Fishing The Lift Method?

[peakoverload]

My local club lake is packed with Carp but also about a billion Roach and Bream but I find that fishing a waggler on the lift method can produce good results but I feel I could be doing better.

I normally use either a 2AAA or 3AAA peacock waggler attached to the line with a piece of silicon tubing so it can be easily slid up and down the line. I then use either 1 or 2 SSG shot and place the a few inches from the hook.

In terms of bait, generally I use 11mm pellets but whilst small Roach and Bream don't often actually take the bait they do keep picking it at it causing lots of twitchy bites on the float.

My question is how long should the distance from the SSG's to the hook be? I tend to have it around 3", should I shorten it or perhaps lengthen it? I'm also wonder if I shorten the hooklength will the weight of the SSG's spook the fish before they've really taken the bait but if I lengthen it will I miss bites?

One last question, should my hooklink only be as long as I'm laying on i.e. the SSG's are attached to the mainline at the correct depth right above the hooklink and so the hooklink is only 3" long? If so, what's the best way of attaching the hooklink to the mainline as a loop to loop knot is going to make the hook behave oddly on such a short hooklink, would you use a small swivel?

[NICK R]

Some good info here

the lift method

[big pike dreamer]

Hi mate, (maybe im a tad late to post on this thread) personally once ive tied my rig/hooklength and attatched it to my swivel i leave about an inch of line instead of triming it neat and add the SSG to this, i like this way as it cant damage my line in any way, usually i take various hook lengths as mentioned above, therefore if i feel i need to change the length on the bed i simply change my rig, as most places i fish dont have an even bottom i dont like to use the lift method although i love it on its day! most places i fish are like chuffin cheeseboards!1
Anyway hope ive been of some help ;-))

Matt