SPECIMEN CARP ACTUALITY: Lead Drop-Off Systems To Prevent Mouth Injuries

WORDS: Shanin Weir IMAGES: Supplied

Over the years and years of Specimen Angling, both locally and abroad, the Holy Grail of Rig Design has always been to ensure that the hook makes good, solid contact with the tough, leathery bottom lip of a carp and ensures a secure hold for the ensuing fight. Most rigs of today seem to accomplish that purpose, and because of this I know most anglers fish them with confidence.

However, years ago at Laurentia Lake we noticed that a number of fish were coming out with torn mouths, and we found the culprit was the Long Shank Gripper Hook that were still allowed then but have long since been banned. One fish was so bad that we gave it up for adoption, as its mouth was too badly damaged for it to ever again eat properly (see pic). By their design one can easily see that any slight movement where the eye is attached to the mainline causes an even greater reciprocal movement at the other barb end. It literally scours the inside of the fish’s mouth during the retrieve every time it shakes its head. Within a year we noticed that the mouths of fish were either healing or were not damaged at all. As shown in the main image a Carp’s mouth should look intact like this at all times.

Over the past year or so, I have noticed quite a few torn mouths starting up again and have discussed this phenomenon with a number of anglers who have fished the lake for quite some time. We have all come to agree that four causes exist for this to happen:

Number one is that only braid is allowed at this venue, and this is only because crabs cause havoc to anglers’ mono lines, making the angler lose his or her expensive end tackle, and also because the lake then ends up with all that snapped-off line floating freely around it, mainly on the lake bed.  

So, we can’t ban braid unfortunately, but due to its non-stretch capabilities, some angers who are used to fishing mono, tend to put too much strain on the fish during the fight, and the hook literally tears out of the fish’s mouth. The ongoing solution is education, helping fellow anglers to ensure they play the fish in such a way as to bring it in without causing injuries.

Number Two are snags. There are very few dams in SA subjected to annual flooding  that don’t have trees, logs, branches, stumps and other debris deposited during storms into them. Its an ongoing process to find the snags each year and remove them. I know a lot of anglers are very anti-snag removal as we all know Carp like to hang around them as they feel safe there. From an angling perspective, I agree fully, but we all know that Carp also love to run to the nearest snag to try to get rid of the hook, and in the process they tear their mouths to shreds (see pics). So, the solution from a Carp Care perspective is that we have to remove the snags, or at least indicate to anglers where they are with markers so they can avoid them. As well as to go out in their boats to try and assist the hooked fish get out of the snag.

Number Three are rigs that do not eject the sinker once the fish is hooked. Again, I emphasise that locally and abroad a lot of research over many years has gone into designing rigs that fool very wary Carp while also ensuring a proper hook-hold once the hook has started setting into the fish’s mouth. Various patterns of hooks have been perfectly designed to do just this, and the accompanying sinker also plays a vital role in these initial steps of ensuring a decent hook hold by (due to its weight) pulling the hook further into the fish’s bottom lip.

 But once hooked and the fish speeds off and the angler picks up the rod and creates a “PLAYABLE” tension on the line there is absolutely no reason anymore at all to still have a sinker attached.

It’s like the booster rockets of the Space Shuttle going into space. They play a vital role at launch stage. The shuttle will never get into space on its own, but once the shuttle reaches a certain height, the booster rockets are automatically jettisoned. Why ? Well, because their vitally essential work is finished, klaar, done. Same principle applies to a sinker. After the hook-up and its vital hook-assisting role,it just hangs there during the fight, swinging from side to side and doing nothing beneficial, but instead just unceremoniously tearing up the fish’s mouth.

There are anglers out there who will attest to the following statement:

Once properly hooked, and the lead ejects, a Carp comes straight up to the surface almost immediately and breaks the surface, sometimes hundreds of metres out. Why? Well because the fish doesn’t feel the sinker pulling it downwards anymore, down towards a possible snag, but instead it rises, during which time the angler can keep it away from underwater snags.

 Think about a bull nose ring – no matter how big and strong that bull is, he WILL follow whichever direction his nose is being pulled. In the case of a Carp, same rule applies, as it first feels the sinker pulling it downward, so naturally that’s the way the Carp will follow. If the sinker ejects, it will follow the pull of the line, which is away from the bottom, towards the surface.

Safety Rigs, (see pic) by their name’s sake in theory work 150% correctly, but like any form of Safety Equipment out there in any Vertical Market Sector, if you don’t do EXACTLY what the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) advises, it WILL NOT work properly. One small error of applying the various parts incorrectly, and the entire system becomes a Death Rig.

Inline drop-off systems and Heli Safe type rigs are designed to release the sinker immediately once the fish is properly hooked. However, do check the Heli Safe sinker clip capsule periodically during your session, as well as before your next session. Wash or blow it out as it can get silt in that hinders the drop-off action.

NB: A Helicopter Rig is NOT a Heli Safe type rig. Neither is an Inline Drop Off Rig. Please ensure that you know the differences, as Helicopter Rigs and Inline Rigs are NOT safe rigs and DO NOT eject the sinker.

Number Four are the rigs themselves. Despite so much research that has gone into designing the perfect rig that hooks the bottom lip every time, there are still only two rigs that do this 100%, namely the Spinner Rig and Hinged Chod rig, made with a 5-inch Stiff Anti-Crab 25lb Boom-type mono material.

We are all here to enjoy the sport; what we put in is returned to us and of course also our kids one day. Next time you set up think of them and think of the fish’s longevity for your kids to enjoy. I thank you.

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