Reader’s Query: Hook to boilie ratio?
Steve Vaughan wrote:
Could you recommend what size hook to use with 18mm baits, I’ve been using size 8 but find i am missing lots of runs on this size
Hi Steve
That’s not quite as simple a question to answer as a lot of people might think, and it certainly isn’t straight forward.
Firstly it depends on the hook itself, as each manufacturer seems to make up their own sizes and they vary immensely. Unfortunately there isn’t a national standard hook size to work from. For example a size 6 Korda long shank is dimensionally a much bigger hook than say a Drennan super specialist of the same size.
I personally carry a huge selection of hooks, yet I generally only use perhaps 3 or 4 of these in various sizes.
Another important aspect is the length of hair and alignment used. By this I mean that a longer hair will react differently in a carps mouth than a short hair. Also a simple no Knot Knot will react slightly differently to a shrink tube aligned hook, due to the way the hook tuns in the fishes mouth.
If I had to give a size hook that I would use with an 18mm bait then my choice’s would be either a size 6 Korda Long shank X or a size 4 Drennan super specialist. There are exceptions to this though as another thing worth considering is weed, snags, gravel bars etc and in these situations I may step up a size of hook. I generally use shrink tubing with my rigs and fish with a Kicker ( shrink tubing that extends over the eye of the hook and points inwards to the hook point )
I hope this has been of help, please feel free to contact me through Quest baits if you have any other queries
Cheers
Jamie
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Tags: alignment, angling, boilie, carp, Drennan, eye, fish, fishing, hair, hook, Knot, Quest, ratio, shank, size, tackle, techniques, tips, tube
Hi Steve
Loads of good points there from Jamie and what seems like a simple question has - as he has pointed out - different solutions that depend on a number of factors. One thing you haven’t mentioned is the size of the fish you are trying to catch - the bigger the fishes mouth the more likely a smaller hook will not form a good hookhold with such a relatively large bait.
Your combination - size 8 (of whatever make of hook) coupled with an 18mm boilie - does not seem all that balanced to me and may not be cathcing hold when the fish sucks and then blows or moves off.
If I were fishing an 18mm bait I would not use anything less than a size 6. Hook choice is such a personal thing - my personal preferences would be Gamakatsu G-Point, Korda Wide Gape or an Ashima C310 in a size 4 (they are one size smaller than most hooks). If the fish I were targetting were big - 30lbs plus - I would be happy to use a size 4.
Also I wonder how short your hair rig is? If it is tight to the hook then I suggest lengthening it a bit, to at least a centimetre or more.
Hope that helps.
Elie G
Hi Steve, this is definately not a simple question. The most important thing is that you are getting some action. I generally use a size 6 Kamasan B745 hook with a size 18mm boilie as I find this a balanced set up and the hooks are relatively light. I find these hooks very sharp and reliable. I tend to change hooks very often as a sharp hook is important. However, your problem may not be due to the hook alone. It could be down to lots of other reasons:
Rig/hair too short
Rig/hair too long
Carp holding bait between lips and not taking the hook into mouth.
Carp towing line and giving false bites.
Poor hook pattern or blunt hooks.
etc.
If I was having this problem, I would start by changing the hook size and pattern. If it did not solve the problem I would then start to change other things, but only one thing at a time.
Why don’t you try changing the hook size and use a pattern that other anglers are having success with? If this doesn’t work get back to me and we will have a re-think.
If you do want further help I would need:
a) A desciption of your current rig.
b) Are you hooking the fish and are they coming off after a short while?
c) Do you feel some weight, but they come off immediately?
d) Do you get good runs, but on striking there is nothing there at all?
e) What is the nature of the bottom? (deep silt, gravel, weed, etc.)
Let me know how you get on.
Jim Kelly
Hi steve,
I am surprised by your comment that you loose many fish on a size 8 hook.. I use size 8 most of the time…even with 22 mm boilies or bigger I don’t think the problem is in the size of the hook, compared to the hook
bait. But more in your rig. I don’t know what type of hooklink you have bin using, …and what the length
of your hair is?
I would recommend always to keep 1 cm between hook and bait..
When the baits get bigger…just make the hair longer. this will give it more space to turn and get grip in the mouth.
One hook that I use allot in size 8 is the Korda wide gape..( barbed or barbless) in 90% of my fishing this is my 1st hook choice rig wise ..keep it simple, korda IQ 15 lb or kryston mantis are very good hooklink materials.
I am very confident to use these hooklinks..in combination with the wide gape size 8 even with the biggest hookbaits..
Just give the hook enough space to “move and turn”.
Good luck!
Greetz roy van goor