Can I?

old longtail

you may find the 20lb line impeeds the casting. I only use 12lb line on my reels and have had no probs if you play the fish our before trying to land them. When you say your using 6lb line for your hair rigs, do you meen your using a length of 6lb line as the hook link as apossed to the hair? if so its a bit on the fine side. try getting some 15-20lb supple hook link braid and it will solve the snap offs

harvest.mice

codfather

i use 15lb main line and either a 12lb or 15lb braid hook link
i think the 10lb line is a bit heavey for float fishing but thats just me i always fish on the bottom with alarms

old longtail

Fish safety is very commendable and something we as anglers should always bare in mind, but its a case of playing off the safety of a fish against the chances of loosing a fish. Let me try to explain what I mean. In this case your fishing with it in mind that if a fish is to break free than its best for the weaker shorter hook length being trailed behind the fish rather than a longer length of reel line. But is it the fact you are fishing with a weak hook link that is causing you to loose the fish in the first place where as if you fished with a stronger hook link you would in fact land the fish and not suffer a lost fish?

Now ive been carp fishing for many years and use mostly bolt rigs hard on the bottom of the lake. Let me try and explain how a bolt rig works and this in turn will help explain what it is I'm trying to say regarding the stronger hook links. To keep it simple lets look at just two, the most common form of bolt rig.

The under slung bolt rig

And the inline bolt rig

Both rigs work in the same way, a fish picks up the bait (hopefully) and starts to move away with the bait, because of the weight the hook starts to set and pricks the fish in the mouth. This causes the fish to bolt (hence the name bolt rig) the weight helps set the hook and so the run begins.
Both rigs are made up with fish safety in mind should the line breaks, both falling apart once the line snaps. Lets look who this happens on the under slung rig

Looking at the above pic you will see that lead is held in place by a clip that is covered by a cone shaped rubber. When this is pushed over the clip the lead is held in place. If the fish has snapped you off then of course the lead is still attached to the fish, SOMETHING THAT WE AS ANGLERS DON’T WANT. This lead is simply held in place by the rubber cone so as soon as the fish enters weed the lead will snag and pull off the cone thus releasing the lead. This will leave only the hook and hook link trailing the fish, not the lead.

Close up of the lead clip.

Same happens with the in-line lead by means of a different clip set up.

So now you only have the hook link and the hook and possible some length of reel line following the fish, of course this is something we don’t want but I can assure you that the fish will loose the hook very quickly. This is why most pits in their rules state barbless only, not as most think to save on mouth damage but to aid in ejection of a hook should the fish be retaining it after a snap off

Now getting back to the problems you are experiencing. I can fully understand why you feel it better to use a weaker hook link, to hopefully stop a long trailing line on an escaped fish. But I personally feel it is the weaker line that is causing the problem in the first place. In effect you are looking for a cure to a problem rather than looking to prevent it. PLEASE DON’T THINK I AM HAVING A GO AS I AM NOT, JUST OFFERING SOME ADVICE. With what you have said about loosing your hair rigs as well as a lure I'm pretty certain your are using a too fine line for the job in hand. 12lb line is a good size line for most day ticket water and will allow you to land a large fish well over 12lbs. I have found 10- 12lb line is very good for float fishing for carp regardless of if you are using a hair rig or bait on the hook. If you’re worried about tethering a fish with a float set up ad good way is to use the lift float method. Simply tie on your hair rig by way of a swivel with a small rubber bead above it. A sliding weight such as an arsley bomb running free on the main line going to a float held in place by nothing more than a float band at the bottom only. If you fish the float over depth so when you cast out the float will lay flat on the surface. Now with the rod in a rest slowly wind the line in till you take up all the slack, this will cause the float to cock and sit correctly, the weight of the bomb stopping the bait being pulled out of position. Bite will be given either as a sail away under the water or as the float rises up and out of the water to lay flat. But most importantly, should a snap off happen both the float and the lead weight will be left un-attached to the carp. Combine a barbless hook and it’s a fish friendly set up. But again I do feel the source of the problem is with the line being to week for the carp. Good luck with your fishing and let us know how you’re getting on.

Regards

Old Longtail

harvest.mice

Frankie

Hi Old Longtails,

I bet you think all that effort wasn't worth it

He will just stick with what he has for now

I am sure HM appreciates your help, his reply just reads odd

, It took me long enough to read it never mind write and download photographs, I also have used korda type bolt rigs for years excellent systems, Of now keep laughing to myself

See Ya

Frankie

froggyfagan

Good explanation Old L,Is HM worried about losing the fish or the line ????not sure!However,the debate seems to be over the breaking strain of his line.I certainly wouldn't be worried about using 6lb line for float fishing-but not with a really heavy duty rod(sure you're not using a beachcaster or boat rod HM???)6lb line with a lightish rod is perfectly adequate for carp of up to 10/12lbs.After having said that I've had all (4)my carp reels loaded with GR60 line in 8lb bs for the last 3 years and had carp out up to 15kgs,an average carp for me is 8kgs,with only one snap-off of reel line,and that was my fault as I didn't check the line ,it was frayed,no doubt on rocks.Sure you havn't bought crap line ?????????

By the way Frankie,what are 'Caudor'type bolt rigs ??

Frankie

froggyfagan

No probs Frankie,my fault for not reading it properly

old longtail

the flat sidded lead is i believe a Korda lead, well spotted