tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post7446590857006060717..comments2024-03-17T15:44:26.723+00:00Comments on Idler's Quest: Canal Zander & Pike — Embrace the VoidJeff Hatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-7142788654887901322015-12-01T08:16:06.466+00:002015-12-01T08:16:06.466+00:00Hey Sash!
As you say, long time. There's a g...Hey Sash! <br /><br />As you say, long time. There's a gang of four going down to the LIF this Friday coming. You are welcome to join us, if, in the unlikely chance it actually is at such very short notice, of you joining us. <br /><br />I had no idea you had previous on the zed front, but I guess hailing from those parts of the country that enjoyed the first run of the buggers, then that Jeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-90107632648017761362015-11-30T18:05:05.149+00:002015-11-30T18:05:05.149+00:00Hi Jeff,
Hope you're well, long time no see!...Hi Jeff, <br /><br />Hope you're well, long time no see!<br /><br />Back in the days when I did a fair bit of zandering (admittedly, it was the Fen rivers and drains and the zander were probably larger on average) I found that trebles and home made doubles worked better than singles. The crucial part for me was always the trace material and the resistance to a take. <br /><br />The trace Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-51542520478969069012015-11-29T10:33:11.545+00:002015-11-29T10:33:11.545+00:00The tile spacer is a brilliant idea. I needed such...The tile spacer is a brilliant idea. I needed such a thing yesterday when I realised I'd bought a pack of roach that were not at their best. I could not hope to hold them on a piece of skin as usual. It was too flimsy. <br /><br />And yes, surgery is a thing of the past for me. Haven't had to perform it once in the years since went over to single hooks. <br /><br />I heard that circles Jeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-61375512342954201812015-11-29T10:27:52.955+00:002015-11-29T10:27:52.955+00:00That's good news. I wondered if I'd need t...That's good news. I wondered if I'd need to increase hook size for large pike and I think I might have to. And yes, the Mustads are very circular, aren't they? Jeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-39123615142699906502015-11-29T10:16:05.461+00:002015-11-29T10:16:05.461+00:00Informative and thoughtful post Mr Hatt - thank yo...Informative and thoughtful post Mr Hatt - thank you. I have discarded all the heavy metal (trebles) for pike deadbaiting and wouldn't go back. I use a single circle on a looped hair with a small tile spacer as a stop. You don't need a hair for tough lampreys, but for other baits they work brilliantly. Since switching I haven't needed to perform complex and damaging ironmongery Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06583873907086972391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-30309618807359973862015-11-28T16:59:30.848+00:002015-11-28T16:59:30.848+00:00Jeff, i use sakuma 440 circle hooks in size 3/0. I...Jeff, i use sakuma 440 circle hooks in size 3/0. I have complete faith in them. On the warksavon ive landed pike to mid doubles with no problems. A friend in the SW recently landed a 30lber on the same pattern no probs.<br />I have a few packs of a mustard hook, but they are so circular in shape ( if that makes sense) and the points dont feel sharp so i cant bring myself to try them!<br />JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-15545715483419046172015-11-28T09:21:27.519+00:002015-11-28T09:21:27.519+00:00Yes, running experiments side by side is a good th...Yes, running experiments side by side is a good thing. That's how I came to dump what was a trusted hook when the circle outperformed it. I will be buying more Mustad bass hook though, because they really do work with big pike — they hold well and unhooking the fish is a doddle because of the long shank. You just push it down from outside the mouth and it pops outJeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-42862992286660338692015-11-28T09:18:27.992+00:002015-11-28T09:18:27.992+00:00Improving that is every zed heads dream! There has...Improving that is every zed heads dream! There has to be a way of making it reliable. The numbers are frightening. I have lost as many as I've banked if I take into consideration the early days when I lost far more than I banked. One or two of them might have been big fish. Actually one really was and James witnessed it shed the hook. <br /><br />I know all fishing carries the risk of losingJeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-60423591864016262152015-11-28T09:14:01.781+00:002015-11-28T09:14:01.781+00:00What make and sizes are you using. James? And have...What make and sizes are you using. James? And have you ever encountered problems hooking really large pike? Jeff Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164198326538064799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-91807510465141460812015-11-27T19:36:48.741+00:002015-11-27T19:36:48.741+00:00Great read Jeff, enjoyed that..
I've only rec...Great read Jeff, enjoyed that..<br /><br />I've only recently used a float rig for Zander albeit only a few times and don't think it's for me, I think I'm going to stick with what I know on my next close season quest, a running rig with a heavy bobbin with a bass hook, the cut Zander don't seem to give a jot about resistance in my experience, the bobbin goes up and down like aMick Neweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-35106905564973614842015-11-27T17:44:13.037+00:002015-11-27T17:44:13.037+00:00Very interesting. I'll be keeping a close eye ...Very interesting. I'll be keeping a close eye on your experiments as well as having a go myself. Unfortunately I don't live next to a canal full of test subjects - but there must be a way to improve my poor hook-up rate when I'm on the pond next...Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10282379823630036037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197778115917889421.post-85455880112437670032015-11-27T15:56:01.306+00:002015-11-27T15:56:01.306+00:00Cracking read as always Jeff. I've used circl...Cracking read as always Jeff. I've used circle hooks exclusively for all my zander and pike fishing in recent years, and will certainly never use a treble hook again. They are far more fish friendly.<br /><br />I've also moved away from swinger indicators for piking, as a I feel they offer far to much resistance and instead use light bobbins which I guess creates the same effect as yourAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com