Simple Match Fishing Forum

No need to re-plumb the depth etc.

changing a hooklength only takes seconds and no need to re plumb 

Simps, Dodge - dont you guys get the chinagraph pencil or tipex out and mark up when youve originally plumbed up 

Yeah , always mark "dead depth" with tipex TK but always remember a plumet can easily sink into the silt a couple of inches so dead depth is always important. All hooklengths tied up the same length ..... rig always same depth in seconds

I've just change a hook box been in the garage with some wood and tacks and put a strip of 4" hook length for my bloodworm fishing just to see anything below I can't tie with my big fingers last week I'd sometimes come back and the bait had been attacked without seeing a bite I did put a shot on the hook length which was far better some of the lads use stots on there hook lengths with damaging the line at all so this weekend I'll give it ago .i used to use short hook length but because my drawing arm has fallen off I've question most of things I do

I was going to post a thread up about this - Don't need to now.

When i used to fish regularly i always used a hook length. On the Pole all my hook lengths were pre-tied, about 8" (Never measured them) If i blunted a hook i'd change the whole hook length.

On a Rod, i would tie on a hook length and then the hook, never used "pre-tied" for fishing with a Rod. If i blunted a hook, i'd re-tie another one on and adjust the depth.


Now one more thing. How does everyone tie up their hook lengths ?? I made my own hook tyeing machine, it's all a bit Heath Robinson but it works. I tie the loop first, attach the loop to the machine, then tye on the hook. I then get the exact same length every time. Is that how everyone else does it ??


I wouls also have no problem with putting shot on the hook length, only a No 8 max though

All my hooklengths (from squatt fishing through to fishing next to snags with tow rope) are made to 7". I will add a shot onto the hooklength to improve bite detection if needed.

How does everyone tie up their hook lengths

I use a pierotti hook tyer, once clamped into postion will create a hooklength exactly the same length every single time, very easy to use and produces a very good knot on the hook! when i get into a rythem I can tie a hooklenth in 1 minute.

the pierotti hook tyer is a fantastic bit of kit

The hook tyer i made is in a very similar style to the Pierotti. Except for the fact i made mine out of wood, with a Matchman tyer and 2 pieces of Hose pipe........Oh, and a cup hook. Other than that it's the same.




........And it didn't cost me £40





It does look the Dogs though. The Pierotti i mean.

Simps, Dodge - dont you guys get the chinagraph pencil or tipex out and mark up when youve originally plumbed up

Yeah TK I use a tipex pen to mark the depth. Handy if I want to fish over depth or aff the bottom and then go back to dead depth again. Also if a stinking great carp takes the whole rig and I have to put another one on.

Interesting thread lads

All my hooklengths (from squatt fishing through to fishing next to snags with tow rope) are made to 7". I will add a shot onto the hooklength to improve bite detection if needed.

How does everyone tie up their hook lengths

I use a pierotti hook tyer, once clamped into postion will create a hooklength exactly the same length every single time, very easy to use and produces a very good knot on the hook! when i get into a rythem I can tie a hooklenth in 1 minute. 

When you have a spare 50 minutes can you knock me 50 hooklengths up please mozzer , ta

I charge £1 per hooklength!!

Never used a hook tyer in my life; one of the first things I always did when coaching youngsters was to get them to tie their own hooks.
To make it easier for them I used to shape a paper clip and use thread to get them started.


We are from the Potters, we are men; wimps use hook tyers

always use hook lengths for all my fishing, learnt the hard way with Tommy P clipping my ear and making me use them many years ago. Loop to loop style. 3 and 4" on method, 6" bloodworm, 6" squatt and hemp fishing through Warmer months, 12" through the colder months. I will never put a shot on an hook length, the weakening is one reason but changing hook length is for speed, having to put shot on as well slows the process. I believe that you get lazy at times without an hook length, if a hook starts to go blunt, you gamble a bit and maybe loose a handful more fish before changing, you then have to adjust all the rig, not just the depth but all your shotting to make the rig exact how it was, a lot of anglers forget the shotting pattern and just slide the float up a couple of inch then wonder why there catch rate has altered! With hook lengths of course this isn't a problem as they are all the exact size. Also, a lot of our canals carry many snags on the bottom, if the weak point doesn't go at the hook, the only one left is the connection to your pole when fishing straight through, I have seen many anglers with a rig sat in there swim stuck on the bottom, with an hook length this will not happen. 

Sounds like on me tod here but I know I'm not. You'd be surprised how many fish straight through on our cuts; must admit snags are rare though

I know plenty that do as well Bill, each to there own and if your happy and confident with it, thats all that matters!!

All my hooklengths (from squatt fishing through to fishing next to snags with tow rope) are made to 7". I will add a shot onto the hooklength to improve bite detection if needed.

How does everyone tie up their hook lengths

I use a pierotti hook tyer, once clamped into postion will create a hooklength exactly the same length every single time, very easy to use and produces a very good knot on the hook! when i get into a rythem I can tie a hooklenth in 1 minute. 

ive got one but never really got on with it and now forgot how to use it

i,ll have it then joff

I have always used hooklengths, over the years I've had them stored in a variety of ways:firstly in little paper envelopes, like the pre tied ones, then the image hookers ( a little plastic square which you wound the line round) a tubertini wallet with little fluted clear plastic boards, the Daiwa Plastic spools, but have settled on the metal sensas boxes, which have the pins 15cm and 25cm apart and that  really dictates  how long my hooklengths are 15cm for the pole, 25 for the rod and line. I have always put shot on the hooklength and I dont think in 30+ years of doing it have I had the line go at the shot, it will either be by the hook or at the knot. I tie them now with a stonfo hook tier ( sorry Bill) but have used the red delco, black match man and the drennan before that. I have heard the reasons people don't do it, Only one knot in the line, but there still is one knot and if that goes you loose the lot! and also not putting shot on them? but you have to put sot on the lone, and if the whole rig is 0.06 then you have weakened the line more! For me its the ability to change your hook if its not quite right? or if it goes brunt or bends, that is the advantage with hook lengths. Its also that my float is on a slightly more durable line which means I'll use it more than once, I mean whats the point of getting all those tiny shot on and getting it just right to scrap it at the end of 5 hours?  But thats just my opinions , everyone to them selves

Hyperthetical Q.

Does anyone know how to tie a hook by hand?

hear where you are coming from chavey ,with these tiny shot on said hook length will in fact act more naturally with the loop to loop which is one of my main points when we all use delicate line as a hook length we still have the blob of line in the loop to loop whether its 3 4 or 5" and is very hard to make a loop to loop look right

Bill,
I tie mine by hand ! 18 turns for small hooks, 16 turns for medium and 12 for heavy line !
I have 9 preston hook boxes and they are all full. I use 15cm for most of my pole work, 30 cm for running line. I sometimes use 30 cm for hemp on deep rivers to aid presentation. I have learnt to live with the loop to loop ! but try and make it as neat as ! My main lines are 0.12, 0.14 and 0.20 on most of my choppy rigs.
I do change my hooks during the match, as Rich said due to being blunt,bent etc.
I do not believe the loops are a major problem and thats from someone who is concerned about presentation !!! I have no problems with shot on the hooklength and my main line is more durable to withstanding shot movements. It's also a safer rig.
End of, each to their own.

4" & 6" hooklengths for me too on my cut rigs. ( prestreatched lines) stored in MAP hooklength.box.
They're dear boxes for what they are..but also has adjustable pins on s slide ruler to aid tying  correct lengths.
18" hooklengths for Stick n Wag on rivers using good old bayer ..tied on day,also dont have a problem with  placing shot on hooklength 

1'to 5' 18Ib braid/flourocarbon combi hooklinks when barbelling on tidal trent  ...ave placed swanshots on them before 

Well if yas hook a proppa'un or a carp then its gonna cum art