Hooks for float fishing

klik2change · Oct 29, 2009

Hello all. I have read the other thread concerning hooks for barbel fishing. I use Korum seamless hooks, for legering, but I dont want to use black hooks for float fishing.

Hooks to nylon always have silver or gold hooks, presumably as they are mostly designed for the float, but the line is a bit on the light side for me. I would move to tying my own, which I can manage with anything 14 or larger, or my eyesight defeats me.

So what hooks would you recommend for [mostly] river float fishing [stick or waggler to suit conditions] for barbel and chub? Gold - or stick to black? I use a variety of baits: maggots, bread, corn, meat, [and occasionally I use pellets, eg Sonu hookable pellets - so far only on lakes]

Stealph Viper · Oct 29, 2009

If i only had to use one Hook manufacturer it would definately be Kamasan for me.

Try the Kamasan B911 range of hooks, very strong pattern but also quite a small gauge as well.

Does it matter if they are Barbless or not, and also do they have to be eyed or is spade end ok ?

Graham Whatmore · Oct 29, 2009

Nowt wrong with Drennan super specialist hooks, as strong as anything you can buy, I am a fan of Kamasan hooks too so if you want a size 16 or 18 even when things are tough and fishing single or double maggot the 911 is prettty good but not so sure if double figure barbel are the target, 14 and bigger I would always opt for the Drennan range.

I have never found colour much of a problem to be honest, different coloured hooks tend to be a faddy thing even in my match days on the river. I remember when the silver hooks came out everyone said they were the bees knees but I never noticed much of a difference in my catch rate if I was truthful. My favourite hook for chub on maggot was the Kamasan B520 micro barb and it still is today, I have landed barbel to 7lb using them as well.

Stealph Viper · Oct 29, 2009

For the bigger fish i would opt for Kamasan Animals, but the Drennans are also great hooks.

klik2change · Oct 29, 2009

Stealph Viper said:
Does it matter if they are Barbless or not, and also do they have to be eyed or is spade end ok ?

... I want eyed for hand tying. I dont get on with hook tyers. I use barbed hooks when ever possible over size 12, usually barbless under. I always crush the barbs [as long as I dont forget!]

---------- Post added at 17:22 ---------- Previous post was at 17:17 ----------

Stealph Viper said:
Kamasan Animals,

I already use pre-tied kamasan animal hooklengths at size 12 [5lb] and 14 [4lb], and other kamasan barbless pre-tied hooklengths in smaller sizes down to 22. I have used them for years and I like them very much. I have never hooked a barbel on any of them though...!

---------- Post added at 17:44 ---------- Previous post was at 17:22 ----------

Graham Whatmore said:
have never found colour much of a problem to be honest

... I havent really considered it before myself, I just thought a size 12 black hook would stand out a mile in water being penetrated by sunlight, especially when hoping to catch on the drop. I once caught a sizeable roach [about 3/4 lb] on a bare silver hook on the drop. I then caught a few more [smaller] roach with a bit of silver paper, before they stopped biting.

tigger · Oct 29, 2009

I do a lot of trotting on rivers and stick to kamasan animals and drennan super spades. The hooks in the drennans are just a bit smaller than the same size in the animals. The drennans are a brassy/bronzy colour rather than the quite bright silver of the animals. I've caught everthing from small dace to decent carp, barbel,perch, bream roach etc using these hooks. I also use them for my still water fishing and have had excellent results whilst using them.

Nigel Connor · Oct 29, 2009

Super spades for me.Barbel to 8.14 on the float.

slime monster · Oct 29, 2009

The criteria in Hook selection is weight and balance to the bait ,if you think using a different colour hook gives better results and improves your confidence go with your own choice, but fish can see hooks no matter what colour they are but they do not know what they are . me I use silver hooks for most of my fishing but only because the patterns I use happen to be that colour.

Philip · Oct 29, 2009

I am a super specialist fan too…although bear in mind I am more of a spezzie man than a match man. I've been using them for absolutely years. No weird bends no strange angled eyes, no beaked bits all over the place… just strong, not ridiculously heavy, straight eye, straight point and sharp -I like it ! Nice dullish silver colour too and 25 for less than 3 quid as well so no concerns about changing them regularly. I wish they made the same pattern without an offset but I can live with that.

If your stuck and can't decide then give them a go.

The fishing coach · Nov 7, 2009

Super spades for me too-sizes 14 to 10, especially as you can now get them barbless. They are great for smaller baits but I still use the Kamasan 980/981 for bigger baits

Sean Meeghan · Nov 8, 2009

Drennan Super Spades and Kamasan Animal Spades. For some reason I always prefer spade end hooks for float fishing and I marginally prefer the Animals as they hold their point better, but they are big for their size and silver, which I'm not too keen on. If you want an eyed hook I don't think there is anything better than the Drennan Super Specialist.

alan whittington · Nov 10, 2009

My personal choice is for a crystal bend hook for maggot,casters,bread etc.(which super specialists are one,i prefer Drennan chub hooks for chub on maggot which i think are discontinued,but i have a lifetimes supply),but more of a beaked affect for corn, pellet and boilies and my colour choice is bronze or the teflon finish versions,but whether it actually makes a difference who knows???

Hooks for float fishing

klik2change

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Stealph Viper

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Graham Whatmore

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Stealph Viper

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klik2change

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tigger

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Nigel Connor

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slime monster

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Philip

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The fishing coach

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Sean Meeghan

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alan whittington

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