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An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Sunday 31 October 2021

DIY "double hooks"

 It was at a PAC bash, sometime in the early 1980's, where I had the great fortune to engage in conversation with Vic Bellars. He'd persuaded Partridge of Redditch to manufacture a double hook, of his design, for use in Pike angling. His logic based around fish safety and the un-necessary mouth damage caused by treble hooks. His sales patter was infectious and I didn't require much persuasion to cease using the typical Mustad and Eagle Claw trebles in favour of these innovative hooks. As a dead bait angler, they had all the attributes I required and can't say that I've ever regretted that decision to ditch treble hooks from my own Pike fishing. When I returned to angling, in 2011, it came as a disappointing surprise that Partridge had ceased producing this hook pattern, although I was able to purchase a few packets from various angling stores thanks to Benno and Sye. I also secured a supply of an alternative double hook which was marketed by Pete Drennan, although not entirely happy with the barbless design when I first saw them. As it turned out, the Drennan double proved to be every bit as good as the Partridge original, with the added benefit of being easier to remove from the jaws of a Pike. Obviously, I'm now a decade down the line and neither Drennan or Partridge offer this style of hook any more. There are several doubles still produced commercially, but they are Ryder style hooks designed for fly anglers, thus not particularly well suited to my requirements.  However, all is not lost, modern Carp angling has spawned a whole host of innovations and, because of this, I have been able to use this technology for my own ends.


From left to right
Left is a size 2 Drennan "Specialist Double"
Middle - my homemade offering
Right is a Partridge of Redditch "Vic Bellars" double size 6

The unbelievable quality of modern hook manufacturing companies has ensured a wondrous array of patterns and styles to choose from. The reliability and build quality is a million miles away from that of those "original" Vic Bellars offerings. It has been due to sharing ideas with Benno and Sye, plus a few other random conversations, that I arrived at the point where I felt it might be worth attempting to use the carp boys toys to produce my own version of a double hook? This is what I've managed thus far!


On the left is a size 6 Gardner "Talon Tip" barbless on the right a
Nash "Chod", micro barb,  size 8 with the eye slightly straightened with pliers

Step one - using some shrink tube (My preference is Solar or Pallatrax) I thread the larger hook down the tube before piercing the material. Then I position the smaller hook, piercing the shrink tube at 180 degrees to the first hook. By using a map pin, I am able to keep the two hooks aligned, whilst using a pair of forceps to hold the pin in the steam of a boiling kettle!


I then trim the excess shrink tube off 


When attaching these hooks, to a wire trace, it is vital that the wire goes through the
eyes of both hooks


I use a "twiddling stick" to finish my rig. I'm sure that many others prefer to use crimps?

Talking of crimps, several other anglers have offered this as another avenue to explore in the manufacture of this type of hook. As I haven't attempted it yet, I will make no comment on the validity of the idea, but I'm certainly of an open mind.

6 comments:

  1. Dyl, great solution to a problem. I did wonder if pike were ever tackled using a hair rig approach? I remember Gav cleaning up the biggies (Cats) in Tiddenfoot using as such.

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    1. Ric, a solution it may be. Great? I will allow time to be judge on that side of things. Yeah, Sye and me used the hair-rig when catting on Tiddenfoot and beyond. I'm fairly sure this is because Alfred Jardine hadn't advocated the use of trebles in their pursuit. Pike on the hair? I've not come across anyone using the idea, although Eddie Turner did incorporate something similar when live baiting with large trout. He called it the "super rig" and it ensured he didn't have to pull a hook out of the trout before it was able to take hold in the Pike's mouth. As always, cheers for the comment. Take care & stay safe - Dyl

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  2. I really enjoyed reading this, like many, I have bought the Ryder style hooks thinking they were VB STYLE (flat) and not at right angles like they are. Out of interest why do you think they wont/don't work? Surely a free hook alongside a bait is going to find a hold in the pikes mouth??

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    Replies
    1. Hi Adam, thanks for the comment and question. I think my reservations are purely about personal confidence. Yes, in theory, a free hook beside the bait could find a hold in a pike's mouth yet I'm unable to visualize the performance due to the offset nature of the Ryder pattern. My fear is that the hook will actually twist back into the bait? I certainly have no data to back this up, just a gut feeling. Bottom line, angling is about having confidence in what you're doing. Ryder hooks don't do it for me, hence the search for an alternative "back to back" double hook. Take care & tight lines - Dylan

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    2. Thanks Dylan, fully understand.
      I am gonna be out at the weekend, cold but full of confidence too.
      Tight lines to you too.
      Adam.

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    3. I'll keep an eye on your blog to see how you get on - have fun! - Dylan

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