Chub straightening hooks

[chav professor]

Just out of interest, has anyone actually had a chub straighten a hook???

Conventional magazine articles explain the need for heavy guage hooks so that 'when the chub makes for a snag, the hook will not straighten'. I have used standard paterns in size 20 to 1lb14oz hook length, right upto size 2/0 and 12lb line.

I am quite happy using a standard type Drennan super specialist (or similar brands) upto size 4 married up to 8lb line if I felt the need and never experienced a problem.

Is it a myth that hooks can be straightened? Is it good practice to use Drennan continental Bollie style hooks as standard? is it a trend that when writers write about hook choice, they just state that because that is always stated as near standard practice?

 

[andreagrispi]

I have had chub straighten hooks but only up to the Drennan carbon chub type - a chub has never straightened a Drennan Super Spade or the like.

 

[sam vimes]

You can only presume that the writers are talking about much lighter pattern hooks than you are if they are getting straightened by chub. I've had chub straighten hooks, but we're talking Drennan Carbon Chub/Carbon Feeder fishing a maggot or two, not the monster hooks you are using. I don't recall a chub or even a barbel straightening a Super Spade let alone a Super Specialist or Conti.

 

[barbelboi]

IMO if a hook straightens during a fight it is not usually a function of the hook size, but a function of the quality of the hook.
Jerry

 

[chav professor]

You can only presume that the writers are talking about much lighter pattern hooks than you are if they are getting straightened by chub. I've had chub straighten hooks, but we're talking Drennan Carbon Chub/Carbon Feeder fishing a maggot or two, not the monster hooks you are using. I don't recall a chub or even a barbel straightening a Super Spade let alone a Super Specialist or Conti.

I don't think they are getting straightened out e.g. I quote 'When winter chub fishing I like to use a size 6 Drennan Continental Bollie Hook. Never underestimate chub; any fish of 4lb-plus can straighten the strongest of hooks when heading for a snag'.

This writer has read it somewhere and just perpetuated the myth IMO.

I doubt a chub can straighten a standard light specimen or Drennan Super specialist which is constructed from much thinner steel cross section. Those Continental hooks must be for catching 60lb carp and then slamming the breaks on...... defo over kill for Chub.

 

[mol]

I had problems earlier in the year with chub straightening Drennan carbon match hooks whilst trotting maggots, a move to 611's in the same size solved the problem.

This writer has read it somewhere and just perpetuated the myth IMO

I think this happens alot in fishing. There are very few thinkers left in modern fishing and alot prepared to mock when somebody suggests something different.

 

[sam vimes]

IMO if a hook straightens during a fight it is not usually a function of the hook size, but a function of the quality of the hook.
Jerry

I wouldn't necessarily disagree but you have to have wire gauge included. A fine wire hook straightening with a good fish or snag doesn't mean that it's a poor quality hook. If a hook snaps, that's a different kettle of fish.

 

[Simon K]

Just out of interest, has anyone actually had a chub straighten a hook???

No. Not even before I was using the you-know-what hooks.

 

[terry m]

Have had hooks straightened by carp, and even trebles straightened by pike (well one point anyway), but chub - no. Chance would be a fine thing!

 

[904_cannon]

Never had a chub straighten any hook. (Mind you, I dont use tiny tiny hooks made from hairspring wire) With a chub transferring the hook to a snag, which they seem at times to do almost at will, is a different matter. To attribute hook straightening to the chub is pure fantasy. Ive always said that some angling writers material should be classified as 'fantasy and fiction'

"This writer has read it somewhere and just perpetuated the myth IMO"

Can I guess who Christian

 

[mark knowles]

Took the words out of my mouth, Chubs speciality is getting the hook out and sticking it in some snag probably at your feet. I've never had a problem with hooks straightening either Drennans or carp hooks. I've never had a hook straighten on a pike either though I have straightened them whilst unhooking.

 

[bigchub]

Never had a hook straighten when chub fishing. I only use Drennan Continentals when fishing near extreme snags when I'm forced to put the brakes on and keep them on. I always tend to use heavy gauge wire hooks because it suits my style of fishing for them. I've also been using Fox Arma Point SSBP and they are also very good.

 

[tigger]

I think the majority of times when a fish straightens a hook it's due to the fish being foul hooked. If a fish is hooked correctly in the mouth it's much less likely to bend out.

 

[chav professor]

It was not a bad article, far from it..... it is just bugs that I hear the 'straightening' reason for using Drennan Continental style hooks. There may me other reasons for using ultra heavy patterns, perhaps paste does not come away from the larger surface area of the hook as easily.

It was probably just a bit of old flannel to introduce the piece......... but it does niggle - but that is because i am pedantic

 

[Bob Hornegold]

I have had Match type wide gap hook to nylon straighten on Chub.

I lost a monster at the LIF the other year, when after playing it carefully for ages, it took one last bid for freedom and the hook straightened.

I was of course fishing for Grayling at the time and had landed some nice fish up until I lost that Chub.

I of course threw the Rod and reel in the bushes behind me and stormed off down the path to my mate to bemoan the loss, who was falling about laughing at my antic's !!

I hate loosing fish, especially when it's MY fault ?

Bob

 

[chav professor]

That is the thing Bob, if I loose a fish........It has nearly always been my fault...... never the hooks. On reflection, I have lost fish due to hooks to nylon being sub-standard - but that is my fault too. I need to learn how to tie hooks to nylon without a curly pigs tail, then I will not have to rely on some underpaid women/man/child to tie them for a pitance.......

 

[mark knowles]

I don't trust fine wire wide gap hooks. There's a fly fishing hook a lot of people rave about the Varivas 2200. I've had them open up on quite modest trout and one of them cost me the grayling of a life time.

 

[alan whittington]

Surely the straightening of most hooks would be avoided by using balanced tackle,i.e. rods,lines,hooks etc,we all use what we prefer though,but if your fishing a super specialist for chub on maggot and float,i would say you would be missing out on many fish,especially on those iffy days,in clear water,but that pales to insignificance if your legering a lump of flake,or a boilie,answering the thread question,yes i have had hooks straightened by chub,but only when roach fishing with fine wire hooks,near snags,or maybe the odd bad batch of hooks,which seems much rarer these days,thankfully.

 

[Jamesy]

Had a Chub OPEN a hook while float fishing (supposed to be Trotting but I thought I'd try some slack water) so I put on a bigger, heavier hook and caught the fish. Put up a hell of a fight near-in but was only about 3 pound.

 

[chav professor]

Even with light float fishing patterns, this does not mirror my experiences. Typically if float fishing using a size 20 or 18, the line parts long before the hook straightens.

I think specifically, articles that suggest ultra heavy hook patterns like Drennan Continental Bollie Hooks are referring to size 6 or 4 hooks, to 8lb line using ledgering techniques........ come to think of it i have landed barbel on super specialist size 6 hooks to 10lb line and never come close to the hook straightening!!!! This is barbel!!!

Chub just do not pull back that hard, even when heading for the snag.

The trick to landing chub on light line is not to bully the fish. Having landed chub to over 6lb on Kamasan B520 whisker barb hooks to 1lb14oz hook links - I can assure you, so long as you play the fish lightly, they barely put any stress on tackle - let alone come close to straightening.

There are occasions when chub put up a reasonable account for themselves, but if you pull them in, they will back and take line....... but not straighten a sensible pattern hook................ Continental hooks are for European carp and catfish or extreme snag fishing for carp IMO......