Barbel Meat Hooks

[Crystal Bend]

Hi Folks
I recently watched Ron Lees Barbel Fishing video and I thought it was brilliant.
I'm going to give his Touch Legering method a go some time.
I liked the way he just puts 2pcs of Meat straight onto the hook. In the video he uses a Spade End Wide Gape Sz6 Mustad 406 Hook with his preferred and also discontinued favourite hook being a Mustad 39082.
Two 100pcs boxes of Sz6 39082 Hooks came up on eBay recently at £3 a box from Mal Storey but they don't do International Postage so could be still available if somebody is interested in giving them a call.
With this I started at trying to find an alternative type hook and came across Mustad Method Feeder Hooks.
I believe they are massively over sized to their stated Size Number.
I'd love to know has anyone used\rated these hooks for Barbel Meat Fishing and if not suitable, what other hooks would you recommend as an alternative?
Many Thanks
John

Type (CRP019) BARBEL FISHING with RON LEES into Google to get a link to FaceBook to watch the video.

 

[mikench]

I can't comment on hooks or barbel fishing as I rarely do it but I prefer to hair rig meat and if using big chunks I use Enterprise tackle meat mates.

Enterprise Tackle Meatmates

Largest fishing tackle shop online in the United Kingdom. Great choice of fishing rods, fishing reels and all sorts of fishing equipment. Fishing gear for Carp, Coarse, Match, Fly, Sea, Predator, Specialist fishing from world's top brands such as Daiwa, Shimano, Hardy, Greys and Chub, Preston...

www.anglingdirect.co.uk

These are widely available on eBay and direct. You can use any hook you like as long as it has a hair. Neither the hook nor the line cuts through the meat.

 

[Crystal Bend]

Cheers for that @mikench but I'd like to put it straight on the hook if I can.
I don't know if you know this one but you can also put cylinders\cubes of meat on a hair too with an expanded Drennan bait band expanded internally in the meat as per Dave Roberts.
He shows you how to do it at 8mins.

 

[Keith M]

I often use the Korda hybrid Wide Gape hooks (see pic) or the slightly longer shanked Drennan Barbel hooks.
I also occasionally use the Drennan Wide gape Specialist hooks



My perfect barbel hook when using a hair rig was the Fox Arma Point SSBP hook (see pic below) however for hook mounted meat the shank was a little too short; and the ‘slightly’ in-pointing point was not really ideal for a hook mounted meat bait; and Fox stopped making them anyway (I’ve still got a few of them left though) and this hook had all of the things that I usually look for in a strong Barbel hook for use with a hair; Like a wide gape and an offset point and being Teflon coated so that it would retain its very sharp point a lot more over gravel and stoney river beds and not be too shiny.
I rue the day when Fox stopped selling them.


Keith

 

[Crystal Bend]

Thanks for that @Keith M
They look very good. I googled the Fox Arma Point SSBP Hooks and found the Fox Edges Wide Gape Beaked Hook which is meant to be the improved version of the original Arma Point SSBP design:

Product

www.foxint.com

I like the fact that the SSBP has a short shank as one 1\2" piece of Meat can hang on the Bend of the Hook while the other 1\2" piece above it can hide the Shank as per Ron Lees Method.
Is an Offset Point Hook (which I like too) the same as a Reversed Hook?

 

[Keith M]

Is an Offset Point Hook (which I like too) the same as a Reversed

Yes the point is offset from the shank and turned slightly inward

I’ll be giving the Fox Edges Wide Gape Beaked Hook a try when I run out of my stock of SSBP hooks for my hair rigged baits, thanks.

Keith

 

[108831]

For meat fishing with meat on the hook I prefer straight pointed hooks,like Drennan Super Specialists,both korda and fox do stronger hooks than the SS,but usually i'm chub fishing,or bouncing the meat,barbel average sizes these days generally require stronger hooks due to heavier rods and lines being used,if I remember correctly Ron used 4/6lb bs lines...

 

[Crystal Bend]

That's right @whitty
It was 4.4lb straight through to a Sz6 Mustad Spade Hook & has Paternoster link was about 12'' and Hook link 24". The Paternoster link was looped around the Main line & stopped by 2 x no.4s.
I'm guessing his Main line was Bayer at the time. He cut back a North Western 9' 6'' Fibreglass Blank back to 8' 9'' but as you say his tackle was balanced.

 

[108831]

The barbel were relatively small though,if you fished Holt Fleet now,there would be a helluva chance of a near double...

 

[dorsetsteve]

Any good quality hook will do, size the hook to the size of the meat. Biggest thing that helps, in my opinion, is to use a quick change swivel. This way you can pull the line through the meat into the hook, it damages the meat less so it stays on much better, it’s also easier.

 

[108831]

In my experience,meat is more likely to stay on the hook on the strike whilst striking,especially a size six,so I would rather ensure the bait is easily struck through(a bit like cheesepaste)by a smooth casting action,I actually wonder if making a lump of meat paste,by adding fishmeal in minimal quantities to stiffen it,or maybe semolina,to keep the meat flavour intact....m

 

[Crystal Bend]

Would a Kamasan B983 Sz8 Hook be strong enough to use for Barbel Fishing?

 

[108831]

I don't really know the hook,personally I would go for a straight point carp hook by someone like Fox,or a Drennan barbel hook(which I believe is straight pointed)as unless your going to fish 4-6lb line,you will open up many hooks on the market,as I alluded to earlier,curved point hooks are designed for hair rigging,where hooks are left wafting around amongst the gravel,blunting them,when you bury hooks inside bait that isn't so prevalent....sadly hook choices are very personal and specific to your own angling,when using meat in coloured water I hair rig a munster chunk of meat and a size 8 curved point hook,I dont like hooks over a size 6 for barbel,when using 15mm boilies I often use a 12,I don't have an issue losing fish on that size,but I do have concerns that at times barbel see big hooks,despite what people tell me to the contrary....

 

[Philip]

as I alluded to earlier,curved point hooks are designed for hair rigging,

Thats interesting & worth some discussion.

I always considered that an inturned/beaked point stands less chance of pricking on a self hooking hair rig than a straight point.

...Whats your thinking Alan ?

 

[108831]

I think they stay 'pricked' on picking up,giving a fraction longer whilst they shake their heads to lose the hook,this really applies more to stillwater species than barbel,as I say,having a sharp hook on such rigs is paramount,the gravel definitely blunts straight pointed hooks quicker,as barbel fishing is most often over gravel or stone it's something very important in my considerations....

 

[chevin4]

Would a Kamasan B983 Sz8 Hook be strong enough to use for Barbel I

Would a Kamasan B983 Sz8 Hook be strong enough to use for Barbel Fishing?

I would consider these to be too light in the wire for Barbel. Great hooks for Chub and Perch though

 

[Crystal Bend]

I don't know if people are aware of these Sea hooks but they're very good.
The Wrasse boys use them and the Speci Tench Anglers in Ireland.
A Tackle Shop owner in Dublin put me on to them.
The Size 10 is a little bit bigger than a Size 12.
I've landed a 12lb Common Carp on a Sz10 and not a bother on it.
I think, when I can, I'll use a Sz6 as my Barbel Meat Hook on a Paternoster Rig.
The picture doesn't do the hook justice, the point is very sharp, black finish & the wire is slightly thinner than other Specimen hooks but very strong. Highly recommend and would make an excellent Perch Worm Hook or Chub\Mullet Hook.

Sakuma 541 Mini Manta Pro Series Hooks - Sakuma

Forged heavy wire finished in anti-corrosive black nickel. It is exceptionally strong and light for its size. Its short shank and ultra sharp point makes it perfect for fishing small chunks of crab for wrasse, strips of squid for bream and garfish or live prawn and sand eel for bass. 10 per pkt...

www.sakuma.co.uk

 

[108831]

Never heard of them John....