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Maggot feeder - What hooklinks and hooks?

M

Michael Hall

Senior Member
I had a challenging day on the Middle Severn yesterday and went through many different hooks and hooklinks on the maggot feeder rig. This got me thinking what do other people use when they are fishing maggots on the feeder.

I was broken on my first 3 casts :
1...size 14 drennan super spade to 6lb mono. (Silstar)
2...size 14 barbel super specialist to 8lb mono. (Silstar)
3...size 14 barbel super specialist to 10lb braid, though the braid was possibly damaged.

I was worried that with maggots the drennan barbel super specialist was too heavy so I switch to a size 14 drennan wide gape specialist initially to 8lb mono which landed me a couple of chub before being broken again....then I switched to 10lb braid with no further problems, landing fish to nearly 11lb.

I know hooks and hooklinks have been done to death but I can't find anything specifically related to using maggots as a bait.

I would like to know what hooks and hooklink materials other people use when fishing maggots on the feeder.

Michael
 
Drennan Super Specialist hooks and Preston's Reflo Power Line mono. For general barbel fishing a size 12 or 10 hook to 0.19 or 0.21mm hooklink has done me proud for years.
 
I'v been using Reflo powerline hooklinks of 6/8lb bs and super specialists in sizes 14/16 on my last few trips and haven't suffered any breaks.I'v been using a soft action quiver rod instead of my usual Barbel rod which would be too stiff for these light lines.
 
The lighter rod is something I had not considered but a good point. I was using a 1.5lb rod with an Avon tip, but maybe thats still too heavy, the breaks were not on the strike but within the first 15 seconds after connecting with the fish.
 
Dean Aston said:
No need to go to light on the rod . Your tackle needs to be better balance .
Click to expand...

I feel using a lighter rod with light lines is achieving the balanced set up Dean.

I forgot to mention I have my clutch set lighter than normal to allow for the initial run.
 
Mark light line and lighter rod as got No place on the middle. What i mean is step up his tackle 12 lb main line 10 lb Hook length.
 
I know what your saying Dean, that is my normal setup. I was just pointing out that if Michael is going to use finer lines then he should consider his choice of rod. I wouldn't advise the use of such tackle in the rocky swims and you must know the swim well for this tactic to be safe. I'v been fishing an area of the Wye which I know to have a snag free bottom with little or no weed.
 
Where were the breaks? You have far weaker links in your setup than the strength of your mainline.But you must always check your mainline and hooklinks for abrasion. Here in yorkshire I know many anglers that discard a hooklink after catching a fish- not trusting the state of the line or the sharpness of the hook. If breaks occur near your swivels or hooks then you may need to look at the knots you use - me 5 turn grinner- never lets me down in mono,fluoro or braid.
 
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Michael, what lenght hooklinks have you been using ?
I wouldn't use Silstar as a hooklink for barbel as it's pre-stretched .
 
I was using a 3ft hooklength and the breaks were at the loop end. I generally use a palmar knot or knotless knot to tie on the hook and a figure of 8 loop at the other end to attach to a quick change swivel, it was breaking at or near this knot, that's where I'd expect it to break.

I take the point about the Silstar to being a suitable mono as its pre stretched, what good monos are out there to use for the hooklength? Do you use the same as for mainline but a lower BS? Like Dean says 12lb main 10lb hook

I don't want to go light for the sake of it, I am just trying to get a feel for what I could do better and also find out what other guys are using when fishing maggots on the middle.
 
Bin figure of 8 knot, it is unreliable with mono, it's ok on coated braids and normal braid. Use what is called "No slip loop knot" (google it). This knot is used by big game anglers and it's nearly 100% in knot strength, superb knot.

Never use a figure of 8 for big fish, it's ok for match fishing for smallish fish.

Don't use pre-stretched lines for Barbel, it will lead to tears with the bolt of a big Barbel.

Use a good standard mono like such as Pro Clear

Hooks, something like a size 12 forged, the ESP barbel ones a very nice.

For a hair rig (if required) get some fine mono such as 2lb test. Get a sewing needle and tie on a rubber maggot onto a 4 inch bit on the fine mono. Super glue one or two real ones onto the rubber one.
Next, line up the hair to requied distance on the hook shank and super glue it in place (or just tie it on the bend of the hook)

Length of hook link. I have fished it as long as 4 feet but usually 18 inch. If using it at a long length then pinch on a No-1 shot about 6 inches from hook to help keep it down in fast water.

The most important part to maggot fishing is bait application

Good Luck

Martin
 
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Michael Hall said:
I take the point about the Silstar to being a suitable mono as its pre stretched, .
Click to expand...

Any pre-stretched mono isn't suitable for barbel fishing no matter how long your hooklink are , it just hasn't got the stretch in it even in the higher BS.

Any good standard robust reel line is what your looking for even for hooklinks, as Dean says just use a lighter hooklink BS then your main line 12lb & 10lb ;)
 
I did give the answer in the Severn Thread.

I also suggested a way to play fish thereby preventing the initial run that causes the breakages you experienced


As Deano says.

G
 
Barbel x-flite 2lb test curve rod - 12 big game main line, 12lb Drennan sink line braid 2 ft long to size 10 ESP Raptor hook, all knots 7 turn grinner, never ever lost a barbel or snapped up on this rig. Hampshire Avon isn't a rough bottom though so cant say as how well this rig would hold up on other rivers.
 
I use a figure of eight loop knot and a knotless knot (ten turns down and two up) on Drennan Super Specialist eyed hooks.
The line I have used for several years now is Preston Reflo Power:-
Preston Innovations Reflo PowerLine Mono Line - Only £4.99 - Poingdestres
I use a loop knot up to 0.19mm and a grinner for the thicker lines.

I cannot remember the last time I pulled for a break when it did not break between the two knots.

Granted I mostly float fish or if I do ledger I use a bomb and not a feeder (a very simple running rig).

This sounds to me like a unbalanced tackle problem, I know this is a specialist angling website but why not have a word with a local match angler, they tend to be masters of balanced tackle
 
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