Hiding your rigs, at what fish weight does it start to matter?

[Barbelman]

I am all for hiding my lines, swivels, etc. I even go as far as never using these bright orange or yellow feeding bombs, not even in conventional angling.
I even paint my mushroom sinkers dark brown.

But, in the past years I have seen big carp caught with ordinary shop bought Rietvlei rigs. With big orange or yellow mieliebomb feeders. Some even sport thick yellow braid hook link. The biggest carp I witnessed being caught on these highly visible rigs weighed 13.8kg. I have heard of bigger and have seen bigger carp than this being caught, but unfortunately cannot confirm the weight as the fish was not weighed.

So I have to ask... at appropriately what weight do carp become too clever to be caught with rigs that stands out without even trying to conceal anything?
Or does it only matter about how many times a specific carp was caught with the same rig before they start to ignore them as they know its dangerous?

 

[tadeo]

Howzit BM – I would reckon that it all comes down to what the fish is feeling like at the moment. He may be hungry and the brightness of the line or bomb holder catches his eye and then he goes to investigate or the fish is paranoid and as soon as he sees something different ,he gets out of there.
I do however believe that these fish have a memory of sorts. I always tried something different especially with flavours. Having said that ,that is probably why I also blanked at times because I went to different.

 

[Fishpaste]

I honestly believe that we sometimes give fish way too much credit...the wrong rig on the right spot is far better than the right rig on the wrong spot.
BUT
In saying the above...I rather make my rigs less obvious as I possibly could for peace of mind!

 

[tadeo]

Very true - but only when we are catching

When I'm not ...superstition and technicalities are to blame

 

[Fishpaste]

tadeo wrote:

Very true - but only when we are catching

When I'm not ...superstition and technicalities are to blame

That is just human nature. Ever fished a venue where you smash the fish. You return the very next day and NOTHING even though same tactics...same bait...same spot...same weather...?

 

[tadeo]

many times. and what makes it worse is that it is a reasonably small dam. (2 or 3 rugby fields)

 

[Barbelman]

Fishpaste wrote:

I honestly believe that we sometimes give fish way too much credit...the wrong rig on the right spot is far better than the right rig on the wrong spot.
BUT
In saying the above...I rather make my rigs less obvious as I possibly could for peace of mind!

Very well said

 

[Barbelman]

Interesant....

http://www.carp-fishing-tactics.com/tactic-thick-black-line.html

 

[Barbelman]

I do not want to open another thread as this is related to the above..
Regarding Fluorocarbon VS Braid visibility.
I was told the following, but find it hard to swallow..
''Dark brown braid that basically matches the color of the water, is still more visible than fluorocarbon''. How true is this? Does it even matter because I believe if line is matching the color of the water, how can fish see it in say 5 meter deep water?

 

[Fishpaste]

More related to specimen but there are a lot to say about lines, hooks, baits, equipment etc etc etc.
http://www.carpology.net/

 

[Nexave]

Quite honestly here in South Africa the fish aren't fished for as hard and often as it is in the UK. There I can believe that the fish are tuned into what they associate with danger so it's far more critical to hide the business end of the line. I've tested this theory over the past 12 years of specimen angling and I personally don't buy it. I've tied rigs before with Suffix Knot it its as bright orange as it comes and casted it in just after I've caught a fish on the same spot only to have it rip off in another run. I think what causes all the confusion is we watch the Korda under water dvd's and think their tactics are going to produce the same results. For me personally I've proven that to be rubbish as well, there is a lot to take from them but there's a lot that doesn't apply to our waters. I've tried every tactic and rig and piece of gear they've shown and it hasn't improved squat with my fishing. Sometimes we just need to keep things simple and make sure there's a fresh sharp hook at the business end of the rig.

 

[Rooibok]

At night it doesnt matter. And if rig is in water for longer than a couple of hours the alge will kling to the rig and it will blend in?