Hook sizes.

[IanW]

With the coming months apparently some of the worst for fishing (according to Sea Angler) do any of you drop down your hook sizes to try and pick anything up.

What is the normal size that you lot use.

My normal is a 6/0, 3/0 pennell, should I be scaling it down a bit??

 

[John]

Mine personally is a 3/0 and 1/0 pennell vikings seems to work well.

 

[alan]

I use a 4/0 and 2/0 for my pennels and sometimes drop down to a 3/0 and 1/0,if there is nothing doing i use a 3/0 and 1/0 two hook flapper for a bit of sport.

 

[BILLYB]

ian a 3/0 hook is a good allround size for most fish 1/0 or size 1 for flatties and eels

 

[TC]

I tend to use 4/0 as standard - occassionally dropping down to 3/0.

Have sometimes used 3/0 + 2/0 for pennels.

Good to see you back with us again, Billy

 

[BILLYB]

thanks tony Nice to be back just hope the board or computer lets me stay logged in for a bit longer

 

[willywetegg]

I am pretty much the same as Tony as I usually use 4/0 hooks. Occasionally I will use 3/0. If we have a trip away to target Dogfish I usually drop down to 2/0.

 

[John]

Really if you put a 3/0 over the top of a 4/0 theres no real difference

 

[Tat]

If you do any\"scrattin\' around\" in the summer matches I have heard of guys going down to size2 or 3 freshwater hooks.Never done it my self tho\',lowest I go is 1/0 or 1.

 

[alan]

I often use 1 or 2 during the summer if i\'am targeting flatties in fact the bairn uses them in the winter when he\'s bored usually he targets the coalies and flats.Speaking of Coalies there does\'nt seem to be as many this year i normally get plagued by them !

 

[peter.m]

with a 6/0 and 3/0 pennel i\'d be suprised if you\'re not missing fish these days. Scale your hooks down if possible. I have always been big hooks for big fish however i\'ve been getting codling on 1\'s and 2\'s providing they\'re strong pattern.

 

[Red5]

I usually use 2/0\'s but know a lad who uses only 6/0\'s and still manages to get Coalies of about a 1lb 1/2. Personally I think as long as you use a good enuff hook you should be able to get fish on practically any hook. I\'d like to see someone lashing a big lug/crab bait onto a size 13 trout hook tho!

 

[Rab]

Just my opinion here guys but by not scaling your hook sizes down even further you are probably limiting the number of species you are going to catch.

The top end of my hook range is 6/0, though I aint had much success with them even when fishing big fish venues such as Loch Aline pier where there is a chance of skate and 20lb plus congers. I find the optimum size for big fish is 4/0.

If you delve into my rig wallet you will find rigs with with 4\'s or even size 6 hooks. What I know from experience is that small hooks catch wee fish but they also catch big fish.

 

[Ant]

I agree with completely with Rab. All you are doing is limiting what you can catch. Personally caught my best round fish from the shore, a 9lb 2oz pollack on a Size 2 and I rarely go above 4/0 unless using big squid baits or fishing for big fish that require big baits.

 

[IanW]

Size 2, 4 or 6\'s.....good god have you ever thought of freshawater fishing

My choice of 6/0,3/0 pennels may explain why I\'ve only had one decent session. Then again I\'ve only been out a handfull of times though.

One trip out I did catch a couple if tiny rockling on the above set up, infact the bait was nearly as big as the fish

Will have to knock up a few smaller hook size rigs and give them a try.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Rab]

I\'ve personally caught an 8lb thornback ray on a size 6 hook before, and also witnessed my dad catch an 11lb conger again on a size 6 hook!

 

[peter.m]

I usually fish size 2 Mustad Aberdeens (3261 I yhink the pattern is) for pollack on the west but a mate swears by size 6 trout hooks. Have been fishing some matches lately on the south and east coast where you\'re scratching around and the lads regularly fish with size 4 and 6.

Personally when fishing matches for whiting I usually use size1 or2 Kamasan Aberdeens and have landed codling on them as they\'re strong enough.

 

[Patrick_Pending]

Hooks! Nobody told me about hooks! I\'ve just been tying my worms on

 

[Ant]

We use size #2 Kamasan B940 quite a bit, my old man won his club match the other night fishing that way with 7lb+ and he also had a ling of over 3lb that was undersize. You\'ll find that they hook themselves alot easier too leaving you to get multiple hook ups.

 

[Rab]

3lb ling where was that from Ant?