12s and 10s with pellet,8s used with large boilies like in a flood,not really a question where you can answer with one answer!!