Hi Steve, wow, well that’s fantastic to hear mate. I taught myself to catch carp in the 80s using 4lb Maxima, a ledger stop, an open ended feeder and two grains of side hooked corn. It was just a matter of timing and location and getting to the park lake early. It wasn't hard! I’m all for progress but I’m convinced that we’ve been led astray and encouraged to add bits to rigs that simply aren't required. All the best with your journey. Cheers, Matt.
Since watching almost all of your videos I've really turned my sessions around and managed to land many more good carp. Now all of my fishing is done on your mono hair rig and blowback multi rig with nash chod twisters and chod claws, and the Beausoleil style safe inline system works a charm. Definitely helped my build my confidence enough to go on my first night session very soon. Thanks Matthew! You've definitely earned my subscription
Wow, that's wonderful to hear, thanks very much, I'm really glad the videos are helping in your fishing. All the best for your first night session, that's very exciting, I love night fishing, it's a very different experience! Cheers, Matt
I honestly can't believe that this here exists. In this chaos of so many yt channels and videos about the most recent modern rig, I found this one. I love it. Great job of looking over many factors that have an impact on efficiencies of chosen rig setting. Everything showed and explained. I am definitely sharing this video with everyone who is starting into carp fishing or is intoxicated with modern trends. Cheers!
Wow, well thanks so much for commenting and for your amazing feedback and support 😊 Glad you found us! Anything that you can do to share our videos is much appreciated. If you have any questions or ideas for future videos please do tell us. We have a list already but it’s always great to get feedback on the content you’d like to see. All the best with your fishing this year. Regards, Matt.
The whole hook turning debate is such a complex one and many say palm tests don’t simulate or prove anything, which I’m in agreement with. I’ve been trying to suss how the hell curves and kickers are turning the hook downwards (allegedly) and can’t picture just what they’re meant to be doing. When a carp sucks in the bait then blows it back out it is all suspended in a weightless vacuum if you like, and nothing of the rig is touching any part of the carp, hence the amount we see them suck and blow hundreds of times in underwater videos without a single bleep on the alarm the other end. I can’t see how it matters a single jot which angle the lines coming in, (which you’ve proven by stating out-turned eyes are just as effective as in-turned one’s), but more the weight of the line near the eye, which is why my catch rate has improved since using huge heavy sinkers 10mm from the eye. I’ve never even seen a cgi created demonstration of just how any of these theories work at all. Again the palm test is pretty useless imo. I could ask you how many aborted takes do u get a year? Or how many giant liners? But it would be a pretty futile survey because you’ve fished your own same lakes for years and know all the best methods etc so we probably wouldn’t learn much from that statistic. Me and a friend who fish the same lake week in week out had gone 10-12 straight catches then suddenly this weekend we both had 4 hook pulls in a row, no changes made anywhere. Fishing really does seem massively random but the mystery allows one hell of an industry to scam a helluva lot of money.
I’ve been watching a few of your videos and for someone who has a dabble at carp fishing only when it’s the river close season . The simplicity and clarity has helped when creating my rigs and I’m not so overwhelmed when I got to the carp tackle section now. I have subscribed , looking forward to more , keep up the great work !
Hi Stephen, thanks very much for taking the time to comment and for your support. I know exactly how confusing a modern tackle shop can be! Plenty more videos to come. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt. I can't speak highly enough of this channel . I've learnt more in the 12 months from you , than I have in 10years of carping. Since ditching braided hairs rigs and switching to a tweaked version of your mono rig I have consistently caught big fish. I haven't blanked since last August. Lol . A simple 12lb mono rig, with a chod twister is all you ever need . I was experimenting with mono rigs for some time woth mixed results , but when I saw your mono video, it gave me more confidence to stick with it. It's paid off big time . Thanks Matt .
Hi mate. Wow! Thanks so much for your incredible feedback! It’s so cool to know that we have made such a difference to your angling, congrats on your results 💪There’s a new rig video out this Sunday that you might find of interest. It might not be appropriate for your style of fishing of course but it’s a good one to have in your armoury. All the best, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler cheers mate I'll look forward to it . I've gone as far as giving all my braid away . I only use 9lb and 12lb hooklinks. The more time I use it the more I see the benefits. one benefit is it puts less pressure on the carps mouth , because you have to really play the fish and use the reel properly .. With that crazy end gear it allows the angles to put more pressure on it. Totally unnecessarily. You don't want the weakest link to be the carps mouth lol . Fish with torn mouths is the result of that . Nevers happens with a weaker hook link .
@@SuperDaish This winter I used 12lb Zig-Flo as a hooklink material for bottom baits and it worked a charm and I caught some really nice specimens. The next video won’t be for you as it uses braid but you might find a situation where mono isn't optimal and braid does still have a role to play. If the mono is working well for you (which it obviously is!) then there’s no need to even think about changing!
@@matthewcollinsangler I've watched your clip you did with the Zig flow . If you get a chance, experiment with Guru . I watch all your videos so certainly will the next . Take care.
I must say your videos are pretty special, informative, relevant, articulate and well delivered, free of cliches and the nauseating sound bites in many others that are just blatant sales pitches or “look at me, I’m the dogs bollocks, I caught a carp” videos. Thanks Matthew!
Hi Gary, thanks very much for the comment, it's fantastic to hear! I just love my fishing and sharing what I've learnt over the years from my experiences. More videos in the new year and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel. Cheers for now, Matt.
🙋♂Why I Stopped Fishing With Size 4 Hooks 👉 ruclips.net/video/JNp3Fi7VITo/видео.html Here’s what I’ve learnt about carp hooks over the last 20 years. As always I buy what I like with my own money and have no loyalty to one brand or another. This is a very emotive topic among carp anglers and I’m sure it’s going to create plenty of discussion 😉 00:50 Types of carp hook patterns 05:50 The difference between beaked and straight point carp hooks 07:08 Carp hook myths 09:34 Should you use micro-barbed or barbless hooks? 13:28 Types of hook shanks 17:02 How to create a safe long shank effect 20:53 Hook kickers 24:25 What type of hook for popup rigs
Thank you for including people like myself (average fishermen & women) who have the basics but, would like to improve our skills. From this video I have learned what might be a better hook for me and why. Thanks for your help. Frank.
Hi Frank, thanks very much for the comment and we really enjoy hearing that these videos really help anglers out there, that's what the channel is all about. It’s a complicated and confusing sport but it is possible to be very successful just by keeping things simple and focusing on the basics like strong knots and sharp hooks. All the best on your journey and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel. Cheers, Matt.
Being new to carp fishing picked up so many tips from your videos over the past 6 months or so, there's plenty of carp fishing videos out there most of them entertaining but none as clear and informative as these keep up the good work and merry Christmas!
Hi Jonathan, thanks very much for your amazing comments of support, it’s very much appreciated. I love sharing my knowledge and I'm so glad it can help anglers out there. We’ve got loads more content to share with you guys and there'll be a new video in January. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2022! Cheers, Matt.
Very well explained Matthew and with you practicing what you preach regarding barbless hooks has made me realise I need to change my approach too. What you said about the hook getting caught in the fishes mouth with a micro barb and in the net at the same time isn’t great and we all should put the fish first that’s a no brainier great stuff again a lots of really proper info for us all to take on board 👍👍👍
Just getting into carp fishing, well just started fishing and decided to go with carp for various reasons. I am so glad i found your channel this early in my journey!! Keep up the amazing videos sir!
Hi John, thanks for your amazing feedback. It’s very much appreciated. We’ve got more videos in the pipeline so plenty more quality info. coming your way. Don’t forget to have a good look through the archives. Some of it’s rather old but there is some good stuff to find! All the best with your journey. Cheers, Matt.
As someone fairly new to carp fishing and as I fish mainly alone, my main teacher is and has been RUclips. I have been a follower of what the carp companies experts are telling me and have been floating between different hook patterns and using kickers or not, but all the while not really getting the benefit. My own experience thus far has been that I've caught more on a very simple rig with a wide gape hook and no kicker, but as a lot of the experts seem to favor kickers and spinners and curve shanks or long shanks depending on what they're trying to sell at that time, I've allowed myself to be swayed. This has probably cost be quite a lot of money too but I am new and haven't known better. This video has quite simply given me the confidence to use exactly what I see and feel is working best rather than adding in all the whistles and bells that are needed to primarily boost sales. Thanks Matthew, that was so informative and no-nonsense. Liked, shared and subscribed.
Hi Paul, thanks ever so much for taking the time and trouble to write such amazing feedback. The reason why I'm able to do what I do is because I've been in your shoes! I taught myself how to catch carp from park lakes when I was 12 using nothing more than a swim feeder and a couple of grains of side hooked corn. Between the ages of 18 and 28 I forgot about fishing. Life got in the way. When I re-started it was an absolute nightmare! So many opinions. So much marketing hype. It's taken me years, a lot of fishing and meeting some great anglers to get to the level where I realised that most of it is a load of rubbish. So I've made it my mission to debunk all these carping myths and save anglers time, trouble and money. Once you cut out all the rubbish you can concentrate on what really matters, location, timing, bait application. Sharp hooks and simple rigs are all you need to catch carp. Let me know how you get on with your journey. Very best regards, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler thank you so much. My fishing life, like so many others, is similar. As a boy learned to catch anything the river Medway could provide using float and ledger. Then forgot about fishing for many years with life getting in the way too. With golf leaving me more frustrated than relaxed when I played, I was encouraged toward carp fishing by a friend who did it. That was a couple of years ago and as I turn 50 this year I'm at that point where I need an obsession, as most men do. Carp fishing has become that obsession and videos like yours fuel that obsession in a very positive way. Thank you and keep up the good 'no nonsense' work and all the best to you.
@@paulcox2962 That's fantastic to hear Paul. Getting back into fishing in later years is not easy. Carp fishing is a really simple sport made really complicated by companies that see the opportunity to make money. It’s not all bad though as the growth in the business has brought us gear far superior to that available to previous generations. Navigating the maze is hard and it’s taken me a lifetime and I’m just starting to be able to sort the wood from the trees! It’s great to know that our work helps to fuel your new found passion for carp angling and I hope that you continue to enjoy our content. Best regards, Matt.
Great points! Having had a couple of hooks in fingers, as well as getting caught in nets, clothing, etc I see the advantage of barbless. I will try them more… Keep up the good work!
Hi Brian, glad you enjoyed the video. Two years now for me on the barbless and I’m still a fan. So much nicer to fish with and all good solid hook holds. Great to know that you’re going to give them a go 👍 Cheers, Matt.
I completely agree with your thoughts on barbed vs. barbless, I'd only ever use a micro barb if I was fishing a very weedy lake where I felt that there was a likely chance of a fish being in a position where it could get slack line during the fight (ie, buried in weed and requiring a boat to extricate).
Brilliant, you have confirmed my thoughts about kickers. Common sense should tell you that anything that narrows the gape of the hook must lessen your chances of catching fish. These days there are so many ways to tie rigs that leave the hook moving freely in all directions, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The name kicker is appropriate though, insofar as it can kick the hook straight out of the fishes mouth.
What a fantastic informative video. Forget the trends and just look at the mechanics. When I get back into my fishing again I will take all this on board. Thanks again.
Hi Ian, thanks very much for commenting and for your positive feedback. It's very much appreciated. It's really easy to get lost in the marketing hype. All the best, Matt.
Hi Matt,i would like to say how I love your approach to carp fishing its very straight forward and non complicated because after all I reckon the tackle and bait companies are all out to catch the angler🤔 a straight forward hair rig either bottom or pop up as caught me hundreds of not thousands of carp in 30 years of fishing! All so regarding bait Ivve caught hundreds of fish on the old tutto fruity bolies not just cell etc etc etc! Your videos are by far the most informative out there which to me that's all that matters✊ thanks Dan
Watching this video again after some time I think you’re right for the biggest part 😉. Some people say that the palm test is worthless because a hand is not a carps mouth and water is not air. I agree to a certain degree. But let’s be honest, gravity still applies under water. All things heavier than water will sink to the bottom. Some people say their best catching rig fails the palm test. That’s possible of course but it is not important to me anyway. The most important thing in carpfishing is confidence. I always use the palm test because it gives me confidence that the rig I use turns the way I want it to. To get the best hookhold you want the hook about an inch behind the bottomlip of the carp. You don’t like longshanks because they sometimes slide before they find a firm hookhold. In this particular case the hook turns probably to fast. By using a kicker like you’ve shown with the wide gape you can make ik turn later thus providing a firmer hookhold. You can use a line aligner with a widegape hook which doesn’t close the gape as much as a kicker and make it turn at the right moment. That how I think about it at least🤓. What really makes my head spin is the withy-pool rig. It catches fish but I can’t understand how that is possible. The only reason I can think of is that once it got in it can’t get out. Really interested to hear your opinion about that rig Matt😉. Cheers.
Hi Louie, very interesting to read your insights and I agree with a lot of what you say. I have tried the withy pool rig once or twice, but it’s never caught me a carp! The rig is designed to catch carp that were feeding in a very specific way and it worked for them. I don’t think it’s relevant to most carp fishing situations. As you’ll see in some videos coming out later this year, I am experimenting with kickers and they can be made to work but they’re quite finicky and it’s easy to get it wrong IMO. Good to chat and all the best with your season 🎣
Matthew, very educational, thank you. Many things I've been told to do in Carp fishing here in the U.S. involve hook styles, shapes, sizes, barbs, etc... my favorite rig, one that has never failes me here is the KD rig. I fish using bottom baits, wafters, and popups. I use curved shankes hooks. I have tried many patterns, and the curved hooks seem to work well. In your opinion, what hook pattern would possibly work better, to give that additional percentage point for hookups using the KD? I find here in the US, non-pressured fish for the most part, so, special rigs, in my opinion are not needed. A simple knotless knot, or KD rig, produce for me, far better than any other I've tried. Thanks for another great video. Cheers.
Hi mate, thanks very much for commenting. It’s always great to hear from anglers from the other side of the pond! Although I’ve tried the KD rig many years ago I never really bonded with it myself. I did notice the occasional mouth tear due to curve shanked hooks so I stopped using them years ago. That may well have been down to the soft mouths of the carp I was fishing for at the time though. If you are getting on well with the pattern then that’s cool. Personally I don’t believe that the hook pattern itself has much of an impact on the rig's overall effectiveness. What is far more important to me is the length and degree of fineness of the point. I’ve used loads of patterns over the years from a wide range of manufacturers and as a design engineer and toolmaker, I have a very keen eye for detail. I have found that the Nash Pinpoint range of hooks are simply in a different league to everything I’ve ever seen. You may not be able to buy Nash products in the US but if you could then that’s what I’d recommend over anything else. For me the perfect hook is one that penetrates the carp's mouth with minimal resistance. Think of it like the difference between stabbing a piece of meat with a meat skewer or a butcher's needle. The thinner, finer point will go in quicker and deeper and be far harder for the carp to eject. The trouble with going finer is that you’ll lose point strength so you need hooks made from the very best steel. The only way to truly understand this for yourself is to buy a high quality eye glass or jeweller’s loupe with 10x magnification (forget the rubbish ones that cost $5). Hope that gives you food for thought. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler,.thank you. I can get Nash products, and use them quite a bit. I have some pinpoint patterns, just received, and trying them for the reasons you state above. I use the Gardner Continentals as well, they have never failed me. Hope all is well. Thwnks again.
@@t3angling575 Ah OK cool! The Gardner continentals are OK on the strength front but they could be sharper IMO. They sharpen up well though ;) All the best with your season.
I also thought kickers closed the gape, but just followed the trend. I've also noticed more failed takes with a kicker after thinking about it. Regarding barbless hooks I've found I don't lose fish if you keep the line tight. And so easy to unhook. Getting a micro snagged in a landing net means snapping the barb off to get it out. Another great video..You really make me think about my fishing. Keep the content coming Matt..
Hi mate, interesting to hear about your experience. Last year I revisited kickers. I added them to a mono rig to straighten the exit angle of the hooklink and open the gape of this particular rig and it worked very well. The trouble is they are often slapped on and all they do is cause trouble IMO. I was certainly guilty of just following the crowd. It wasn't until my eyes were opened that I started to make progress. This channel is all about making anglers think about their fishing a bit more so that's great feedback to hear! All the best, Matt.
@@hsavov If I wanted to use an inturned eye hook with mono, then I’d use a kicker to change the exit angle of the hooklink from the eye to stop the gape from being closed. I don’t use spinner or ronnie rigs.
A few tackle makers love to market stuff we don't really need to use- clever marketing makes them big £££, im well let's say older & I was match fishing back when carp fishing was starting to get big - Very early 80s & your bite indicator was a washing up liquid bottle lid clipped over your line ( with a starlight at night) no such thing as a buzzer then, some developments have really been essential but some have also just been " fads" we really need not use Great upload again Mathew 👍🎣
Hi Lee, carp fishing is a marketer's dream. I understand this because my wife is a marketer. There’s nothing wrong or evil about marketers. Their job is to maximize return from any potential market. The carp fishing industry has grown enormously over the years and as a fully invested member of the carp fishing holiday business, this is a good thing. We have access to gear that we could never even dream of back in the 80s! The downside is that the market place is crowded and for the newcomer the choice is bewildering. For reasons I cannot fully explain, I’ve made it my mission to “explain carp fishing”, to demystify this sport that I love. Thank you for following me and supporting us on this journey! Cheers, Matt.
Been using barbless since I started and not had many problems with hook pulls. Have been using barbed on waters that allow it and personally haven’t noticed much difference. I use a Korda wide gape (b or x) in a size 6. The rig I use is a combi multi rig and I use a medium Korda kicker. The only reason for this is to keep the loop of line on the hook in the same place. Great information Matt
Hi mate, thanks for commenting. I completely understand why you put the kicker on but I've fished the multi rig a lot and for me it's not necessary unless you're hooking PVA sticks or bags onto the hook. I use Skin link for my multi rigs and it's never moved on me. The other way of avoiding the kicker is to put a hook bead at the bottom of the multi rig loop. Oli Davies uses this trick: ruclips.net/video/1hUE3Q_23Fo/видео.html. Food for thought 😊 Cheers, Matt
@@matthewcollinsangler thanks for the reply mate. The way I use the multi rig is a loop of supple braid Albright knotted to 15 or 20lb fluorocarbon so it stays supple, this means I have to use either shrink tubing or a kicker to keep it in place. I’ve tried oli Davies trick but it’s just not the one for how I fish the rig
@@banditfishing1558 Ah got ya! Yes if you’re using a supple braid then sure you’d need something over the top of the eye of the shank. Tell you what you could do though. Cut off the top of the Korda kicker you’re using then it will pin the braid loop into place without delaying the turning over of the hook. You might find you get better, more solid hook holds this way, just a thought.
The long shank part regarding a slicing, i changed from cranks to the ridgemonkey ape-x medium curve hooks, i noticed they also sliced 1 out of 6 carp i hooked, wont be using them again
Another great video from a thinking carp angler, cutting through all the hype we are subjected to these days. I agree with the kicker observations, in my tests an old fashioned and proper Jim Gibbinson line aligner turns the hook a bit quicker with braid.
Hi Adrian, thanks for commenting and for your support. I can see the appeal of the classic line aligner although for me, I fished simple braided rigs with no aligner for many years and they worked just fine. As with many things in fishing, it's all about confidence! Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt Yet another excellent, really informative, and totally BS free tutorial. You are definitely my go to Carp Guru Guy. Used barbless for years, tend to use size 6 or 4 wide gape’s for pop-ups or bottom baits on the multi-rig. Brilliant set/up, really easy to tie, versatile, not let me down yet. Keep up the excellent work. Kind regards
Hi mate, that's awesome man! Thanks as always for your support. Great to hear that you’re already a barbless fan. Yeah I do like the multi rig but I must admit I’m using an awful lot of mono these days. I just love rig tying lol. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt, I'm relatively new to carp fishing and I'm learning so much from all your vids. Just wondered if you have come across the new style Gripz hooks from Pallatrax and what your thoughts are? Andy
Hi Andy, I’m glad you’re enjoying the channel and I hope it helps you in your journey. I’ve not used these hooks and I’ve never met anyone that has. Personally I have no interest in testing them as I don’t buy into the marketing. I catch loads of big carp on barbless Nash Chod Twisters, and regular Nash Twisters. I virtually never have hook pulls and they are always cleanly hooked. The Twisters work because the point is very long and very very sharp. They are sharpest out of the packet hooks money can buy and they are all I use and recommend to anyone. I use them in size 8 and size 6. The 8’s are crazy sharp and very strong. Unless you are a pro then don’t even think about trying to sharpen them. Just use them once and recycle them. Use cheap mono rigs that are disposable (one time use only!) or multi rigs which can be re-used (just change the hook). Here are some other links for you: ruclips.net/video/7VlmNHg0BD0/видео.html, ruclips.net/video/K0A4GSH0z44/видео.html, ruclips.net/video/LzFina92brM/видео.html Hope that helps, Cheers, Matt.
I’ve recently got the urge to carp fish again after 20 years and you Sir have converted me to mono and kicker ditched before my first cast. I’m just rebuilding some carbon rods I bought and then I’m ready to go. Do you have any preference to the make or colour line? Also what is that baiting needle you use? I think I love you 😂 your explanation is again well delivered and comprehensive ❤️
Hi Garry, I wish I had a quid for every angler that asked me that question lol. I’ve used every colour line and I can honestly say that colour makes no difference whatsoever. Having said that, a healthy lake is a light green colour so that’s generally what colour of line I use. For the last two years I’ve been using the Nash Bullet in 12lbs to 20lbs. I’ve found the 12lb version to be accurately rated for knot strength and unless you are fishing a savage venue then I wouldn't bother with anything stronger. The 12lbs version is 0.33 and casts really well too. You can use it for hooklink too. Other good mono hooklink materials (for standard bottom bait rigs) are the Nash 12lb (0.30) Zig-Flo (just add a sinker to help it settle). Good for open water fishing with no snags or fishing pressured venues in the winter. If the going gets tough then I’m using the 30lb (0.50) Nash heavy duty Mono Snag leader as a hooklink. The Zig-Flo and the snag leader come on 100m metre spools so they are more convenient to carry than a big bulk spool of mono. Just remember that the most important item in your tackle box is your hooks. The Nash Chod Twisters are the perfect partner for mono. Change them very regularly and you’ll catch plenty. Personally I use a hook a chuck. Sounds crazy but it makes all the difference in the world! The baiting needle I used in this video is the Gardner braid needle XL. I have quite a few actually as they all have pros and cons 😊 Cheers, Matt.
Nice to see someone move over the years to caring more and more about the fish and not just the catch the amount of times i see anglers on opposite banks know all about tackle and how to catch the fish but then treat them like shite once caught is very disturbing :/
Well explained Matt, always wondered why so many different hook patterns, looking at so many in the tackle shop is like being a kid again in the sweet shop which one do I chose, thanks for explaining this very useful information
Hi Chris, thanks again for commenting. Yes it’s all a bit bewildering lol. What it’s like for someone just coming into the sport heaven only knows. Yeah that’s the trouble! You buy a pack of those and a pack of those and before you know it you’ve spent £100 quid and you walk out with a very very small bag of bits some of which you’ll try, immediately lose confidence in and never use again! It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't go back next time and do it all over again 😂
Thanks Matthew, very informative! I'll be taking a lot from that video. Please continue with your impartial advice, I find it very refreshing. The one hook I'm missing is these out turned eye one's. One another subject, have you done any videos on setting up with either a method feeder or inline lead? I couldn't seem to find anything on your videos. Thanks 👍🏻.
Hi mate, thanks again for your awesome support, it's really great to hear. Yeah, out turned eyed hooks are very useful, very universal. My first big rig video incorporates an inline lead. Here’s the link to the part of the video where I talk about the lead system: ruclips.net/video/ED58TfFEcqM/видео.html. There’ll be a new inline lead video in the future. I haven't used a method feeder for years. If I want to create a similar presentation to that I’ll use a solid PVA bag. Here’s a link to my PVA tip video: ruclips.net/video/7y066e1Q6Xk/видео.html Cheers, Matt.
Excellent video as always Matt, your take on barbless hooks was very interesting, my PB of 48lb was on a barbless hook so Im now thinking of changing back. Cheers
Matthew, thank you very very much for a more than excellent rig-video. To be honest, it didn't show me much which I did knew or experienced myself. But, and that is the crucial point here, you covered almost everything that is to say about hooks and rigs. I left you a subscription as a reward. Greetings from the Čech Republic 🇨🇿 and stay healthy 😷.
Hello Robin, thanks very much for your comment and for your subscription to the channel. I’m glad that you liked the video and the content that I covered. All the best with your fishing this year. Cheers, Matt.
Hello! Thanks very much for your support, I’m very happy that I’ve been able to help you out. All the best in your journey and remember that the learning never stops. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt, there are a few anglers who produce really good instructional videos, but I have to say yours are the best by some margin! Thanks for another great video which has helped me to simplify my hook choice and save some cash on buying only one pattern in the future. Could you do some future videos on zig fishing and floater fishing please? Thanks.
Hi Ian, wow, that’s incredible to hear mate and thanks for taking the time to comment. It really does mean a lot to us. I am quite familiar with zig fishing and I’ve caught some very good carp on the method but unfortunately it’s not something I get to practice very often nowadays so doing a video might be tricky. We’ll definitely add it to the list though and we’ll see what we can do. As for surface fishing I used to love it but carp actually have to be educated to eat surface baits! It takes weeks or even months apparently so again surface fishing isn't something I can practice over here. Thanks for the ideas and I hope that you continue to enjoy our channel and feel free to share our videos with anyone you know. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt, great video. Very informative. I also prefer barbless. There is a very popular pay lake in Europe that takes a different view on barbless which I never understood... quote: "Micro barbed hooks only, this is to reduce mouth damage and allows a snagged fish to escape. Barbless hooks not allowed, they cut like a knife when playing fish." Going to this lake later in the year so will ask the owner, as the rule is the opposite of most commercial lake rules and to what I have personally observed. There must be a reason behind it from the owners perspective, and they are his fish. So his lake his rules, I respect that. Like any lake you visit, you are a guest and you know the rules before arrival and booking. However, will be interesting to hear his experiences.
Hi Mick, thanks very much for the feedback and I'm glad that you're already a fan of barbless. Since making the change myself I've researched a few venues that only allow micro-barbed on the grounds of fish safety and it makes no sense to me. I was invited to fish another venue recently and I asked special permission to be allowed to use barbless. The response was yes and when I asked why barbless are banned they told me that it's more down to the anglers’ skills. That didn't make sense either to me. I was going to visit another lake that insisted on micro-barbed and I decided not to bother as I didn't like their attitude. My feeling is that many micro-barbed only venues do it because they've listened to rumours. I’m just glad I was able to take the time to properly test barbless last year. All the best on your travels. Cheers, Matt.
Thanks for sharing your experience, I really like your videos. I agree with almost everything you say in this one, except I think a kicker used right (i.e. at a much shallower angle) can be great. It has the same “long shank effect” that you were demonstrating with the stiff mono. Also, wouldn’t you agree that micro barbed hooks are better in any situation where the fish can gain any leverage (across weed etc.) to shed the hook? In open water I agree there’s no need for barbs.
Hi, thanks very much for commenting and I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. I made this video to encourage anglers to think a bit more about what extras they add and whether or not they actually make a positive or negative difference to the end results. After we made the video I got to thinking and experimenting with kickers again as it’s been a very long time since I used them. I realised exactly what you say that it all depends on the exact way they are set. It’s the closing on the gape that creates problems but if used at a shallower angle to create a longer hook, they can be very effective. I also tried some out of the packet kickers from Nash and I found that they did work well with the rigs I tried. Here’s another video of the configuration I experimented with: ruclips.net/video/Km35wH2V2TA/видео.html Yes I did use a longshank hook but it was a size 8 which isn't much longer than my regular size 6’s. It's been a long time since I fished in heavy weed. When I did, I used to use micro-barbed hooks so it’s difficult for me to comment. I do know that one of the fishery colleges did a rigorous scientific test over a long period of time using real anglers on a weedy water. The subject was mouth damage and micro-barbed vs barbed on a weedy venue. The barbless won. All we can do is experiment and see how it goes. Best regards, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler thanks for the detailled response - much appreciated! Completely agree trying out those things is the way forward. I find it easy to believe that barbless causes less mouth damage on weedy waters, too - I think that is a general thing and of course we should all be thinking about fish safety first. My comment was more about hook pulls, which I have found to be too big a problem with barbless on an extremely weedy water I fish. So I went back to barbed there because I got tired of losing fish. I guess it’s all about finding out what works on a given water. I’d love to visit Beausoleil one day btw, looks like a great place. Best regards, Wolf
@@carassiuscarassius140 Hi Wolf, I can certainly see how the weed would give the fish extra leverage to rid themselves of a barbless hook more easily than a micro barbed. I'd like to give my barbless approach another whirl on a heavily weeded water but we just don’t have anything like that around where I am. I know that I’m biased but Beausoleil is a special little water. It might be small but, at times, it’s rather tricky! All the best, Matt.
Hi Darren, thanks for commenting! Yes definitely one of the good guys is Nigel. I got to know Nigel when he worked at Bankside. He’s not a man of many words but I listened very attentively to what he had to say. I have a lot to thank him for. I liked the way he kept his fishing simple and he helped me to focus on what actually matters rather than get caught up in the marketing maze. Do give him my regards next time you see him. Cheers, Matt.
Nailed it matt brilliant video very informative, I use twister for braid and twister with a out turned eye for your mono rig.The claw is a fantastic hook for the spinner/ronnie rig.I only use micro barbed when lake rules apply, as you said barbless are easier to remove and get a proper hook hold.cheers
Hi Darren, thanks for the comment and nice to hear your views on hooks. I’ve never tried the original twister pattern. I’m very late to the twister party! Massive miss on my part. I’ve been using the chod twister with the 35lb supple Armourlink and it works great. I can see the standard twisters being very effective with supple materials. I don’t use ronnie or spinner rigs but I really like the chod claw with multi rigs. Especially when I need something stiffer like 35lb Skinlink. The extra large eye of the claw is a big bonus as it makes threaded through doubled over material a doddle. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanks matt,I'm off to a members lake in york next week for four days Can't wait .I'm definitely trying your shock and run system, as they tend not to run but shake the lead there. It's very pressured so it's semi running leads and mono/fluorocarbon all the way . Btw matt I'm currently watching your back catalogue of videos, all very informative for beginners and seasoned anglers, keep em coming pal.👍
@@darrenfox1879 Right! Sounds like an excellent test to me! It'll be interesting to see how it does. It’s great that you are digging through the archives lol. Yeah we’ve been at this a while lol. Hopefully you can see the progress we’ve made on the production! Have a great session mate.
Great Video! It changed my mind about many myths. Now I know why some of my rigs are sometimes making ugly things to mouths. I threw out all my curvshanks right away! Also now I know why my blowbacks with kicker sometimes hook so shallow! Still got some question. What is desired lenght of rig? I keep mine between 7-9inch. But what is better? Longer or shorter? And why? Some explain that shorter rig gives quicker contact with led which brings more bites. But what about soft lake bed? Im so confused. Looking for answear or maybe some tips in future Videos! Big fan. 😊
Hi Antonios, thanks very much for your question and your support. I’m really pleased that my video helped explain things. There are a load of theories on how to select rig length and you’re right it’s a good idea for a future video! You mention that your rigs are usually between 7 and 9” long. This is a good length. I’ll try to summarize very quickly the way I choose rig length. If the carp you are targeting are on the small side (sub 12kg) then I would stick to the 7” length. If you are targeting larger carp 20kg+, then 9” is good. It also depends on the baiting situation you are creating. If you are fishing over tight beds of bait then shorter is better. If you are fishing over a spread of boilies then longer is better. If you are fishing with solid PVA bags then 3-5” is about right. If the lake bottom is soft then try to find the harder areas or consider fishing a helicopter rig (with a light lead) that allows the lead to plug into the silt a little. You can then stick to your normal rig length and the presentation will be fine (I need to do a video on this too!) I hope that helps and that you continue to find the videos useful. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Im shocked you responded so quickly. I was so desperate for those answears. YOU MADE MY DAY! Thanks you so much! I’ve spent many days trying to find some precise info that you gave me right now. I will spread info about your channel, you deserve a lot more views and subs!
@@antoniosgwozdz2945 Haha no worries, happy to help. Thanks for giving us another idea for a new video! It’s great to know that you want to share our work with a wider audience, thanks. Our goal is to help anglers catch more and fish safer. Carp fishing is one of just a few sports when our ignorance or complacency can cause injury and harm to the living creatures we hold in such high esteem. I wish you all the best on your journey my friend. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Jack, thanks for the amazing support and feedback mate. We really do appreciate it. If you ever fancy a crack at our place you know where to find us. Cheers, Matt.
excuse me for not finding the right info but I really want to know the brand of hook you are using in this video. There is not a hook I can find that matches yours in regard of specifications. Thank you very much in advance for your reaction!
Hi there, in this video I used a number of different hooks. If you are looking for specific recommendations then I can highly recommend any hook in the Nash PinPoint range. I’ve had the chance to test a few more this winter and I can say that without doubt they are the sharpest (out of the packet) hooks I’ve ever used. Really strong too even in smaller sizes like 8s. The Nash Chod Twister is a particular favourite as it’s extremely versatile pattern which is suitable for a wide range of materials. Good for carp of any size and even large catfish. For the multi rig I like the Nash Chod Claw as the eye is larger. I hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Leo, there could be a number of reasons. You could be using a style of hook with a type of material that doesn’t work well together. You could be tying the knotless knot wrong (the hooklink must exit the side of the eye nearest to the point). If you don’t do this the hook will turn away from you when you try the palm test (I see this mistake quite a lot). The hook point might be slightly damaged and it will slide over your skin and will never grab and turn. If you're really stuck then send me a good close up pic of your rig and I’ll see if I can spot the problem for you. My email address is matt@frenchcarpandcats.com. Cheers, Matt.
Hello sir! Wow, well that's fantastic to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Your support is very much appreciated. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
The lake i fish has a rule of barbless hooks i like the rule because it causes much less damage to the fishs mouth compared to barbed/micro barbed i havent had any issues with not hooking or a fish coming loose
Very imformative,, some really intressting hook point points (pun intended) Yes getting micro bard stuck in net or your hand is a real pain, I once had a idiot, snag my ear with mackerel feathers on a boat, not fun!! Given the results of your 100 night test, Its barbless all the way for me now, Cheers matt
Hi Scott, wow well that's excellent news! Really glad that it's given you the confidence to take the plunge. Let me know how you get on. All the best, Matt.
Hello Matt, thanks for this video. I have a question: In this Video you show some mono rigs. You don´t use a hook bead like in the Video "Best Rig..." Why?
Hi Steffen, wow well spotted! OK, so you have to bear in mind that our video production is done over weeks or months and I’m experimenting and learning all the time. In this case, I think we filmed this video before the hair rig video and I wasn’t using the bead at that time in my fishing! That’s all 😊
Hey Matt, Divvy in the Bivvy here :-) another truly informative video, masterclass. Targetting just Cats (20-50lbs) what would be your go-to hook? Size, make and model. Ive been using Catmaster Eagle Wave Circle and and Catmaster Eagle Wave in size 6/0 for all rigs. Your comments appreciated.
Size 4 or 6 Nash chod twisters is all I use for cats mate, very strong and very sharp! If you haven’t seen it, here’s my catfish rig how to in detail: ruclips.net/video/NkOZfsGNmbk/видео.html ☺️
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanx again Matt. i bought some Nash exactly as you suggest, wow - they are much smaller than i generally use for Cats. smallest i have used is 1/0. 2x questions if i may: is this size (Nash size 4) big enough for bait of size whole small squid, a block of 2-4 28mm pellets for eg and 2nd would you strike using these Nash Chod hooks or same approach as a circle hook. TIA
@@divvyinthebivvy743 Hi mate, these hooks are designed for hair rigging boilies or pellets, 18 to 24mm, as I show in the carfish rig video. Fish a simple running lead. There is no striking because the hooks are super sharp.
Hi mate, thanks very much for the support. Glad that you like what we do. Plenty more to discover and more on the way so don’t forget to subscribe. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler use all your information and it has turned my fishing around. You cut through the 'carpy BS' designed to sell sell sell and get right to the things that are simple AND WORK Thank you so much
Hi mate, always interesting to compare experiences. For me kickers can affect the way a rig turns over by shielding the hook point. Over the last 12 years of running this fishery, I know you can catch loads of large carp without them. This winter I did an experiment with adding a kicker back into one of my rigs as it solved a specific problem I was having with some 12lb Zig-Flo exiting at the wrong angle. The kicker I used was very short and didn't close the gape of the hook and yes it worked well. I’m hoping to get anglers to think about whether they need a kicker or not. If kickers are working well then great but if you are struggling then it’s possible that by removing them you will improve your results 😊 Good topic of discussion 😉Cheers, Matt.
Hi Tim, thanks for commenting. I nearly put a section in about that but the debate about hook size could be a stand alone video 🤣. So it does somewhat depend on the manufacturer and pattern but I've gone back to using a size 6 rather than a size 4. Choose well and they are massively strong. Hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
@@MrTestcurve Right! I've never done odd sizes 😊 Hooks are funny though, once you find a size and pattern that you like it's difficult to change. Oh until you get a hook pull lol. I used to swap hook styles way too much until I learned how to inspect and sharpen my own lol.
Hello. another great video. I have a question regarding that rubber stopper on the shank of the hook below the knot It was not mentioned in earlier videos.
Hi mate, thanks for commenting and I’m glad you liked it. Ah well spotted! Yes, I’ve been adding a hook bead on my mono hair rigs as it keeps the knot neat and tight and creates an aggressive angle to kick the hair out at an angle to the shank. It also helps control the exit point of the hair so that it stays opposite the point. I don’t normally add bits like these but it makes a big difference and if you use barbless they are reusable many times. I’ll explain more in the videos that we’ll be publishing soon! Cheers, Matt.
Hi Mat, I'm going to waffle on a bit here but only to reiterate what this video is about. I've only just looked at this video (three times) as I didn't think I needed to??? I started carping in 1974 when short shank hooks were about the only hooks you could get apart from the Kamasan B175's which Lee Jackson put me onto. We used sizes 8-12 and this was when 18mm boilies were the smallest baits we used! I must have have tried every hook and rig going, some of which I modified, but I did notice that on the odd occasion some mouth damage did occur when using curved or long shank hooks which I wasn't happy with. I also wanted to revert back to using hair rigs so I got some wide gapes from Bank Tackle (superb hooks) and the claws from Nash and have not had any damage since. I did put the barbless hooks to one side when I lost a huge fish, but thinking about it I have also lost, very rarely, fish on barbed hooks also. The only thing I do if I'm using braid and not using a PVA mesh bag is wrap a PVA nugget around the hook to prevent tangling. Great video Mat, I'll have to check ALL your vids now, just in case lol. Tight lines
Hi Matt. Bit of a spin off this question but hook related ... I was fishing for carp at the weekend but hooked and landed a lovely 29lb catfish. Short pop up on a reverse combi rig with approx 6" boom using a nash twister #5 for the first time. Hook hold was very deep. Tied exactly the same rig again and an hour later bumped a screaming take. On inspection, hook point had burred over. Repeated the process and an hour later, exactly the same thing happened again. I'm confident that this wasn't caused by stones (clay bed, popped up bait). Never had any other hooks burr over like that before. Wondered if there is a bony part of a catfish's mouth that could have caused it on these two occasions? Best regards, Mark
Hi Mark, thanks for your question. I don’t think it was the catfish mouth, IMO it’s due to a slightly damaged hook out of the packet. I’ve been fishing with the Twisters all year. I inspect every hook in each pack prior to fishing and I tend to find one or two hooks with burrs, that’s only 2 out of 10 hooks which is pretty good in my book. I take a hone to knock off the burr. I have banked 40 carp, lost 1 and banked 2 catfish with these hooks, they’re the best out of the packet hooks I’ve found but they’re not 100% perfect. Hope that helps, Matt.
Hi Mark, I have another explanation for your hook pull and damaged Twister experience. Catfish are notorious for their ability to create savage liners. I’m talking about liners so strong they rip line from the clutch. The result of these liners is that the rig gets dragged across the bottom and the hook point is ruined. When I have one of these at night I often strike into them expecting to connect. I’ve even felt the kick of the fish for a few seconds but then I wind in and find the hook point turned over. If you’re not fishing with a telltale indicator system of some sort then you would believe with absolute conviction that you’d suffered a hook pull. As I always fish with a telltale I can instantly tell that it was only a liner. There was no bite! The reason, I believe, that I occasionally feel the kick of this fish before it goes slack is that the lead can get caught around the pectoral fin of the catfish. It doesn’t stay in place for long but it’s enough to transmit a few kicks from the fish before it becomes dislodged. My advice is to use one of my tell tale lead systems. It won’t prevent the liners but knowledge is power and it will give you the confidence that there is no rig or hook problem. All you have to do is whack it back out there and try again! Best of luck, Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thank you so much Matt, that makes absolutely perfect sense to me and has put my mind at rest now. What you describe is exactly what happened on both occasions. I said the hook point had burred but 'turned over' is a better description. I always test my hooks points so knew they were perfect when they went out. I saw a cat role and churn through the lake bed when I arrived so they were very active in my swim. I've seen your latest shock and run rig and have similar components to incorporate that this weekend, including the telltale system. Very best regards, Mark
@@markwright5080 No worries at all. Yeah if you saw cats churning the silt then it's a virtual guarantee that you'll get some big liners. Glad you enjoyed the last video! Best of luck with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Good evening Mr Collins. I've watched many of your videos on RUclips now. I've just watched the video you did, the only hook you'll need. I'm confused to which hook to use, what would be best for a simple carp rig. People and tackle shops have told me to try the Ronnie Rig, The German Rig, The Multi Rig. I wouldn't know where to start. I have noticed you use Nash hook's and other tackle, are they the best?
Hi Lee, I totally understand how confusing this game is! If you ask twenty different anglers you’ll get twenty different answers lol. This channel is sponsored by Nash but even if it wasn't I’d still use and recommend the Nash pin-point range of hooks above everything else because they are simply the sharpest and strongest hooks available right now. As I’ve said before I would recommend that you use a basic mono hair rig and tie it with a size 6 Nash chod Twister. Hooks damage easily (I generally use one per cast). This might sound crazy but the hook is the most important piece of fishing equipment above everything else. Tie a new rig every time and you will catch carp consistently. Enjoy, Matt.
That was great Matt,so pleased you mentioned the dreaded kicker! I binned them many years ago,was suffering hookpulls on a hard pit,no kicker and bingo no more lost fish…seems pretty obvious now. Thanks for your great vids as they are very grounding in this now modern hype social media
Hi mate, thanks so much for commenting and for your support mate, it’s very much appreciated. Great to hear about your experience with the kickers! At that point in my angling I was transitioning from smaller runs waters to syndicates and large gravel pits and I was struggling badly! My old rigs weren't cutting the mustard and thanks to Nigel Williams, I learnt why. I do like to revisit things every now again to keep exploring the boundaries. I’ve recently been playing around with some very small kickers from Nash and they definitely have potential. They don’t close down the gape and are very soft, so quite different to the old steamed shrink tubing method. If I come up with something decent I’ll feature it here. All the best with your fishing this year. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler legend,can’t wait for the weekend,might hit barston lakes or packing estates,haven’t decided yet,but I’m sure to be break my PB of 20lbs or be close with thanks to you and your channel,great job 😎
@@TheRealFishingTackleChannle Sounds great mate and it’s really good to know that you feel we are helping you on your journey. I started fishing small lakes around the Gloucestershire area and it took me years to catch a 20! You can only catch what’s in front of you! Best of luck mate, enjoy the journey. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Michael, the eye of the Bank Tackle hooks is smaller than the Twisters, they are also not as sharp, and the point is not as long and fine. They’re OK if you’re into hand sharpening and OK for runs waters. I only use and recommend the Twisters - stronger and sharper.
@@matthewcollinsangler was a good watch that .have used chods myself in the past on bottom rigs just to see if they still did the job .which they did I caught..just goes to show how Tackle company's fill you head with rubbish all about the pound note isn't it
Hi Gary, thanks for commenting. If you’re worried about the hair wrapping round the shank of the hook on the cast then just use a stiffer material for the hair. I use 0.40 mono for a lot of my carp fishing. It’s cheap, strong and tangle resistant. Watch my mono hair rig video for more info: ruclips.net/video/LzFina92brM/видео.html Hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
👍A lot depends on the exact details of the pattern of course, some long shanks are shorter than others. Great to know that you are a fellow barbless fan. Have a great season. Cheers, Matt.
Wow!!! Another great video Matt. Thanks for these tips. I'm learning so much off you. I have had a few fish in the last couple of months on the Korda Wide Gape size 6 or 4 fishing bottom baits. I have had 4 fish using the Korda longshank hook using a snowman (what they advocate). What's your opinion if I just use the wide gape for the Snowman in future?
Hi mate, thanks very much for your amazing support. I fished the Korda wide gape for years myself but I did hand sharpen every single one of them as I never found them to be particularly sharp straight out the packet. Like I say I haven't used longshanks for years. I personally don’t believe that there’s anything wrong with using a wide gape for a snowman presentation. Earlier this year I swapped over to the Nash chod Twister (size 6) as my go-to hook for just about everything. They are definitely sharper out of the packet than anything I’ve seen and the point is long and slender which is exactly what I’m looking for in a hook. The Nash Claws are great too but the eye is larger. It all depends what rig material I’m using really. I’ve been testing a simple long D rig tied with mono recently and opted for the Twisters. Super effective and it bagged me a very large carp that hasn't been caught for two years. Happy days. Best of luck. Cheers, Matt.
Great video have been using curved shanks great hold but can be difficult to get out. Not really thought too much about it but fish welfare is paramount so in the bin they go
Hi Peer, I’d use size 6 chod twisters from Nash fished mono d rig style with a bait screw. I use the Nash heavy duty snag leader 30lb for hooklink and as abrasion resistant leader. Here’s a quick overview of that rig: ruclips.net/user/shortsCh032Nsihcc?feature=share. There’ll be a full video on this rig in a couple of months. If zebra mussels are an issue, I’d use 35lb skinlink fished multi rig style, no stripped back section. You could go size 6’s or 4’s. You’ll need big leads and heavy duty captive back leads or your rigs will get kicked around by the big boats. Hope that helps! Cheers, Matt
Thanks Perm, that's great mate, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah absolutely loving the barbless man. If you've never tried a Nash Twister then you need to check them out too ;)
Hi Matt, thanks for the info! What do you think of offset vs straight? A lot of my older hooks feature an offset alongside one modern pattern which I particularly favour.
Hi Adam, I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. Personally I do not like an offset hook point as I believe it increases the risk of mouth damage on entry and exit. That being said, I have a friend who’s a top angler that I have a lot of respect for and he wouldn't dream of using anything other than an offset point. You mention old hooks. Are you perhaps referring to the Drennan Continental? This is indeed a classic pattern and one I’ve used in the past. On close inspection you’ll see that the point is short and stubby, rather than long and thin. This makes it OK for river carping when you need lots of strength in the point but not great for much else. If you’ve got the skills to sharpen everyone then yes you can turn these into a wickedly sharp hook that will catch you loads of carp but if you’ e using them straight out of the packet there are much better options available. In the interest of full disclosure this channel is sponsored by Nash but before this was the case I’d already discovered how wickedly sharp the Nash pinpoint range was. My personal favourite is the Nast chod Twister in a size 6. As a toolmaker turned carp angler, I can tell you with absolute certainty that these are sharper and will penetrate the carp’s mouth easier than any other out of the packet hook. They are also immensely strong. So strong in fact that I’m soon to start testing the size 8 pattern (never thought I’d say that!). Hope that helps, Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanks very much for the reply! Just want to say thank you for all of your really informative videos, as a new carp angler in his 20s by himself, they've helped me get a long way. I'm fortunate enough to have inherited my Grandfather's kit, but a lot of it isn't in original packaging. He's a carpenter by trade, and taught me to sharpen hooks when I started, creating a fine point and not an edge, ensuring fish safety. I now carry a loupe and jewelers stone to touch up any slight defects on out of the packet hooks. I'm about 18 months in at this point, and for the last 8 months I've been testing various hook patterns, my two most used being Korda's widegape in sizes 4-8 and an unidentified hook very similar but with an out-turned eye and an offset, which does look like a continental, but they're barbless (Grandfather could've crushed/filed off the barb though). I prefer using the out turned eye for stiffer materials, like mono and fluoro. I ditched kickers about 3 months ago, when I noticed similar things to your showcase in this video, and you've shown me more reasons that it was a good move. I'm also very lucky that I've had no nasty hookholds so far in the 150+ carp landed (all but 6 fish were on barbless). I'm currently a month in to trying Korda's Krank pattern, which I've had a solid few sessions on. I have a lot of old Nash kit, and watching Alan's videos, I can see they have some great hook patterns I'll be sure to try next. The 6 fish over twenty pounds were landed on the only 3 sessions I've been anywhere with carp that big, and I'm sure as I visit these venues more often with gained confidence, I'll notice the importance of hookhold mechanics moreso than the usual 12lbs average I'm used to. Sorry for the long reply and thank you again for your videos. I'll bear the advise in mind on my next few hook pattern trials!
@@tyr580 Hi Adam, wow, really interesting to hear your experience, thanks. By sharing information like this we can help loads of anglers that are lost in the carp maze. 150 carp in 18 months is fantastic work. Don’t forget that you can only catch what’s in front of you and if 12lbs is the average size then that’s all you’ll catch. It’s great to know that you are already making the step up to catching 20s. It was a big step up for me too. I can tell by the way you write that you pay attention to the small details that matter and I’m sure that you’ll continue to grow and develop your angling at a good pace. It’s only by challenging yourself on harder waters that you’ll make big step changes and learn where your weaknesses as an angler are so that you can work on them. Keep up the great work and please continue to share your progress with us. All the best with your journey, Matt.
Brilliant Mat. Loved the bit on kickers. When fishing bottom baits do you ever use a blow back style with a ring or silicone to trap the hair or do you always fish knotless knot style and is that the same for both coated and uncoated braid?
Hi Phil, yes, I’ve used the blow back rig. No disrespect to its creator (Kevin Nash) but I simply don't believe that it is better than a standard knotless knot. I understand the theory behind it and the theory sounds good. If I was using a traditional semi fixed rig (lead clip) type setup then the addition of the blow back indicator on the shank would indeed let me know if I’m getting done. That’s useful but it won’t stop me from being done unless I change another parameter. As I use trick running lead systems with tell tale indication incorporated into the lead setup, I can already sort massive liners from dropped takes so the blowback idea doesn't add anything for me. I’ve caught some extremely clued up , large carp on nothing more than the basic knotless in either braid, coated braid or mono combined with a trick lead setup. (btw I’ve got a new rig video coming up which builds on the work I’ve been doing for the last 12 years so keep an eye for that 😉) Cheers, Matt.
Great video Mathew,Ive always used wide gape hooks since I started carp fishing back in 1991! The reason being is that I find they have the (grab hooking) effort better than any other pattern thus brilliant hook holds! Bottom bait and pop up rigs have been bullet proof for me! I haven’t used the out turned eye hook apart from on pop up rigs but I would use it after seeing your vid👍rigards barbless or micro there’s no contest,it’s BARBLESS all the way to the bank! If I had my way barb hooks should be banned! First and for most it’s all about the fish welfare no need to explain why! Thanks again Danboy👊
Hi Dan, thanks again for commenting and sharing your experiences. I’ve also caught an awful lot of carp using a simple wide gape pattern. I’ve just found that chod hooks work for everything, with all materials so if you need to rationalise the stock you carry or you’d like to simplify your fishing then the chod pattern is a good way to go. Great to hear that you’re a barbless fan. While researching this video I was shocked to learn that some French fisheries actually ban barbless hooks! It seems utterly mad to me. In fact I’ve specifically chosen not to visit a venue because of this micro-barbed only rule. Cheers, Matt.
This is the only guy worth listening to. No bs and not trying to sell anything. Sharing knowledge from his experience. Great stuff 👏🏻 👍🏻
Wow, great to hear that mate, thanks 😊
Finally a fisherman that uses common sense instead of throwing out comments with nothing to back it up.
I have been carp fishing since the early 80s, you talk more sense about rigs than any other you tuber I have watched.
Hi Steve, wow, well that’s fantastic to hear mate. I taught myself to catch carp in the 80s using 4lb Maxima, a ledger stop, an open ended feeder and two grains of side hooked corn. It was just a matter of timing and location and getting to the park lake early. It wasn't hard! I’m all for progress but I’m convinced that we’ve been led astray and encouraged to add bits to rigs that simply aren't required. All the best with your journey. Cheers, Matt.
Since watching almost all of your videos I've really turned my sessions around and managed to land many more good carp. Now all of my fishing is done on your mono hair rig and blowback multi rig with nash chod twisters and chod claws, and the Beausoleil style safe inline system works a charm. Definitely helped my build my confidence enough to go on my first night session very soon. Thanks Matthew! You've definitely earned my subscription
Wow, that's wonderful to hear, thanks very much, I'm really glad the videos are helping in your fishing. All the best for your first night session, that's very exciting, I love night fishing, it's a very different experience! Cheers, Matt
I honestly can't believe that this here exists. In this chaos of so many yt channels and videos about the most recent modern rig, I found this one. I love it. Great job of looking over many factors that have an impact on efficiencies of chosen rig setting. Everything showed and explained. I am definitely sharing this video with everyone who is starting into carp fishing or is intoxicated with modern trends. Cheers!
Wow, well thanks so much for commenting and for your amazing feedback and support 😊 Glad you found us! Anything that you can do to share our videos is much appreciated. If you have any questions or ideas for future videos please do tell us. We have a list already but it’s always great to get feedback on the content you’d like to see. All the best with your fishing this year. Regards, Matt.
The whole hook turning debate is such a complex one and many say palm tests don’t simulate or prove anything, which I’m in agreement with. I’ve been trying to suss how the hell curves and kickers are turning the hook downwards (allegedly) and can’t picture just what they’re meant to be doing. When a carp sucks in the bait then blows it back out it is all suspended in a weightless vacuum if you like, and nothing of the rig is touching any part of the carp, hence the amount we see them suck and blow hundreds of times in underwater videos without a single bleep on the alarm the other end. I can’t see how it matters a single jot which angle the lines coming in, (which you’ve proven by stating out-turned eyes are just as effective as in-turned one’s), but more the weight of the line near the eye, which is why my catch rate has improved since using huge heavy sinkers 10mm from the eye. I’ve never even seen a cgi created demonstration of just how any of these theories work at all. Again the palm test is pretty useless imo.
I could ask you how many aborted takes do u get a year? Or how many giant liners? But it would be a pretty futile survey because you’ve fished your own same lakes for years and know all the best methods etc so we probably wouldn’t learn much from that statistic. Me and a friend who fish the same lake week in week out had gone 10-12 straight catches then suddenly this weekend we both had 4 hook pulls in a row, no changes made anywhere. Fishing really does seem massively random but the mystery allows one hell of an industry to scam a helluva lot of money.
Great comment i was doubting about the palm test too i fish with curve hook had great results
I’ve been watching a few of your videos and for someone who has a dabble at carp fishing only when it’s the river close season . The simplicity and clarity has helped when creating my rigs and I’m not so overwhelmed when I got to the carp tackle section now. I have subscribed , looking forward to more , keep up the great work !
Hi Stephen, thanks very much for taking the time to comment and for your support. I know exactly how confusing a modern tackle shop can be! Plenty more videos to come. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt. I can't speak highly enough of this channel .
I've learnt more in the 12 months from you , than I have in 10years of carping.
Since ditching braided hairs rigs and switching to a tweaked version of your mono rig I have consistently caught big fish. I haven't blanked since last August. Lol .
A simple 12lb mono rig, with a chod twister is all you ever need .
I was experimenting with mono rigs for some time woth mixed results , but when I saw your mono video, it gave me more confidence to stick with it. It's paid off big time .
Thanks Matt .
Hi mate. Wow! Thanks so much for your incredible feedback! It’s so cool to know that we have made such a difference to your angling, congrats on your results 💪There’s a new rig video out this Sunday that you might find of interest. It might not be appropriate for your style of fishing of course but it’s a good one to have in your armoury. All the best, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler cheers mate I'll look forward to it .
I've gone as far as giving all my braid away . I only use 9lb and 12lb hooklinks.
The more time I use it the more I see the benefits.
one benefit is it puts less pressure on the carps mouth , because you have to really play the fish and use the reel properly .. With that crazy end gear it allows the angles to put more pressure on it. Totally unnecessarily.
You don't want the weakest link to be the carps mouth lol . Fish with torn mouths is the result of that .
Nevers happens with a weaker hook link .
@@SuperDaish This winter I used 12lb Zig-Flo as a hooklink material for bottom baits and it worked a charm and I caught some really nice specimens. The next video won’t be for you as it uses braid but you might find a situation where mono isn't optimal and braid does still have a role to play. If the mono is working well for you (which it obviously is!) then there’s no need to even think about changing!
@@matthewcollinsangler I've watched your clip you did with the Zig flow .
If you get a chance, experiment with Guru . I watch all your videos so certainly will the next . Take care.
I must say your videos are pretty special, informative, relevant, articulate and well delivered, free of cliches and the nauseating sound bites in many others that are just blatant sales pitches or “look at me, I’m the dogs bollocks, I caught a carp” videos. Thanks Matthew!
Hi Gary, thanks very much for the comment, it's fantastic to hear! I just love my fishing and sharing what I've learnt over the years from my experiences. More videos in the new year and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel. Cheers for now, Matt.
One of the best rig vids I have ever seen. Nice logic behind it. Awsome vid
Thanks very much for the feedback 👍
🙋♂Why I Stopped Fishing With Size 4 Hooks 👉 ruclips.net/video/JNp3Fi7VITo/видео.html
Here’s what I’ve learnt about carp hooks over the last 20 years. As always I buy what I like with my own money and have no loyalty to one brand or another. This is a very emotive topic among carp anglers and I’m sure it’s going to create plenty of discussion 😉
00:50 Types of carp hook patterns
05:50 The difference between beaked and straight point carp hooks
07:08 Carp hook myths
09:34 Should you use micro-barbed or barbless hooks?
13:28 Types of hook shanks
17:02 How to create a safe long shank effect
20:53 Hook kickers
24:25 What type of hook for popup rigs
Plenty of discussion indeed lol.
I used to love esp long shank raptor years ago unfortunately they dont do them anymore
@@darrenfox1879 Never used the long shank raptors myself but I’ve used plenty of other ESP hooks over the years :)
Thank you for including people like myself (average fishermen & women) who have the basics but, would like to improve our skills. From this video I have learned what might be a better hook for me and why.
Thanks for your help.
Frank.
Hi Frank, thanks very much for the comment and we really enjoy hearing that these videos really help anglers out there, that's what the channel is all about. It’s a complicated and confusing sport but it is possible to be very successful just by keeping things simple and focusing on the basics like strong knots and sharp hooks. All the best on your journey and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel. Cheers, Matt.
Being new to carp fishing picked up so many tips from your videos over the past 6 months or so, there's plenty of carp fishing videos out there most of them entertaining but none as clear and informative as these keep up the good work and merry Christmas!
Hi Jonathan, thanks very much for your amazing comments of support, it’s very much appreciated. I love sharing my knowledge and I'm so glad it can help anglers out there. We’ve got loads more content to share with you guys and there'll be a new video in January. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2022! Cheers, Matt.
After this video your advice from the 121 coaching we did makes a lot more sense! Another well thought out, unbiased video! Thanks Matt!
Great to hear that our video chat was so useful mate, pleasure to help you out 👍
Very well explained Matthew and with you practicing what you preach regarding barbless hooks has made me realise I need to change my approach too. What you said about the hook getting caught in the fishes mouth with a micro barb and in the net at the same time isn’t great and we all should put the fish first that’s a no brainier great stuff again a lots of really proper info for us all to take on board 👍👍👍
Thanks very much Gary, glad you're enjoying the content and maybe trying new things 👍
Just getting into carp fishing, well just started fishing and decided to go with carp for various reasons. I am so glad i found your channel this early in my journey!! Keep up the amazing videos sir!
Hi John, thanks for your amazing feedback. It’s very much appreciated. We’ve got more videos in the pipeline so plenty more quality info. coming your way. Don’t forget to have a good look through the archives. Some of it’s rather old but there is some good stuff to find! All the best with your journey. Cheers, Matt.
As someone fairly new to carp fishing and as I fish mainly alone, my main teacher is and has been RUclips. I have been a follower of what the carp companies experts are telling me and have been floating between different hook patterns and using kickers or not, but all the while not really getting the benefit. My own experience thus far has been that I've caught more on a very simple rig with a wide gape hook and no kicker, but as a lot of the experts seem to favor kickers and spinners and curve shanks or long shanks depending on what they're trying to sell at that time, I've allowed myself to be swayed. This has probably cost be quite a lot of money too but I am new and haven't known better.
This video has quite simply given me the confidence to use exactly what I see and feel is working best rather than adding in all the whistles and bells that are needed to primarily boost sales.
Thanks Matthew, that was so informative and no-nonsense. Liked, shared and subscribed.
Hi Paul, thanks ever so much for taking the time and trouble to write such amazing feedback. The reason why I'm able to do what I do is because I've been in your shoes! I taught myself how to catch carp from park lakes when I was 12 using nothing more than a swim feeder and a couple of grains of side hooked corn. Between the ages of 18 and 28 I forgot about fishing. Life got in the way. When I re-started it was an absolute nightmare! So many opinions. So much marketing hype. It's taken me years, a lot of fishing and meeting some great anglers to get to the level where I realised that most of it is a load of rubbish. So I've made it my mission to debunk all these carping myths and save anglers time, trouble and money. Once you cut out all the rubbish you can concentrate on what really matters, location, timing, bait application. Sharp hooks and simple rigs are all you need to catch carp. Let me know how you get on with your journey. Very best regards, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler thank you so much. My fishing life, like so many others, is similar. As a boy learned to catch anything the river Medway could provide using float and ledger. Then forgot about fishing for many years with life getting in the way too. With golf leaving me more frustrated than relaxed when I played, I was encouraged toward carp fishing by a friend who did it.
That was a couple of years ago and as I turn 50 this year I'm at that point where I need an obsession, as most men do. Carp fishing has become that obsession and videos like yours fuel that obsession in a very positive way.
Thank you and keep up the good 'no nonsense' work and all the best to you.
@@paulcox2962 That's fantastic to hear Paul. Getting back into fishing in later years is not easy. Carp fishing is a really simple sport made really complicated by companies that see the opportunity to make money. It’s not all bad though as the growth in the business has brought us gear far superior to that available to previous generations. Navigating the maze is hard and it’s taken me a lifetime and I’m just starting to be able to sort the wood from the trees! It’s great to know that our work helps to fuel your new found passion for carp angling and I hope that you continue to enjoy our content. Best regards, Matt.
Great points! Having had a couple of hooks in fingers, as well as getting caught in nets, clothing, etc I see the advantage of barbless. I will try them more…
Keep up the good work!
Hi Brian, glad you enjoyed the video. Two years now for me on the barbless and I’m still a fan. So much nicer to fish with and all good solid hook holds. Great to know that you’re going to give them a go 👍 Cheers, Matt.
I always thought why all these hooks and I agree you don’t need lots of different hooks only a couple,great vlog
Hi David, thanks for commenting, glad that you enjoyed it. Keep it simple is my motto! All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
I completely agree with your thoughts on barbed vs. barbless, I'd only ever use a micro barb if I was fishing a very weedy lake where I felt that there was a likely chance of a fish being in a position where it could get slack line during the fight (ie, buried in weed and requiring a boat to extricate).
Brilliant, you have confirmed my thoughts about kickers. Common sense should tell you that anything that narrows the gape of the hook must lessen your chances of catching fish. These days there are so many ways to tie rigs that leave the hook moving freely in all directions, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The name kicker is appropriate though, insofar as it can kick the hook straight out of the fishes mouth.
very informative . been carp fishing for over 40 years always find your videos very good thanks again
Hi David, thanks very much, that's great to hear. Cheers, Matt
What a fantastic informative video. Forget the trends and just look at the mechanics. When I get back into my fishing again I will take all this on board. Thanks again.
Hi Ian, thanks very much for commenting and for your positive feedback. It's very much appreciated. It's really easy to get lost in the marketing hype. All the best, Matt.
Hi Matt,i would like to say how I love your approach to carp fishing its very straight forward and non complicated because after all I reckon the tackle and bait companies are all out to catch the angler🤔 a straight forward hair rig either bottom or pop up as caught me hundreds of not thousands of carp in 30 years of fishing! All so regarding bait Ivve caught hundreds of fish on the old tutto fruity bolies not just cell etc etc etc! Your videos are by far the most informative out there which to me that's all that matters✊ thanks Dan
Thanks very much Dan, great to hear 👍
For exactly the reason you have given...when i tested Kickers it reduced the turning and have never used them since..!!
Hi mate, I’m glad I’m not the only one lol. Cheers, Matt.
Watching this video again after some time I think you’re right for the biggest part 😉. Some people say that the palm test is worthless because a hand is not a carps mouth and water is not air. I agree to a certain degree. But let’s be honest, gravity still applies under water. All things heavier than water will sink to the bottom. Some people say their best catching rig fails the palm test. That’s possible of course but it is not important to me anyway. The most important thing in carpfishing is confidence. I always use the palm test because it gives me confidence that the rig I use turns the way I want it to. To get the best hookhold you want the hook about an inch behind the bottomlip of the carp. You don’t like longshanks because they sometimes slide before they find a firm hookhold. In this particular case the hook turns probably to fast. By using a kicker like you’ve shown with the wide gape you can make ik turn later thus providing a firmer hookhold. You can use a line aligner with a widegape hook which doesn’t close the gape as much as a kicker and make it turn at the right moment. That how I think about it at least🤓.
What really makes my head spin is the withy-pool rig. It catches fish but I can’t understand how that is possible. The only reason I can think of is that once it got in it can’t get out. Really interested to hear your opinion about that rig Matt😉.
Cheers.
Hi Louie, very interesting to read your insights and I agree with a lot of what you say. I have tried the withy pool rig once or twice, but it’s never caught me a carp! The rig is designed to catch carp that were feeding in a very specific way and it worked for them. I don’t think it’s relevant to most carp fishing situations. As you’ll see in some videos coming out later this year, I am experimenting with kickers and they can be made to work but they’re quite finicky and it’s easy to get it wrong IMO. Good to chat and all the best with your season 🎣
@@matthewcollinsangler thanx Matt, you too. Can’t wait to see those videos 😃.
Matthew, very educational, thank you. Many things I've been told to do in Carp fishing here in the U.S. involve hook styles, shapes, sizes, barbs, etc... my favorite rig, one that has never failes me here is the KD rig. I fish using bottom baits, wafters, and popups. I use curved shankes hooks. I have tried many patterns, and the curved hooks seem to work well. In your opinion, what hook pattern would possibly work better, to give that additional percentage point for hookups using the KD? I find here in the US, non-pressured fish for the most part, so, special rigs, in my opinion are not needed. A simple knotless knot, or KD rig, produce for me, far better than any other I've tried. Thanks for another great video. Cheers.
Hi mate, thanks very much for commenting. It’s always great to hear from anglers from the other side of the pond! Although I’ve tried the KD rig many years ago I never really bonded with it myself. I did notice the occasional mouth tear due to curve shanked hooks so I stopped using them years ago. That may well have been down to the soft mouths of the carp I was fishing for at the time though.
If you are getting on well with the pattern then that’s cool. Personally I don’t believe that the hook pattern itself has much of an impact on the rig's overall effectiveness. What is far more important to me is the length and degree of fineness of the point. I’ve used loads of patterns over the years from a wide range of manufacturers and as a design engineer and toolmaker, I have a very keen eye for detail. I have found that the Nash Pinpoint range of hooks are simply in a different league to everything I’ve ever seen. You may not be able to buy Nash products in the US but if you could then that’s what I’d recommend over anything else. For me the perfect hook is one that penetrates the carp's mouth with minimal resistance. Think of it like the difference between stabbing a piece of meat with a meat skewer or a butcher's needle. The thinner, finer point will go in quicker and deeper and be far harder for the carp to eject. The trouble with going finer is that you’ll lose point strength so you need hooks made from the very best steel. The only way to truly understand this for yourself is to buy a high quality eye glass or jeweller’s loupe with 10x magnification (forget the rubbish ones that cost $5). Hope that gives you food for thought. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler,.thank you. I can get Nash products, and use them quite a bit. I have some pinpoint patterns, just received, and trying them for the reasons you state above. I use the Gardner Continentals as well, they have never failed me. Hope all is well. Thwnks again.
@@t3angling575 Ah OK cool! The Gardner continentals are OK on the strength front but they could be sharper IMO. They sharpen up well though ;) All the best with your season.
Another great video.....you've answered my research on hooks, thanks
Thanks for the comment mate and glad you found this video useful. All the best, Matt.
I also thought kickers closed the gape, but just followed the trend. I've also noticed more failed takes with a kicker after thinking about it. Regarding barbless hooks I've found I don't lose fish if you keep the line tight. And so easy to unhook. Getting a micro snagged in a landing net means snapping the barb off to get it out. Another great video..You really make me think about my fishing. Keep the content coming Matt..
Hi mate, interesting to hear about your experience. Last year I revisited kickers. I added them to a mono rig to straighten the exit angle of the hooklink and open the gape of this particular rig and it worked very well. The trouble is they are often slapped on and all they do is cause trouble IMO. I was certainly guilty of just following the crowd. It wasn't until my eyes were opened that I started to make progress. This channel is all about making anglers think about their fishing a bit more so that's great feedback to hear! All the best, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Which rig was the kicker useful for? I assume that for example a spinner/ronnie rig can't do without a kicker
@@hsavov If I wanted to use an inturned eye hook with mono, then I’d use a kicker to change the exit angle of the hooklink from the eye to stop the gape from being closed. I don’t use spinner or ronnie rigs.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thank you for the quick reply and most useful videos. Merry Christmas and a fruitful new year!
A few tackle makers love to market stuff we don't really need to use- clever marketing makes them big £££, im well let's say older & I was match fishing back when carp fishing was starting to get big - Very early 80s & your bite indicator was a washing up liquid bottle lid clipped over your line ( with a starlight at night) no such thing as a buzzer then, some developments have really been essential but some have also just been " fads" we really need not use
Great upload again Mathew 👍🎣
Hi Lee, carp fishing is a marketer's dream. I understand this because my wife is a marketer. There’s nothing wrong or evil about marketers. Their job is to maximize return from any potential market. The carp fishing industry has grown enormously over the years and as a fully invested member of the carp fishing holiday business, this is a good thing. We have access to gear that we could never even dream of back in the 80s! The downside is that the market place is crowded and for the newcomer the choice is bewildering. For reasons I cannot fully explain, I’ve made it my mission to “explain carp fishing”, to demystify this sport that I love. Thank you for following me and supporting us on this journey! Cheers, Matt.
Been using barbless since I started and not had many problems with hook pulls. Have been using barbed on waters that allow it and personally haven’t noticed much difference. I use a Korda wide gape (b or x) in a size 6. The rig I use is a combi multi rig and I use a medium Korda kicker. The only reason for this is to keep the loop of line on the hook in the same place. Great information Matt
Hi mate, thanks for commenting. I completely understand why you put the kicker on but I've fished the multi rig a lot and for me it's not necessary unless you're hooking PVA sticks or bags onto the hook. I use Skin link for my multi rigs and it's never moved on me. The other way of avoiding the kicker is to put a hook bead at the bottom of the multi rig loop. Oli Davies uses this trick: ruclips.net/video/1hUE3Q_23Fo/видео.html. Food for thought 😊 Cheers, Matt
@@matthewcollinsangler thanks for the reply mate. The way I use the multi rig is a loop of supple braid Albright knotted to 15 or 20lb fluorocarbon so it stays supple, this means I have to use either shrink tubing or a kicker to keep it in place. I’ve tried oli Davies trick but it’s just not the one for how I fish the rig
@@banditfishing1558 Ah got ya! Yes if you’re using a supple braid then sure you’d need something over the top of the eye of the shank. Tell you what you could do though. Cut off the top of the Korda kicker you’re using then it will pin the braid loop into place without delaying the turning over of the hook. You might find you get better, more solid hook holds this way, just a thought.
@@matthewcollinsangler ill experiment with that next weekend mate. Thank you for the idea!
@@banditfishing1558 if you like it this way then you could also say yourself some money and just use a short section of shrink tube ;)
The long shank part regarding a slicing, i changed from cranks to the ridgemonkey ape-x medium curve hooks, i noticed they also sliced 1 out of 6 carp i hooked, wont be using them again
Another great video from a thinking carp angler, cutting through all the hype we are subjected to these days. I agree with the kicker observations, in my tests an old fashioned and proper Jim Gibbinson line aligner turns the hook a bit quicker with braid.
Hi Adrian, thanks for commenting and for your support. I can see the appeal of the classic line aligner although for me, I fished simple braided rigs with no aligner for many years and they worked just fine. As with many things in fishing, it's all about confidence! Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt
Yet another excellent, really informative, and totally BS free tutorial. You are definitely my go to Carp Guru Guy. Used barbless for years, tend to use size 6 or 4 wide gape’s for pop-ups or bottom baits on the multi-rig. Brilliant set/up, really easy to tie, versatile, not let me down yet.
Keep up the excellent work.
Kind regards
Hi mate, that's awesome man! Thanks as always for your support. Great to hear that you’re already a barbless fan. Yeah I do like the multi rig but I must admit I’m using an awful lot of mono these days. I just love rig tying lol. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt, I'm relatively new to carp fishing and I'm learning so much from all your vids.
Just wondered if you have come across the new style Gripz hooks from Pallatrax and what your thoughts are?
Andy
Hi Andy, I’m glad you’re enjoying the channel and I hope it helps you in your journey. I’ve not used these hooks and I’ve never met anyone that has. Personally I have no interest in testing them as I don’t buy into the marketing. I catch loads of big carp on barbless Nash Chod Twisters, and regular Nash Twisters. I virtually never have hook pulls and they are always cleanly hooked. The Twisters work because the point is very long and very very sharp. They are sharpest out of the packet hooks money can buy and they are all I use and recommend to anyone. I use them in size 8 and size 6. The 8’s are crazy sharp and very strong. Unless you are a pro then don’t even think about trying to sharpen them. Just use them once and recycle them. Use cheap mono rigs that are disposable (one time use only!) or multi rigs which can be re-used (just change the hook). Here are some other links for you: ruclips.net/video/7VlmNHg0BD0/видео.html, ruclips.net/video/K0A4GSH0z44/видео.html, ruclips.net/video/LzFina92brM/видео.html Hope that helps, Cheers, Matt.
I’ve recently got the urge to carp fish again after 20 years and you Sir have converted me to mono and kicker ditched before my first cast. I’m just rebuilding some carbon rods I bought and then I’m ready to go. Do you have any preference to the make or colour line? Also what is that baiting needle you use? I think I love you 😂 your explanation is again well delivered and comprehensive ❤️
Hi Garry, I wish I had a quid for every angler that asked me that question lol. I’ve used every colour line and I can honestly say that colour makes no difference whatsoever. Having said that, a healthy lake is a light green colour so that’s generally what colour of line I use. For the last two years I’ve been using the Nash Bullet in 12lbs to 20lbs. I’ve found the 12lb version to be accurately rated for knot strength and unless you are fishing a savage venue then I wouldn't bother with anything stronger. The 12lbs version is 0.33 and casts really well too. You can use it for hooklink too. Other good mono hooklink materials (for standard bottom bait rigs) are the Nash 12lb (0.30) Zig-Flo (just add a sinker to help it settle). Good for open water fishing with no snags or fishing pressured venues in the winter. If the going gets tough then I’m using the 30lb (0.50) Nash heavy duty Mono Snag leader as a hooklink. The Zig-Flo and the snag leader come on 100m metre spools so they are more convenient to carry than a big bulk spool of mono. Just remember that the most important item in your tackle box is your hooks. The Nash Chod Twisters are the perfect partner for mono. Change them very regularly and you’ll catch plenty. Personally I use a hook a chuck. Sounds crazy but it makes all the difference in the world! The baiting needle I used in this video is the Gardner braid needle XL. I have quite a few actually as they all have pros and cons 😊 Cheers, Matt.
Nice to see someone move over the years to caring more and more about the fish and not just the catch the amount of times i see anglers on opposite banks know all about tackle and how to catch the fish but then treat them like shite once caught is very disturbing :/
Very good tutorial ! Learned a few bits again.
Thanks !
Please also keep doing these kind of videos !
Hi mate, thanks very much for commenting and for your support! Glad it's helping you in your fishing. Cheers, Matt (and another new video tomorrow!)
Thank you for your honest videos. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Well explained Matt, always wondered why so many different hook patterns, looking at so many in the tackle shop is like being a kid again in the sweet shop which one do I chose, thanks for explaining this very useful information
Hi Chris, thanks again for commenting. Yes it’s all a bit bewildering lol. What it’s like for someone just coming into the sport heaven only knows. Yeah that’s the trouble! You buy a pack of those and a pack of those and before you know it you’ve spent £100 quid and you walk out with a very very small bag of bits some of which you’ll try, immediately lose confidence in and never use again! It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't go back next time and do it all over again 😂
Thanks Matthew, very informative! I'll be taking a lot from that video. Please continue with your impartial advice, I find it very refreshing. The one hook I'm missing is these out turned eye one's.
One another subject, have you done any videos on setting up with either a method feeder or inline lead? I couldn't seem to find anything on your videos. Thanks 👍🏻.
Hi mate, thanks again for your awesome support, it's really great to hear. Yeah, out turned eyed hooks are very useful, very universal.
My first big rig video incorporates an inline lead. Here’s the link to the part of the video where I talk about the lead system: ruclips.net/video/ED58TfFEcqM/видео.html. There’ll be a new inline lead video in the future.
I haven't used a method feeder for years. If I want to create a similar presentation to that I’ll use a solid PVA bag. Here’s a link to my PVA tip video: ruclips.net/video/7y066e1Q6Xk/видео.html
Cheers, Matt.
Excellent video as always Matt, your take on barbless hooks was very interesting, my PB of 48lb was on a barbless hook so Im now thinking of changing back. Cheers
Great to hear Graham, still loving the barbless, I’d never go back to micro barbed.
All good stuff , very interesting insight about kickers too
Thanks for the comment Rob, glad you enjoy the channel 👍
Matthew, thank you very very much for a more than excellent rig-video.
To be honest, it didn't show me much which I did knew or experienced myself.
But, and that is the crucial point here, you covered almost everything that is to say about hooks and rigs.
I left you a subscription as a reward.
Greetings from the Čech Republic 🇨🇿 and stay healthy 😷.
Hello Robin, thanks very much for your comment and for your subscription to the channel. I’m glad that you liked the video and the content that I covered. All the best with your fishing this year. Cheers, Matt.
My number 1 teacher, helped me a lot to find out my mistakes. Love his videos 👍👍👍
Hello! Thanks very much for your support, I’m very happy that I’ve been able to help you out. All the best in your journey and remember that the learning never stops. Cheers, Matt.
Hi Matt, there are a few anglers who produce really good instructional videos, but I have to say yours are the best by some margin! Thanks for another great video which has helped me to simplify my hook choice and save some cash on buying only one pattern in the future. Could you do some future videos on zig fishing and floater fishing please? Thanks.
Hi Ian, wow, that’s incredible to hear mate and thanks for taking the time to comment. It really does mean a lot to us. I am quite familiar with zig fishing and I’ve caught some very good carp on the method but unfortunately it’s not something I get to practice very often nowadays so doing a video might be tricky. We’ll definitely add it to the list though and we’ll see what we can do. As for surface fishing I used to love it but carp actually have to be educated to eat surface baits! It takes weeks or even months apparently so again surface fishing isn't something I can practice over here. Thanks for the ideas and I hope that you continue to enjoy our channel and feel free to share our videos with anyone you know. Cheers, Matt.
Good info! Going barbless from now on
Great to hear mate. I wouldn't swap back to mirco-barbed for sure! Enjoy, Matt.
Hi Matt, great video. Very informative. I also prefer barbless.
There is a very popular pay lake in Europe that takes a different view on barbless which I never understood...
quote: "Micro barbed hooks only, this is to reduce mouth damage and allows a snagged fish to escape. Barbless hooks not allowed, they cut like a knife when playing fish."
Going to this lake later in the year so will ask the owner, as the rule is the opposite of most commercial lake rules and to what I have personally observed. There must be a reason behind it from the owners perspective, and they are his fish. So his lake his rules, I respect that. Like any lake you visit, you are a guest and you know the rules before arrival and booking. However, will be interesting to hear his experiences.
Hi Mick, thanks very much for the feedback and I'm glad that you're already a fan of barbless.
Since making the change myself I've researched a few venues that only allow micro-barbed on the grounds of fish safety and it makes no sense to me. I was invited to fish another venue recently and I asked special permission to be allowed to use barbless. The response was yes and when I asked why barbless are banned they told me that it's more down to the anglers’ skills. That didn't make sense either to me. I was going to visit another lake that insisted on micro-barbed and I decided not to bother as I didn't like their attitude. My feeling is that many micro-barbed only venues do it because they've listened to rumours. I’m just glad I was able to take the time to properly test barbless last year. All the best on your travels. Cheers, Matt.
because that the EU lake is right :)
Thanks Matthew, love your content, so insightful and you go straight to the point! You cut through the tackle companies B.S.
Great to hear mate, thanks very much 😊
Thanks for sharing your experience, I really like your videos. I agree with almost everything you say in this one, except I think a kicker used right (i.e. at a much shallower angle) can be great. It has the same “long shank effect” that you were demonstrating with the stiff mono. Also, wouldn’t you agree that micro barbed hooks are better in any situation where the fish can gain any leverage (across weed etc.) to shed the hook? In open water I agree there’s no need for barbs.
Hi, thanks very much for commenting and I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. I made this video to encourage anglers to think a bit more about what extras they add and whether or not they actually make a positive or negative difference to the end results.
After we made the video I got to thinking and experimenting with kickers again as it’s been a very long time since I used them. I realised exactly what you say that it all depends on the exact way they are set. It’s the closing on the gape that creates problems but if used at a shallower angle to create a longer hook, they can be very effective. I also tried some out of the packet kickers from Nash and I found that they did work well with the rigs I tried. Here’s another video of the configuration I experimented with: ruclips.net/video/Km35wH2V2TA/видео.html
Yes I did use a longshank hook but it was a size 8 which isn't much longer than my regular size 6’s.
It's been a long time since I fished in heavy weed. When I did, I used to use micro-barbed hooks so it’s difficult for me to comment. I do know that one of the fishery colleges did a rigorous scientific test over a long period of time using real anglers on a weedy water. The subject was mouth damage and micro-barbed vs barbed on a weedy venue. The barbless won. All we can do is experiment and see how it goes. Best regards, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler thanks for the detailled response - much appreciated! Completely agree trying out those things is the way forward. I find it easy to believe that barbless causes less mouth damage on weedy waters, too - I think that is a general thing and of course we should all be thinking about fish safety first. My comment was more about hook pulls, which I have found to be too big a problem with barbless on an extremely weedy water I fish. So I went back to barbed there because I got tired of losing fish. I guess it’s all about finding out what works on a given water. I’d love to visit Beausoleil one day btw, looks like a great place. Best regards, Wolf
@@carassiuscarassius140 Hi Wolf, I can certainly see how the weed would give the fish extra leverage to rid themselves of a barbless hook more easily than a micro barbed. I'd like to give my barbless approach another whirl on a heavily weeded water but we just don’t have anything like that around where I am. I know that I’m biased but Beausoleil is a special little water. It might be small but, at times, it’s rather tricky! All the best, Matt.
Just brought myself a rig board and it's a dream for straining mono hooklinks opens the gape up so much 🎣
Hi Oli, yes very useful things rig boards, I have a few stashed about the place, glad they're helping you out too. Best of luck, Matt.
Excellent video again mate,very informative ,I’m still a newbie to carp fishing and this has opened my eyes to a whole new world. Thanks
Thanks for the feedback mate, glad to be part of your journey. Cheers, Matt
@@matthewcollinsangler that’s Kool buddy,been following you for ages 👍👍👍💥💥💥 hope things get back to normal for you soon with the lake 👍👍🙏🙏
@@Hyperraj1 thanks mate. Take care, Matt.
Nige Williams is a legend and a good mate of mine, was the tackle shop Bankside or Cheltenham angling centre?
Hi Darren, thanks for commenting! Yes definitely one of the good guys is Nigel. I got to know Nigel when he worked at Bankside. He’s not a man of many words but I listened very attentively to what he had to say. I have a lot to thank him for. I liked the way he kept his fishing simple and he helped me to focus on what actually matters rather than get caught up in the marketing maze. Do give him my regards next time you see him. Cheers, Matt.
Nailed it matt brilliant video very informative, I use twister for braid and twister with a out turned eye for your mono rig.The claw is a fantastic hook for the spinner/ronnie rig.I only use micro barbed when lake rules apply, as you said barbless are easier to remove and get a proper hook hold.cheers
Hi Darren, thanks for the comment and nice to hear your views on hooks. I’ve never tried the original twister pattern. I’m very late to the twister party! Massive miss on my part. I’ve been using the chod twister with the 35lb supple Armourlink and it works great. I can see the standard twisters being very effective with supple materials. I don’t use ronnie or spinner rigs but I really like the chod claw with multi rigs. Especially when I need something stiffer like 35lb Skinlink. The extra large eye of the claw is a big bonus as it makes threaded through doubled over material a doddle. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler
Thanks matt,I'm off to a members lake in york next week for four days Can't wait .I'm definitely trying your shock and run system, as they tend not to run but shake the lead there.
It's very pressured so it's semi running leads and mono/fluorocarbon all the way .
Btw matt I'm currently watching your back catalogue of videos, all very informative for beginners and seasoned anglers, keep em coming pal.👍
@@darrenfox1879 Right! Sounds like an excellent test to me! It'll be interesting to see how it does. It’s great that you are digging through the archives lol. Yeah we’ve been at this a while lol. Hopefully you can see the progress we’ve made on the production! Have a great session mate.
@@matthewcollinsangler
Thanks matt 👍👍👍
Decent video once again, don’t think it’s been covered before either - nice one👍🏻 tight lines bud
Thanks Gary, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Matt.
Great Video! It changed my mind about many myths. Now I know why some of my rigs are sometimes making ugly things to mouths. I threw out all my curvshanks right away!
Also now I know why my blowbacks with kicker sometimes hook so shallow!
Still got some question. What is desired lenght of rig? I keep mine between 7-9inch. But what is better? Longer or shorter? And why? Some explain that shorter rig gives quicker contact with led which brings more bites. But what about soft lake bed? Im so confused.
Looking for answear or maybe some tips in future Videos!
Big fan. 😊
Hi Antonios, thanks very much for your question and your support. I’m really pleased that my video helped explain things. There are a load of theories on how to select rig length and you’re right it’s a good idea for a future video! You mention that your rigs are usually between 7 and 9” long. This is a good length. I’ll try to summarize very quickly the way I choose rig length. If the carp you are targeting are on the small side (sub 12kg) then I would stick to the 7” length. If you are targeting larger carp 20kg+, then 9” is good. It also depends on the baiting situation you are creating. If you are fishing over tight beds of bait then shorter is better. If you are fishing over a spread of boilies then longer is better. If you are fishing with solid PVA bags then 3-5” is about right. If the lake bottom is soft then try to find the harder areas or consider fishing a helicopter rig (with a light lead) that allows the lead to plug into the silt a little. You can then stick to your normal rig length and the presentation will be fine (I need to do a video on this too!) I hope that helps and that you continue to find the videos useful. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Im shocked you responded so quickly. I was so desperate for those answears.
YOU MADE MY DAY! Thanks you so much! I’ve spent many days trying to find some precise info that you gave me right now. I will spread info about your channel, you deserve a lot more views and subs!
@@antoniosgwozdz2945 Haha no worries, happy to help. Thanks for giving us another idea for a new video! It’s great to know that you want to share our work with a wider audience, thanks. Our goal is to help anglers catch more and fish safer. Carp fishing is one of just a few sports when our ignorance or complacency can cause injury and harm to the living creatures we hold in such high esteem. I wish you all the best on your journey my friend. Cheers, Matt.
Love Matthew Collins. Straight facts, no frills, no bullshit.
Thank you 😊
My syndicate only allows micro barbed and the fish are extremely clean compared to the local open fisheries
Great information Matthew, most informative fishing videos on here keek the good work up 👍🏻 one day I’ll be fishing that beautiful lake.
Hi Jack, thanks for the amazing support and feedback mate. We really do appreciate it. If you ever fancy a crack at our place you know where to find us. Cheers, Matt.
Excellent video Matt. Many thanks 🦈🐳👍
Thanks very much Nigel, glad it was useful 🎣
excuse me for not finding the right info but I really want to know the brand of hook you are using in this video. There is not a hook I can find that matches yours in regard of specifications. Thank you very much in advance for your reaction!
Hi there, in this video I used a number of different hooks. If you are looking for specific recommendations then I can highly recommend any hook in the Nash PinPoint range. I’ve had the chance to test a few more this winter and I can say that without doubt they are the sharpest (out of the packet) hooks I’ve ever used. Really strong too even in smaller sizes like 8s. The Nash Chod Twister is a particular favourite as it’s extremely versatile pattern which is suitable for a wide range of materials. Good for carp of any size and even large catfish. For the multi rig I like the Nash Chod Claw as the eye is larger. I hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler thanks very much for your fast reply, this helps a lot. I will look into the Nash hooks a bit better. Have a nice weekend.
Hi Matt, great info again on your vids. Can I ask, what you would need to change if a rig wasn't turning in the palm test?
Hi Leo, there could be a number of reasons. You could be using a style of hook with a type of material that doesn’t work well together. You could be tying the knotless knot wrong (the hooklink must exit the side of the eye nearest to the point). If you don’t do this the hook will turn away from you when you try the palm test (I see this mistake quite a lot). The hook point might be slightly damaged and it will slide over your skin and will never grab and turn. If you're really stuck then send me a good close up pic of your rig and I’ll see if I can spot the problem for you. My email address is matt@frenchcarpandcats.com. Cheers, Matt.
skip the palm test. its a myth and shows nothing. The main reason, water.
Its in WATER. not on land.
Great video sir, thank you so much. I've learned more in half an hour then a month on the waters edge :-)
Hello sir! Wow, well that's fantastic to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Your support is very much appreciated. All the best with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
The lake i fish has a rule of barbless hooks i like the rule because it causes much less damage to the fishs mouth compared to barbed/micro barbed i havent had any issues with not hooking or a fish coming loose
Great to hear, thank you.
I have learned a lot from this excellent video - thank you!
Thank you Marc, that's great to hear! Hope you enjoy browsing the other videos on the channel. Cheers, Matt.
Very imformative,, some really intressting hook point points (pun intended)
Yes getting micro bard stuck in net or your hand is a real pain,
I once had a idiot, snag my ear with mackerel feathers on a boat, not fun!!
Given the results of your 100 night test,
Its barbless all the way for me now,
Cheers matt
Hi Scott, wow well that's excellent news! Really glad that it's given you the confidence to take the plunge. Let me know how you get on. All the best, Matt.
Another brilliant vid, very informative very interesting on the different hook patterns 👍
Thanks very much for the feedback mate !
Thank you Matthew another eye opening video appreciate all your informative uploads keep em coming 👍
Hi Daimion, thanks very much for commenting and for your support. More videos coming soon! Cheers, Matt.
Always great content keep them videos coming tight lines 🐟
Thanks for the feedback Damon, much appreaciated 👍
Hello Matt, thanks for this video. I have a question: In this Video you show some mono rigs. You don´t use a hook bead like in the Video "Best Rig..." Why?
Hi Steffen, wow well spotted! OK, so you have to bear in mind that our video production is done over weeks or months and I’m experimenting and learning all the time. In this case, I think we filmed this video before the hair rig video and I wasn’t using the bead at that time in my fishing! That’s all 😊
Hey Matt, Divvy in the Bivvy here :-) another truly informative video, masterclass. Targetting just Cats (20-50lbs) what would be your go-to hook? Size, make and model. Ive been using Catmaster Eagle Wave Circle and and Catmaster Eagle Wave in size 6/0 for all rigs. Your comments appreciated.
Size 4 or 6 Nash chod twisters is all I use for cats mate, very strong and very sharp! If you haven’t seen it, here’s my catfish rig how to in detail: ruclips.net/video/NkOZfsGNmbk/видео.html ☺️
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanx again Matt. i bought some Nash exactly as you suggest, wow - they are much smaller than i generally use for Cats. smallest i have used is 1/0. 2x questions if i may: is this size (Nash size 4) big enough for bait of size whole small squid, a block of 2-4 28mm pellets for eg and 2nd would you strike using these Nash Chod hooks or same approach as a circle
hook. TIA
@@divvyinthebivvy743 Hi mate, these hooks are designed for hair rigging boilies or pellets, 18 to 24mm, as I show in the carfish rig video. Fish a simple running lead. There is no striking because the hooks are super sharp.
@@matthewcollinsangler thx, that makes good sense.
Nice job Matt , I enjoy your videos very much!
I am very happy to hear that! Thank you 😊
Thanks for the info. Really useful.
Hi mate, thanks very much for the support. Glad that you like what we do. Plenty more to discover and more on the way so don’t forget to subscribe. Cheers, Matt.
Fantastic video matt. Great info
Thanks Paul 👍 Glad you enjoyed it.
@@matthewcollinsangler use all your information and it has turned my fishing around. You cut through the 'carpy BS' designed to sell sell sell and get right to the things that are simple AND WORK
Thank you so much
@@paulfreer1302 It gives us a massive buzz to hear that mate, thanks, and plenty more BS free, info packed content is on its way! Cheers, Matt.
Excellent video Matthew
Thank you very much 👍
Man, your Hand isn’t a Carp Mouth, Kicker’s are working well in my opinion, but very nice video. 👍
Hi mate, always interesting to compare experiences. For me kickers can affect the way a rig turns over by shielding the hook point. Over the last 12 years of running this fishery, I know you can catch loads of large carp without them. This winter I did an experiment with adding a kicker back into one of my rigs as it solved a specific problem I was having with some 12lb Zig-Flo exiting at the wrong angle. The kicker I used was very short and didn't close the gape of the hook and yes it worked well. I’m hoping to get anglers to think about whether they need a kicker or not. If kickers are working well then great but if you are struggling then it’s possible that by removing them you will improve your results 😊 Good topic of discussion 😉Cheers, Matt.
Another excellent video, thanks. If you could only fish one size of hook what would you choose?
Hi Tim, thanks for commenting. I nearly put a section in about that but the debate about hook size could be a stand alone video 🤣. So it does somewhat depend on the manufacturer and pattern but I've gone back to using a size 6 rather than a size 4. Choose well and they are massively strong. Hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanks. I love a size 5
@@MrTestcurve Right! I've never done odd sizes 😊 Hooks are funny though, once you find a size and pattern that you like it's difficult to change. Oh until you get a hook pull lol. I used to swap hook styles way too much until I learned how to inspect and sharpen my own lol.
Hello. another great video. I have a question regarding that rubber stopper on the shank of the hook below the knot It was not mentioned in earlier videos.
Hi mate, thanks for commenting and I’m glad you liked it. Ah well spotted! Yes, I’ve been adding a hook bead on my mono hair rigs as it keeps the knot neat and tight and creates an aggressive angle to kick the hair out at an angle to the shank. It also helps control the exit point of the hair so that it stays opposite the point. I don’t normally add bits like these but it makes a big difference and if you use barbless they are reusable many times. I’ll explain more in the videos that we’ll be publishing soon! Cheers, Matt.
Hi Mat, I'm going to waffle on a bit here but only to reiterate what this video is about. I've only just looked at this video (three times) as I didn't think I needed to??? I started carping in 1974 when short shank hooks were about the only hooks you could get apart from the Kamasan B175's which Lee Jackson put me onto. We used sizes 8-12 and this was when 18mm boilies were the smallest baits we used! I must have have tried every hook and rig going, some of which I modified, but I did notice that on the odd occasion some mouth damage did occur when using curved or long shank hooks which I wasn't happy with. I also wanted to revert back to using hair rigs so I got some wide gapes from Bank Tackle (superb hooks) and the claws from Nash and have not had any damage since. I did put the barbless hooks to one side when I lost a huge fish, but thinking about it I have also lost, very rarely, fish on barbed hooks also. The only thing I do if I'm using braid and not using a PVA mesh bag is wrap a PVA nugget around the hook to prevent tangling. Great video Mat, I'll have to check ALL your vids now, just in case lol. Tight lines
Very informative 👍
Been using barbless since the late 1980's Never really had an issue.
Hi Phillip, ah that's great to hear. It's a very polarising topic.
Hi Matt. Bit of a spin off this question but hook related ... I was fishing for carp at the weekend but hooked and landed a lovely 29lb catfish. Short pop up on a reverse combi rig with approx 6" boom using a nash twister #5 for the first time. Hook hold was very deep. Tied exactly the same rig again and an hour later bumped a screaming take. On inspection, hook point had burred over. Repeated the process and an hour later, exactly the same thing happened again. I'm confident that this wasn't caused by stones (clay bed, popped up bait). Never had any other hooks burr over like that before. Wondered if there is a bony part of a catfish's mouth that could have caused it on these two occasions? Best regards, Mark
Hi Mark, thanks for your question. I don’t think it was the catfish mouth, IMO it’s due to a slightly damaged hook out of the packet. I’ve been fishing with the Twisters all year. I inspect every hook in each pack prior to fishing and I tend to find one or two hooks with burrs, that’s only 2 out of 10 hooks which is pretty good in my book. I take a hone to knock off the burr. I have banked 40 carp, lost 1 and banked 2 catfish with these hooks, they’re the best out of the packet hooks I’ve found but they’re not 100% perfect. Hope that helps, Matt.
Hi Mark, I have another explanation for your hook pull and damaged Twister experience. Catfish are notorious for their ability to create savage liners. I’m talking about liners so strong they rip line from the clutch. The result of these liners is that the rig gets dragged across the bottom and the hook point is ruined. When I have one of these at night I often strike into them expecting to connect. I’ve even felt the kick of the fish for a few seconds but then I wind in and find the hook point turned over. If you’re not fishing with a telltale indicator system of some sort then you would believe with absolute conviction that you’d suffered a hook pull. As I always fish with a telltale I can instantly tell that it was only a liner. There was no bite! The reason, I believe, that I occasionally feel the kick of this fish before it goes slack is that the lead can get caught around the pectoral fin of the catfish. It doesn’t stay in place for long but it’s enough to transmit a few kicks from the fish before it becomes dislodged. My advice is to use one of my tell tale lead systems. It won’t prevent the liners but knowledge is power and it will give you the confidence that there is no rig or hook problem. All you have to do is whack it back out there and try again! Best of luck, Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thank you so much Matt, that makes absolutely perfect sense to me and has put my mind at rest now. What you describe is exactly what happened on both occasions. I said the hook point had burred but 'turned over' is a better description. I always test my hooks points so knew they were perfect when they went out. I saw a cat role and churn through the lake bed when I arrived so they were very active in my swim. I've seen your latest shock and run rig and have similar components to incorporate that this weekend, including the telltale system. Very best regards, Mark
@@markwright5080 No worries at all. Yeah if you saw cats churning the silt then it's a virtual guarantee that you'll get some big liners. Glad you enjoyed the last video! Best of luck with your fishing. Cheers, Matt.
Great video, as always, very interesting and informative.
Thanks for the feedback Stephen, really glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Matt.
Good evening Mr Collins.
I've watched many of your videos on RUclips now. I've just watched the video you did, the only hook you'll need. I'm confused to which hook to use, what would be best for a simple carp rig. People and tackle shops have told me to try the Ronnie Rig, The German Rig, The Multi Rig. I wouldn't know where to start. I have noticed you use Nash hook's and other tackle, are they the best?
Hi Lee, I totally understand how confusing this game is! If you ask twenty different anglers you’ll get twenty different answers lol. This channel is sponsored by Nash but even if it wasn't I’d still use and recommend the Nash pin-point range of hooks above everything else because they are simply the sharpest and strongest hooks available right now. As I’ve said before I would recommend that you use a basic mono hair rig and tie it with a size 6 Nash chod Twister. Hooks damage easily (I generally use one per cast). This might sound crazy but the hook is the most important piece of fishing equipment above everything else. Tie a new rig every time and you will catch carp consistently. Enjoy, Matt.
That was great Matt,so pleased you mentioned the dreaded kicker! I binned them many years ago,was suffering hookpulls on a hard pit,no kicker and bingo no more lost fish…seems pretty obvious now.
Thanks for your great vids as they are very grounding in this now modern hype social media
Hi mate, thanks so much for commenting and for your support mate, it’s very much appreciated. Great to hear about your experience with the kickers! At that point in my angling I was transitioning from smaller runs waters to syndicates and large gravel pits and I was struggling badly! My old rigs weren't cutting the mustard and thanks to Nigel Williams, I learnt why. I do like to revisit things every now again to keep exploring the boundaries. I’ve recently been playing around with some very small kickers from Nash and they definitely have potential. They don’t close down the gape and are very soft, so quite different to the old steamed shrink tubing method. If I come up with something decent I’ll feature it here. All the best with your fishing this year. Cheers, Matt.
Another great video,all
Makes sense when you think about it 👊🏻
Hi mate, I’m glad that you’re enjoying the channel and that you are getting so much from our work. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler legend,can’t wait for the weekend,might hit barston lakes or packing estates,haven’t decided yet,but I’m sure to be break my PB of 20lbs or be close with thanks to you and your channel,great job 😎
@@TheRealFishingTackleChannle Sounds great mate and it’s really good to know that you feel we are helping you on your journey. I started fishing small lakes around the Gloucestershire area and it took me years to catch a 20! You can only catch what’s in front of you! Best of luck mate, enjoy the journey. Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler I’m must be doing something right then cause I’ve only been carp fishing since January 😎
Are the Bank tackle hooks has good has the nash twister for the size of the eye has I have difficulty tying hookss
Hi Michael, the eye of the Bank Tackle hooks is smaller than the Twisters, they are also not as sharp, and the point is not as long and fine. They’re OK if you’re into hand sharpening and OK for runs waters. I only use and recommend the Twisters - stronger and sharper.
Hi Matthew so the one hook you have chosen to use for all your fishing is a out turned eye chod hook ?
Hi there, If you wanted to use just one hook, then that’s a good choice. I still use other types of hooks.
@@matthewcollinsangler was a good watch that .have used chods myself in the past on bottom rigs just to see if they still did the job .which they did I caught..just goes to show how Tackle company's fill you head with rubbish all about the pound note isn't it
Just watched the video do you ever use hooks ring or tubing to trap your hair or do you trap with a 3 bait stringer
Hi Gary, thanks for commenting. If you’re worried about the hair wrapping round the shank of the hook on the cast then just use a stiffer material for the hair. I use 0.40 mono for a lot of my carp fishing. It’s cheap, strong and tangle resistant. Watch my mono hair rig video for more info: ruclips.net/video/LzFina92brM/видео.html
Hope that helps. Cheers, Matt.
Yep definitely not good them long shankers. Love for the barbless 👍
👍A lot depends on the exact details of the pattern of course, some long shanks are shorter than others. Great to know that you are a fellow barbless fan. Have a great season. Cheers, Matt.
Wow!!! Another great video Matt. Thanks for these tips. I'm learning so much off you. I have had a few fish in the last couple of months on the Korda Wide Gape size 6 or 4 fishing bottom baits. I have had 4 fish using the Korda longshank hook using a snowman (what they advocate). What's your opinion if I just use the wide gape for the Snowman in future?
Hi mate, thanks very much for your amazing support. I fished the Korda wide gape for years myself but I did hand sharpen every single one of them as I never found them to be particularly sharp straight out the packet. Like I say I haven't used longshanks for years. I personally don’t believe that there’s anything wrong with using a wide gape for a snowman presentation. Earlier this year I swapped over to the Nash chod Twister (size 6) as my go-to hook for just about everything. They are definitely sharper out of the packet than anything I’ve seen and the point is long and slender which is exactly what I’m looking for in a hook. The Nash Claws are great too but the eye is larger. It all depends what rig material I’m using really. I’ve been testing a simple long D rig tied with mono recently and opted for the Twisters. Super effective and it bagged me a very large carp that hasn't been caught for two years. Happy days. Best of luck. Cheers, Matt.
Great video have been using curved shanks great hold but can be difficult to get out. Not really thought too much about it but fish welfare is paramount so in the bin they go
Good for you mate, I use the Nash twisters for just about everything these days, very sharp, very strong.
Hi Mathew! A question, what hook would you use on a canal in cont.Europe with rather strong traffic of big barges,fishing 24mm or bigger hookbaits?
....oh and also what hooklinks if you use strong material going up to 30lbs.+?
Hi Peer,
I’d use size 6 chod twisters from Nash fished mono d rig style with a bait screw. I use the Nash heavy duty snag leader 30lb for hooklink and as abrasion resistant leader. Here’s a quick overview of that rig: ruclips.net/user/shortsCh032Nsihcc?feature=share. There’ll be a full video on this rig in a couple of months.
If zebra mussels are an issue, I’d use 35lb skinlink fished multi rig style, no stripped back section. You could go size 6’s or 4’s. You’ll need big leads and heavy duty captive back leads or your rigs will get kicked around by the big boats.
Hope that helps!
Cheers, Matt
What happened to the bent point hooks where it’s offset at an angle from the shaft?
Oh ok you covered it lol. BANNED!
😜
Very well said my friend. I'll certainly be trying barbless hooks in the uk...... Great video
Thanks Perm, that's great mate, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah absolutely loving the barbless man. If you've never tried a Nash Twister then you need to check them out too ;)
Glad I watched this video as I am new to the sport I know what hooks to buy now.
Thanks for the feedback Robert, glad the video helped 👍
Respect! From România!
Thank you very much 👍
Hi Matt, thanks for the info! What do you think of offset vs straight? A lot of my older hooks feature an offset alongside one modern pattern which I particularly favour.
Hi Adam, I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. Personally I do not like an offset hook point as I believe it increases the risk of mouth damage on entry and exit. That being said, I have a friend who’s a top angler that I have a lot of respect for and he wouldn't dream of using anything other than an offset point. You mention old hooks. Are you perhaps referring to the Drennan Continental? This is indeed a classic pattern and one I’ve used in the past. On close inspection you’ll see that the point is short and stubby, rather than long and thin. This makes it OK for river carping when you need lots of strength in the point but not great for much else. If you’ve got the skills to sharpen everyone then yes you can turn these into a wickedly sharp hook that will catch you loads of carp but if you’
e using them straight out of the packet there are much better options available. In the interest of full disclosure this channel is sponsored by Nash but before this was the case I’d already discovered how wickedly sharp the Nash pinpoint range was. My personal favourite is the Nast chod Twister in a size 6. As a toolmaker turned carp angler, I can tell you with absolute certainty that these are sharper and will penetrate the carp’s mouth easier than any other out of the packet hook. They are also immensely strong. So strong in fact that I’m soon to start testing the size 8 pattern (never thought I’d say that!). Hope that helps, Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler Thanks very much for the reply! Just want to say thank you for all of your really informative videos, as a new carp angler in his 20s by himself, they've helped me get a long way.
I'm fortunate enough to have inherited my Grandfather's kit, but a lot of it isn't in original packaging. He's a carpenter by trade, and taught me to sharpen hooks when I started, creating a fine point and not an edge, ensuring fish safety. I now carry a loupe and jewelers stone to touch up any slight defects on out of the packet hooks. I'm about 18 months in at this point, and for the last 8 months I've been testing various hook patterns, my two most used being Korda's widegape in sizes 4-8 and an unidentified hook very similar but with an out-turned eye and an offset, which does look like a continental, but they're barbless (Grandfather could've crushed/filed off the barb though). I prefer using the out turned eye for stiffer materials, like mono and fluoro. I ditched kickers about 3 months ago, when I noticed similar things to your showcase in this video, and you've shown me more reasons that it was a good move. I'm also very lucky that I've had no nasty hookholds so far in the 150+ carp landed (all but 6 fish were on barbless).
I'm currently a month in to trying Korda's Krank pattern, which I've had a solid few sessions on. I have a lot of old Nash kit, and watching Alan's videos, I can see they have some great hook patterns I'll be sure to try next. The 6 fish over twenty pounds were landed on the only 3 sessions I've been anywhere with carp that big, and I'm sure as I visit these venues more often with gained confidence, I'll notice the importance of hookhold mechanics moreso than the usual 12lbs average I'm used to.
Sorry for the long reply and thank you again for your videos. I'll bear the advise in mind on my next few hook pattern trials!
@@tyr580 Hi Adam, wow, really interesting to hear your experience, thanks. By sharing information like this we can help loads of anglers that are lost in the carp maze. 150 carp in 18 months is fantastic work. Don’t forget that you can only catch what’s in front of you and if 12lbs is the average size then that’s all you’ll catch. It’s great to know that you are already making the step up to catching 20s. It was a big step up for me too. I can tell by the way you write that you pay attention to the small details that matter and I’m sure that you’ll continue to grow and develop your angling at a good pace. It’s only by challenging yourself on harder waters that you’ll make big step changes and learn where your weaknesses as an angler are so that you can work on them. Keep up the great work and please continue to share your progress with us. All the best with your journey, Matt.
Good video mate!
Thanks for the feedback mate 👍
Brilliant Mat. Loved the bit on kickers. When fishing bottom baits do you ever use a blow back style with a ring or silicone to trap the hair or do you always fish knotless knot style and is that the same for both coated and uncoated braid?
Hi Phil, yes, I’ve used the blow back rig. No disrespect to its creator (Kevin Nash) but I simply don't believe that it is better than a standard knotless knot. I understand the theory behind it and the theory sounds good. If I was using a traditional semi fixed rig (lead clip) type setup then the addition of the blow back indicator on the shank would indeed let me know if I’m getting done. That’s useful but it won’t stop me from being done unless I change another parameter.
As I use trick running lead systems with tell tale indication incorporated into the lead setup, I can already sort massive liners from dropped takes so the blowback idea doesn't add anything for me. I’ve caught some extremely clued up , large carp on nothing more than the basic knotless in either braid, coated braid or mono combined with a trick lead setup. (btw I’ve got a new rig video coming up which builds on the work I’ve been doing for the last 12 years so keep an eye for that 😉) Cheers, Matt.
@@matthewcollinsangler brilliant. Thank you for the detailed explanation
@@Mylo831 My pleasure 😊
Great video Mathew,Ive always used wide gape hooks since I started carp fishing back in 1991! The reason being is that I find they have the (grab hooking) effort better than any other pattern thus brilliant hook holds! Bottom bait and pop up rigs have been bullet proof for me! I haven’t used the out turned eye hook apart from on pop up rigs but I would use it after seeing your vid👍rigards barbless or micro there’s no contest,it’s BARBLESS all the way to the bank! If I had my way barb hooks should be banned! First and for most it’s all about the fish welfare no need to explain why! Thanks again Danboy👊
Hi Dan, thanks again for commenting and sharing your experiences. I’ve also caught an awful lot of carp using a simple wide gape pattern. I’ve just found that chod hooks work for everything, with all materials so if you need to rationalise the stock you carry or you’d like to simplify your fishing then the chod pattern is a good way to go. Great to hear that you’re a barbless fan. While researching this video I was shocked to learn that some French fisheries actually ban barbless hooks! It seems utterly mad to me. In fact I’ve specifically chosen not to visit a venue because of this micro-barbed only rule. Cheers, Matt.