By the way the "Virage" 8lb fluoro is darned good stuff. I bought it in South Africa some time ago and now I am running out. Anyone know where I can get Virage.
With two overhand loop knots it breaks at 91/2 lbs on my Avons
By the way I've been using Rik's barbel rig on the Trent. The only mod has been the long 3 foot fluoro hook length.
I get the feeling that using short hook lengths in fast water may cause the barbel to give a lot of line bites and thus spook. I certainly got more proper bites (they nearly pull the rod in) when using a long hooklength.
The main reason for my short hooklength is that most of my barbelling on the Avon etc means dropping my rig into pockets of gravel amongst the weed, neccesitating a short hooklength, usually in a PVA bag ;o)