One of my best day’s carp fishing was when I caught 10 carp between 9lbs (4kg) and 20lbs (9.1kg) in a day session at a place called Capstone country park, Gillingham, Kent, England.

This was back in 1996 when I lived in kent.
There was something that happened on that day that I will always remember and now makes me think twice about what rig I’m using, especially the materials, no matter where I am.
The one thing that sticks in my mind was that all the ten carp that were caught, were caught on the same rod.

The thing that I found strange was that my second rod had the same rig & bait as the first; the only difference being the hooklength material.
They were both a pop up boilie & standard hair rigged knotless knot in conjunction with a semi–fixed bolt rig set up.

One was tied with Kryston Snakeskin (hinged for the pop up) and the other was tied with Drennan carp silk.
Both hooklengths were 15lbs Breaking Strain and both baits were popped up to the same height.

I fished both rods with the same 16mm banana pop up, fished over a PVA bag of 3mm trout pellets. I also sprayed both baits with banana flavour, prior to each cast.
What made me think was the fact that all the takes were on the same rod. All 10 carp were caught on the snakeskin rig and not a ‘beep’ was heard out of the other rod, the Drennan rig.
Both baits were also no more than 10 feet (3 meters) from each other.

After a while I moved the Drennan rig a little closer to within 3 feet (1 meter) of the Snakeskin rod, but still the Drennan rig was not getting a touch.
The other one however was still screaming off about twice an hour.

The guy next to me was soon wondering why I was getting run after run, so I told him what I was using.
I also explained about the other rod (The silent rod) and my thoughts about the hooklength.
His missus and the dog were soon sent packing off to the Anglers Den (the local tackle shop) in Gillingham, to buy lots of the stuff I had!! (banana pop ups, pellets & PVA Bags)
When she got back, he quickly swapped it all around and now he had 2 rods with the same rig & bait as me.
A 16mm banana pop up boilie over a PVA bag of pellets, but with a braided hooklink instead of snakeskin as I was using!
I said it was ok for him to cast within a few feet of my rod that was producing all the fish for experimental purposes. I actually wanted to see if he caught anything and further my suspicions that it was possibly the hooklength material that was responsible.

I was still getting takes on the Snakeskin rod even though we positioned the other 3 hookbaits right next to the Snakeskin rod.
So now, to get to the bait, the Carp would have to pass one of the other hookbaits in order to get to the one that was taking the fish!!
As suspected the Snakeskin rod rattled off again and I was into another screamer.
I was convinced they were rejecting the other baits because of the rigs. There was something wrong that would not give them the confidence to take the hookbait.
The only differences were the hooklength materials!!!!!!

All this was in vain for the guy sat next to me as he still blanked. But I continued to catch carp, and still only on the one rod that had produced all the fish that day.

To this day I am positive that the hooklength material was the reason for this and it has stuck in my mind ever since.
I rarely use Drennan braid now for this reason and the habit of knotting on the cast. Plus I don’t think black and white are the most suitable camouflage colours they chose.

So I believe the rig does make a difference and this day being a classic example.
It’s possible that the carp wouldn’t take the other baits as they had sussed out the rig.
On the otherhand the Snakeskin rod took ten carp in ten hours, even though the carp had a choice of 4 baits within about 10 square feet.

It does make you wonder really and if it wasn’t the rig, then what was it?

Just to top it all off that day, the guy sat next to me had his car nicked from the car park!! What a Bummer!! He was going to give me a lift home as well!
And somehow I also managed to lose the roll of film that had all the photographs on.

I never did find it, so any proof of the 10 carp were history ……………............. Just like that guys Ford Sierra!!!
 

Chris Thornhill.

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Fishing is an addiction to the curiosity of the unknown. 21st June 2001.

GOD HAS DELKIMS!!!! And a 42" landing net!