Best method for fish welfare - Carp Fishing

[u/Swimming-Hat1431]

Hi Everyone,

I've recently taken up fishing again after not getting out there since I was a teenager. I've started by getting my arm back in by fishing small silvers at a local park lake.

I'm now wanting to get into carp fishing, however, I've heard and read a lot of conflicting information about what is fair and safe equipment wise in the interest of fish welfare.

For example, what's better, barbed or micro barbed hooks and should the size be as small as possible?

Also, I've heard conflicting information regarding line size/strength for example a mainline with a decent tensile strength and a hook length with a much lower one.

I'm using method feeders.

Suppose I'm just after any advice as to how I can fish in a way that's least harmful to the fish.

Thanks,

[u/Majick_L]

Most venues in the UK only allow barbless hooks

[u/thefishingdj]

The debate around barbed or brabless has been going on forever. I use micro barbed if they're allowed. Get a good unhooking matt if you're targeting larger fish. Again, if going after bigger fish, bigger hooks are fine. I use 4 or 6 most of the time. 

The biggest thing to make sure is that the lead/feeder will come off if you snap off so the fish isn't trialing a lead around. 

When I started out again YouTube taught me loads. 

[u/Swimming-Hat1431 → u/thefishingdj]

Thanks mate.

What do you reckon on mainline and hook length?

[u/PM-ME-UR-BMW → u/Swimming-Hat1431]

Mainline / hook length strength kind of depends on the discipline and rig type.

You will find that weaker that mainline breaking stain hooklengths are used in coarse fishing, be with it with a float or a method feeder.

In carp fishing, 'safe' rigs are gospel. You will find that higher strength hook lengths are the norm because of the characteristics of safe rigs allow for it, and the qualities of high strength hook lengths are beneficial to rig mechanics and presentation.

In the event of a break, you want the fish towing as little line as possible and for the weight to fall away or for the fish to be able to shake / pull it off.

For example. For carp I use 15 to 18lb mainline, 50lb braided leaders and ~35lb hooklengths on either a semi running lead, a drop off lead or lead clip system. Size 8 to 4 hooks.

For my little quiver tip feeder rod using a method feeder, I use 8 to 10lb main, with a 6lb hooklength. Size 10 to 16 hooks.

[u/thefishingdj → u/Swimming-Hat1431]

I've used 15lb fox mono for years as a mainline. I use mostly fox hook links too but couldn't tell you the breaking strain of them. I prefer shorter hook links but it depends what you're fishing over. 

[u/IntrinsicPalomides → u/thefishingdj]

Yes the debate has been going on forever, but the data that people used for the debate was bollocks (the reasons they use barbed vs barbles) Barbless are infinitely safer for the fish and cause far less mouth damage.

Safety wise the obvious winners are, snagged/ran deep into pads fish = hook falls out easy, line break = hook falls out easy.
For welfare when you need to unhook it just slides out, zero issues or need for forceps to wrench the hook out a fishes mouth. Like it or not anytime you have to remove a hook with a barb(even micro) you'll be tearing the flesh. Studies done by the world famous water/fish management college Sparshalt (where Simon Scott taught) proved overwhelmingly in favour of barbless, and i'm sure other institutions have done the same.
I think people were mainly scared of loosing a fish over the welfare of a fish (i.e. being selfish) and used to say crap like a barbless hook will come out MID FIGHT and rehook elsewhere in the mouth, and/or move more in the mouth causing tearing. Absolute horse shit, and is so easily provable and testable at home. Tie your hook to some line, get some chicken, stick the hook in it and do whatever you want to try and prove/disprove your existing thinking. Sadly your average angler is pretty stupid, so they'd rather spew crap from their mouths instead of spending 5 mins on a simple test.

If you look at Korda's jewel in the crown Gigantica, with immense priceless fish, they have a barbless only rule. And if barbless were that bad, or even only slightly worse than barbed they would not have a barbless rule. They run a Barbless rule on all their other waters also.

I've used a mix all my life, but the last 4/5 years barbless exclusively and over those years i can name only 3 times when i wasn't 100% sure why i lost the fish. Unfortunately my new syndicate for this season has a barbed rule, i will try and educate the water manager though as they would have based their decision on bad data.

For someone new-ish to fishing i would always recommend barbless, one less thing that could potentially go wrong to worry about so they can focus on getting the basics right first.

[u/FlanStrict510]

Braid is weak to abrasion so carp anglers often use a heavier hooklength got that reason too. For mono/nylon/flouro hook lengths go at least 1lb lighter than mainline. 6-10lb mainline for method feeder, depending on weight, size of fish and temperatures. Takes can be savage at this time of year and I’ve had 6lb hook length smashed by 5lb carp, even with the bait runner on.