Few Basic Questions please?

[Richard Barrett]

When barbel fishing in fast water, were to you like the hair to exist and sit. The bend of the hook, the middle of the hook.l

Last season I used a helicopter rig with lead and feeder. Simple quick link to change from feeder to lead. Helicopter rig sleeve, then a large rubber bead, then a small Korda sinker with a bead fitted over it to allow the large ring swivel to come off if needed. Long hook-link of 12lb extra limp to a soft hair on the hook. It worked and was very simple and cast well as the feeder or lead was always going out first.

So playing devils advocate why would/should I change to a normal ledger, lead clip up the line and a hook link below. What are the benefits do you think?

Thanks.

Richard.

 

[Dan Whitelock]

I think as long as the rig is safe should the mainline break, then you're good to use whichever rig you're happy with. In terms of all that kind of stuff for barbel, from my point of view fishing small rivers at very close range, a well camouflaged running rig is simple, safe and effective.
With regards to the hair, I tend to have it leave the bottom curve of the hook and have it as short as you can to aid hooking.

 

[Richard Barrett]

Dan,

Regarding the hair that makes good sense, thanks. Do you use a curved, or straight hook?

I'm on Drennen continental boilie hook, or Korda wide gape. Both slightly different, but would value your thought's.

Does anyone use a combi-rig?

 

[David Maddison]

Richard i have found inturned/beaked points to be better as their is less chance of the point going blunt. On most barbel rigs i have a hair length so the bait is 5mm from the bend. I use different size pellet pegs so i can vary the length without changing the rig.
Combi rigs imo do offer a better presentation for smaller (8mm) pellets or other small baits as the bait is not attatched to stiff mono/fluoro. Just use 2-3 inch of braid and attach using a back to back grinner (there are other knots but i have 100% confidence in this one)
Korda wide gapes/wide gape x(thicker wire) and wide gape kaptor are all good barbel hooks that i have faith in.
Regards
Dave

 

[Derek Funcks]

Hello Richard. When tying a knotless knot, i whip the line down the shank until it is parallel with the point of the hook. I use Pallatrax " the hook " i can honestly say, when ive hooked a fish, ive never had a hook pull out, once there in, there in. Also, when whipping, i make sure the hair is coming off the back of the hook shank.