Short or long boom?

Question

Short or long boom section on a Hinge Stiff Rig? Also, if short, does that help with the fish making contact with the lead quicker, resulting in better hook holds? Ash Phillips

It’s very rare that I use a boom section any shorter than nine-inches, simply because I see it as an all-round great length, and have used it at that length for many years now. I find nine-inches perfect for assuring that it does everything effectively, from presenting itself to hooking the fish. There have been occasions when I have used the rig with a shorter boom, of around five-inches, when fishing at extreme-ranges of 120yds plus. When doing so the rig rarely ever tangled and I will admit, I noticed very little change in the positioning of the hook holds, so it was clearly effective still.

A boom section of around five-inches – for range fishing

One of the main reasons I have always used the boom at a length of nine-inches is to increase the distance the rig is able to travel in the mouth once picked up by the carp. So, your point about the fish coming into contact with the lead quicker is certainly valid, but I have always preferred to give the fish more rope to hang themselves with, than aim for quicker contact with the lead – the same applies to all of my rigs, generally favouring on the side of being longer rather than shorter.

Different people will have varying views on this subject but to me, it’s more important to have the rig capable of flying right back into the mouth than quick impact with the lead.

A nice long hooklink snared this chunky mirror