How to choose the right hook size
With the wrong hook size, an unbalanced rig is far easier for carp to ignore or eject, so here's a simple 'rule of thumb' guide to making the perfect choice
Many angling pro’s will talk about their favourite hooks and rigs, sometimes with in-depth information surrounding the technical aspects they are trying to achieve. From one to the next, these rigs can vary a great deal, which can quickly result in a certain amount of confusion. This growing area of confusion and doubt inevitably leads to rigs being used in the wrong fishing situation where it will not perform at its best and consequently reduce the chances of catching.
Fortunately every single one of these presentations has one thing in common. An initial understanding from the angler of what each rig component can achieve, including what hook size will work best, which is what we’ll explain in this Fault Fixer with a simple to follow guide.
1 Start with the fishing situation
Begin by thinking about the spot you are planning to fish too or on: is it soft silt, weedy or perhaps a hard gravel spot or maybe clay? Then consider the fish stock, are you trying to pick-up odd, passing fish or hold a group of hungry carp for prolific action? Right, now move on top Stage Two…
2 Choose a feed strategy
Okay, taking step one into account, think about the feeding situation you’re aiming to create next. Perhaps a spread of boilies dispatched with a throwing stick, targeting the odd passing fish for example? Maybe it’s a bed of particles, spodded to a small gravel spot to generate a tight feeding area?
3 Choose a hookbait to match the feed
Having chosen a feeding strategy, choose a hookbait that matches the type of feed next. This could be a 15mm boilie the same as those introduced with the throwing stick or 15mm pop-up if the bottom is soft. If smaller particles have been used, a grain of fake plastic corn or a tiger nut hookbait is perfect.
4 Match the hookbait size with size of hook
With the hookbait now chosen, it is now much easier to match this hookbait size with an appropriate hook size. So prior to tying a rig, hold the hook next to the hookbait and see what looks to be even and balanced. You’ll see that 14-15mm sized baits will match a size 6 or 8 hook well. Larger 20mm boilies may require a size 4 or 6 hook and a single grain of plastic corn will match and balance a size 8-10 hook.
5 The next steps
This ‘rule of thumb’ guide can also be used in reverse. So if you feel that you are ‘getting-done’ by pressured or wily carp and think scaling the rig down with say, a size 8 hook will help, you also know a small 10mm boilie for instance will suit (balance) this hook size. Therefore a feed of 10mm boilies will match and disguise the hookbait and locating a clean gravel spot could be a good place to apply this feed.