How often do you use your rigs?

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:34 pm

Might seem like a daft question, but do you use your rigs more than once, you know that lucky rig that you know always catches fish. Or do you use new ones on each trip?

I know hooks get blunted over time but do the swivels and line degrade much?

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:08 pm

personally i reuse my rigs as often as possible, i do change hooks every second use, unless there damaged. Depends were there used, rough ground, rocks, mussel beds and the like do wear line quickly and i often lose rigs as does everyone on this type of ground.

As for reusing, swivels,beads,clips have been reused by me and will continue to be as long as i fish.

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:35 pm

i reuse my rig bodies but as for the hooks i never use them again as i dont feel confident wen hooking a fish big grin

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:52 pm

I allways bin the hooks after every trip but i keep the trace bodys but i always check the as i get ready for my next trip looking for streaching and knicks that weaken them happy

Dave

Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 39 Location: Rugby

I make up my own rig bodies and snoods. The rig bodies last a year or so. The snoods are checked after every trip. Before discarding, all the rig or snood components are stripped off and re-used where possible. Ie any beads, sequins, snood clips, etc, saved for use another day.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:39 am

Cheers for the replies guys, I just waned to see if I was being daft in thinking I could reuse bits.

Changing snoods makes sense. I can see that a used snood may result in lost fish if it gives way, or the hook is blunt.

I've started to used Gemini type components, so I can make up a few rig bodies and then have snoods to match the size of fish that are coming out and the bait I am using.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:34 am

I always reuse my rigs, hooks as well as long as there no rust... happy

Craig

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:03 am

Im suprised to see that so many people discard their hooks at such a rate. Has no body thought of re-sharpening them of is my middle name "FAGAN"?. Cheers keith devil

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:54 am

I guess my rigs are used for at least 30 sessions - I have purposely designed them to do so. Hooks and snoods get changed about once every two months and I use some special high grade Al-oxide abrasive to re-sharpen/clean up hooks almost every time I go. Fortunately I can get this abrasive from work as we are in the metals business.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:10 am

I must admit i change my rigs probably when the hooks look dull or the line looks frayed winking

Occasional Joined: Aug 18, 2008 Posts: 103

For those that re-use your rigs can i recommend you screw something like a strong picture hook into a wall securely ( I've got one screwed into a wooden picture rail on my wall) then before re-using your rig attach it to the picture hook and give the rig a good tug to make sure the knots and line etc are all safe and sound

Cheers

Occasional Joined: Jun 29, 2008 Posts: 220

rabbi2 wrote:

Im suprised to see that so many people discard their hooks at such a rate. Has no body thought of re-sharpening them of is my middle name "FAGAN"?. Cheers keith devil

Other than to tide you over during a session rabbi its a useless exercise with most modern hooks as they are chemically sharpened and generally once the point has gone with them you will never get them totally back ... certainly any point you get on them is not likely to last.

With rigs I will re-use them as long as I think they are safe. Rinse them in fresh water after use, check everything over to make sure its okay but I ALWAYS change the snood after every session, without fail. A little rust on the hooks won't hurt so long as its on the surface and actually I'd be surprised if carbon steel didn't rust - if they do get a little rusty on the shank I always think it helps hold on some baits and stops it slipping down the hook .... particularly frozen blacks.

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:18 am

Sorry, can't agree with that Mudlark. If you have access to the sort of high quality metal abrasive which I use it's no problem to resharpen - two or three rubs and the hooks are vicious again.

Occasional Joined: Jun 29, 2008 Posts: 220

eccles wrote:

Sorry, can't agree with that Mudlark. If you have access to the sort of high quality metal abrasive which I use it's no problem to resharpen - two or three rubs and the hooks are vicious again.

Its not about what you use to sharpen them its about the metal they are made of and the process of chemical sharpening - you might be able to get a nice point back on it in your living room but it won't last - ask any metalworker and they'll tell you, you can't get the sharpness of the chemical process with abrasion.

Also with chemically sharpened hooks you get a long, needle point on them, the minute you have to abrade them with anything you lose a good percentage of the length of your hook point, ending up with reduced hooking abilities ..... its a simple fact for anybody to check out - get an old hook and sharpen it and then compare it against a new one out of the pack with a magnifying glass, the difference will jump out at you!

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:28 pm

I agree with you. I only use my hooks once (chemical sharpened hooks) for the same reason. Hooks arent hugely expensive at aroun £4 for 25 hooks. When a real decent fish is tugging at my line and the hook fails at the bend eye or the fish drops the bait without the hook penetrating at all (which a brand new unused hook would do easily) I'd only have myself to blame.
Thats why whenevr i go fishing, everytime, i re tie my rigs with fresh hooks and cut the old ones up with wire cutters and put them in the bin.
Mudlark is right, and who wants a failed hook with a good cod hanging onto it? (once its rusted and been sharpened (?) a few times and the strength of the metal has been compromised by it oxidising after being immersed in salt water and left to rust that is) crying

Personally id rather use a new hook. A blunt hook might penetrate your skin while you hold the shank of the hook, but will it penetrate a fishes mouth with 100yds plus of stretchy mono line in the equation