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Hello, my name is Noddy and I have a question.

H

Howard Cooke

Senior Member
So I'm going to fish a maggot feeder. Not a big one, a smallish one. And fish with maggots on the hook for barbel that are not plentiful but can be weighty. I will fish with a quiver tip-for a bit more sensitivity and reduced resistance for big fish that are a but shy- but on a 1.5lb TC rod. Hook length will be quite long and the hook will be strong, pointy, but small (12 or possibly a 14).

What's the ideal hook length material for this set up do you reckon? It needs to be strong but relatively low diameter.

Thanks.
 
Been reading too many kennet tales H.

7.9 or 9.1 silstar match team mono.

Consider using a hair with straightened size 16 in the loop to bayonet 6 or so mags for more lifelike appearance on the deck.

Works for me.

Big ears.
 
Oh yes. It's the Kennet. Coolish, not much colour, no rocks, but some snags. Bottom mostly gravely, with some weed- heavy in places.
 
8lb Maxima. Hook length. Size 12 Drennan super specialist hook. Dont forget to set your clutch for the hooklength strength not the main line strength. Good luck Howard.
 
Howard Cooke said:
So I'm going to fish a maggot feeder. Not a big one, a smallish one. And fish with maggots on the hook for barbel that are not plentiful but can be weighty. I will fish with a quiver tip-for a bit more sensitivity and reduced resistance for big fish that are a but shy- but on a 1.5lb TC rod. Hook length will be quite long and the hook will be strong, pointy, but small (12 or possibly a 14).

What's the ideal hook length material for this set up do you reckon? It needs to be strong but relatively low diameter.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
This is the ideal rig for Gudgeon , a close relative of the Barbel , you will catch shed loads of the little fellas , with the odd lump of 2oz plus . Good fighters [ ounce for ounce better than a bonefish in my opinion] . Added bonus they are a nice colour , are barbel shaped and even have a couple of barbules . However if you insist on barbel ,B James Mark IV Avon rod , nice rapidex pin loaded with 10 lb line straight through to a size 6 hook , forget gentles , bunch of lobworms or a lump of garlic spam , you are unlikely to fail with this rig . Try a 2 rod set up and test out both suggested rigs

Tight lines x Big Ears
 
My worry on the Kennet with using lighter lines has just been one of being snapped up. Fishing close to features typically means you don't have a great deal of room for manouvre or margin of error and you often need to apply a fair bit of pressure. A more forgiving rod might be the answer too. That or Mike's balls out big wormy meat approach. Which has appeal.
 
Mike Hodgkiss said:
This is the ideal rig for Gudgeon , a close relative of the Barbel , you will catch shed loads of the little fellas , with the odd lump of 2oz plus . Good fighters [ ounce for ounce better than a bonefish in my opinion] . Added bonus they are a nice colour , are barbel shaped and even have a couple of barbules . However if you insist on barbel ,B James Mark IV Avon rod , nice rapidex pin loaded with 10 lb line straight through to a size 6 hook , forget gentles , bunch of lobworms or a lump of garlic spam , you are unlikely to fail with this rig . Try a 2 rod set up and test out both suggested rigs

Tight lines x Big Ears
Click to expand...

A bunch of lobworms or garlic spam on the kennet would be good if you want to catch crayfish all day!! :D
 
Try Airflo G3 Flourocarbon, currently BOGOF very robust, invisible to fish, a little stiff but canny carp don't seem to mind......
 
Another vote for the Preston reflo powerline, I found it the best at not getting curly pig tailed like some other high tech hook lengths.
 
Also worth considering hair-rigging some plastic maggs as well as the real thing. Helps keep the little 'uns at bay as well.
 
Powerline 0.21mm will get anything out. 0.19mm is very good and a bit finner. If its not snaggy it is easy to use 0.17mm. It is strong, knots well and has good abrasion resistance. Try sliding an imitation red maggot or a live one up the shank and over the eye / spade to hide it. I find it definately gets more bites
 
I use a Seaguar flouro 0.26mm and 2 inch Drennan gravel braid combi link. Pretty invisible, nice natural presentation, and strong. Have also used Drennan Supplex in 10lb with no problems - 0.26mm again I think. Don't think I'd ever have the confidence to go below 0.26mm in snaggy swims.

Good Luck
Nick
 
Braid!!
A couple of seasons ago I struggled with mono hooklengths on the Severn when using a maggot feeder and maggot on the hook. I tried to lighten the hooklink because I was using a small bait, with lots of breaks, which is the wrong approach in my mind.
When all said and done you are after the same fish irrespective of hookbait so use what you feel comfortable with to get them out. I ended up using 11lb reflo power line which worked well before switching back to Drennan Sinkbraid with good results.
If you watch Bob Roberts videos showing fish spooking off hook links you will never stray far from braid as the preferred option, unless you want to use exceptionally long lengths or have very rocky bottoms!!! Sounds painful!!
 
Howard, I would definitely go for an in line flat bed feeder such as the drennans, couple of big blobs of putty as back leads and the rig is a safe bolt rig, again drennan barbel hooks on a short drennan braid of around 10-12lb. Like the lads have said fake buoyant up the shank and a couple of real ones on the hook.

Bit different to other recommendations but for chub/barbel I have found by far the most effective. The need for the long hook links is definitely not needed. Just plop the feeder in on the same spot regularly and fish come to it and see the rig as not a threat as they just want the maggots

Good look
Jason
 
If you are fishing in daylight why not try rolling or float fishing , less chance of the crayfish getting hold of your bait if it's moving
 
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