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Mono hook link

I’ve never set foot on the Trent; but if I did I would use a hooklink of considerably more than 10lb.

Ive read too many tales of people breaking off fish there on hooklinks that were too thin.

If forced to use mono it would be a hard wearing one eg Gardner Hydro-tuff in 0.38 or even 0.40 -that’s 18lb plus in old money.

My preference would be a coated braid of 20-25 lb, currently I’m using some Atomic Jellywire but there are lots of similar products out there.

My alternative would be a fluorocarbon/braid combi-link, constructed with 19lb soft plus Fluoro and an inch of 20lb + soft braid.
 
I use whatever my mainline is normally. Never felt the need to use a lighter line as whenever I get snapped off it’s always the hook anyway unless the line has been scratched up or the lead run ring is completely snagged then it will snap at the swivel knot above the hooklink. Once iv spooled up I just Chuck the remainder of my spool of line in my bag and make the hooklinks as and when I need on the bank.
 
I find flouro much harder to tie loops and stuff, that's why ive been using the reflo power to be honest, and i haven't really found the abrasion to be an issue really
 
If you use straight through braid plus braided hooklink, be prepared to use a softer tipped rod to avoid hookpulls.

And if you use braid mainline and mono/fluro hooklink that's shorter than 2ft, don't be suprised if the hooklink snaps on that special fish...even on the bite.

so. Use a decent tough mono, like GR60 GT80 in 12lb that has some stretch plus a braided hooklink like Power Pro in 20lb and you should be able to land any barbel that swims. Preventing hookpulls.
 
Regarding triline flouro. I 've been using this in various b/s for a couple of years for my hooklinks. I have had a few break offs. Always an inch or two below the quick change bead thing. Any theorys nehind this guys.
I personally always use flouro for my hooklinks. Less strech, less memory and as it's heavier than mono. It lies better on the river bed.
 
Adam Wylie said:
Just tried testing the guru BS ☹️ Snapped at a lot less than stated BS ITS GOING IN THE BIN !!! Drennan double strength was just as bad !! Savage gear fluorocarbon ,again snapped at about half of BS 😤.
I stopped using braid awhile ago ,but now considering using again.
Berkley triline in 12lb and 10lb was perfect.
Click to expand...
Guru is ok but I’ve found it not so good if using a knot less knot. I Always use a palomar when I use it which has been for winter chubbing
If you want to use mono , I can recommend the Dave Harrell Pro Rig in 13.8lb for barbel
The lower strength breaking strains are excellent for chub and will replace Guru this winter
Agree that Trilene Fluoro is very reliable and cost effective. Ghost is also very good.
 
I notice ,Bob Roberts video implies that Barbel will spook if they come into touch with
Flourocarbon ? As they can't see it !! But react to feeling it .🤔
 
Adam Wylie said:
I notice ,Bob Roberts video implies that Barbel will spook if they come into touch with
Flourocarbon ? As they can't see it !! But react to feeling it .🤔
Click to expand...
There’s many ways around that problem though Adam. It’s not just fluro it’s tight lines to leads. They come in contact with all sorts of things in the river but these are usually not under guitar string tension. Fishing with a bow in the line and a long hook length of 3-4ft plus will almost certainly eradicate the issue.
where possible (not so much in your case) keep the rod tops as close to the water as possible to reduce the entry angle.
a lot of people back lead. Personally I don’t get on with them but that’s probably the most reliable way of ensuring no spooking happens off the line.
 
Ive been using 30lb dyneema spectra braid for all my river fishing. (10 quid flea bay) It's never failed me tbh, however I did a breaking strength test with my Ruben Heatons and it snaps consistently on 18lb of tension. Which I know the majority if not all braid have a much lower breaking strain than stated. So for my main line on the tidal now I use berkley big game 15lb. It is the mutts nuts. 30lb arma kord for the rocky tidal trent as a hook length 3ft long. Some people may think it's over kill. But I am not losing the fish of a lifetime. And not losing one to go belly up in the middle of a fight.
 
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