Line, hook, rod
Line strength by diameter and which line, hook and rod suit each species.
Line strength
mm
≈ 4.9 kg · 10.8 lb
An approximate value for new, quality line; knots reduce strength by 10-30 %, wear and sunlight even more.
Which line and hook, by species
| Species / technique | Main line | Hooklength | Hook | Rod |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prussian carp, rudd, roach float / light feeder | 0,14-0,18 mm | 0,10-0,14 | size 12-18 | bolo/match 4-6 m or light feeder (max. 40 g) |
| Bream, bighead carp (feeder) feeder | 0,18-0,22 mm | 0,12-0,16 | size 10-14 | medium feeder 3.3-3.6 m (60-90 g) |
| Carp on method / feeder method feeder | 0,22-0,28 mm | 0.18-0.22 or 15 lb braid | size 6-10 (wide gape) | heavy method/feeder 3.6 m (60-120 g) |
| Carp on boilies (ledgering) hair rig | 0,28-0,35 mm | 15-25 lb braid or fluoro 0.35-0.45 | size 2-6 (curve/wide gape) | carp rod 3.6-3.9 m, 2.75-3.5 lb |
| Pike (spinning) spinning, lures 10-40 g | braid 0.12-0.18 (20-30 lb) mm | steel/titanium wire 7-10 kg or fluoro 0.60-0.80 | trebles size 4-1/0, offset 3/0-5/0 | 2.4-2.7 m, 10-40 g, medium-heavy |
| Zander (jig) jig 5-20 g | braid 0.08-0.12 (10-15 lb) mm | fluoro 0.25-0.35 | jig size 1-3/0 | 2.1-2.4 m, 5-25 g, fast |
| Wels catfish ledgering / clonk | braid 0.30-0.50 (60-100 lb) mm | kevlar/braid 80-120 lb | nr. 4/0-10/0 | 2,7-3,0 m, 200-500 g |
| Trout (mountain water) ultralight spinning / fly | 0.14-0.18 or braid 0.06-0.08 mm | fluoro 0.14-0.20 | size 8-12; fly 12-18 | 1.8-2.1 m, 1-7 g; fly #3-#5 |
| Chub, nase float in the current / light feeder | 0,16-0,20 mm | 0,12-0,16 | size 8-14 | bolo 5-7 m or feeder 3.3 m |
| Black Sea (gobies, horse mackerel, garfish) sabiki rig / float | 0,25-0,35 mm | 0,18-0,25 | size 6-12 | surf/telescopic 3.9-4.5 m, 100-200 g |
Good to know
- Hook sizes: the bigger the number, the smaller the hook (size 18 = small Prussian carp); above size 1 comes the “/0” series (1/0, 2/0… ever larger, for catfish and predators).
- The hooklength (the line to the hook) should be one step thinner than the main line: when you snag, you only break the hooklength, not the whole rig.
- Choose line strength based on the target fish and the obstacles: in clear water 3-4 kg is enough for carp up to 5 kg; near reeds or snags go up to 6-8 kg.
- A carp rod's test curve (lb) indicates its action, not the lead: 2.75 lb ≈ 60-90 g, 3 lb ≈ 80-110 g, 3.5 lb ≈ 100-140 g.
- For spinning, the rod's casting weight must cover the lures you use; ideally they sit in the middle of the range.