Hi guys,
I have fished red hydrolastic on my (now deceased) MAP TKS 225 for many years and have landed plenty of decent carp with relative ease, but after a recent session have been contemplating whether I have been fishing it set too tight. Long story short, I was fishing the margins of an average sized mixed fishery last weekend where the average size carp is 5-8lb with a good head of doubles and a smattering of twenties to 28lb. Now, I'd managed 3 doubles in this session to 11lb 3oz which I'd landed fairly comfortably when I hooked something rather large! It bottomed out my red hydro and something had to give, unfortunately it was my no.4 section (fortunately I managed to grab it before it disappeared into the water). I retrieved the rig to find the hook straightened. Admittedly I wasn't fast enough adding sections but this stormed off at some pace. So it got me thinking, if the elastic was set looser would the fish have pulled so hard? Would it stretch further? Or is it worth fishing a lighter elastic that would stretch further? Unfortunately MAP no longer make spare sections so I've upgraded to a beastmaster pole which hopefully will allow me to pull a bit more without the top of the pole resembling a fully bent rod. However, it also got me thinking, if I'd hooked this fish at full length and it had bottomed out the elastic, how can you stop it breaking your pole?
Apologies for the very long post but this has been bugging me all week! Appreciate any help on any of the above points!!
Cheers
I have fished red hydrolastic on my (now deceased) MAP TKS 225 for many years and have landed plenty of decent carp with relative ease, but after a recent session have been contemplating whether I have been fishing it set too tight. Long story short, I was fishing the margins of an average sized mixed fishery last weekend where the average size carp is 5-8lb with a good head of doubles and a smattering of twenties to 28lb. Now, I'd managed 3 doubles in this session to 11lb 3oz which I'd landed fairly comfortably when I hooked something rather large! It bottomed out my red hydro and something had to give, unfortunately it was my no.4 section (fortunately I managed to grab it before it disappeared into the water). I retrieved the rig to find the hook straightened. Admittedly I wasn't fast enough adding sections but this stormed off at some pace. So it got me thinking, if the elastic was set looser would the fish have pulled so hard? Would it stretch further? Or is it worth fishing a lighter elastic that would stretch further? Unfortunately MAP no longer make spare sections so I've upgraded to a beastmaster pole which hopefully will allow me to pull a bit more without the top of the pole resembling a fully bent rod. However, it also got me thinking, if I'd hooked this fish at full length and it had bottomed out the elastic, how can you stop it breaking your pole?
Apologies for the very long post but this has been bugging me all week! Appreciate any help on any of the above points!!
Cheers