Aberdeen Perfect:
Small bait, big fish!
Words and images from Martijn Dekkers
The idea that you catch the bigger fish with big bait is often correct. If we don’t catch those big fish, they won’t have an appetite today, they’re not there, the wind direction is not right, the air pressure is too variable, there are many reasons we can think of why it doesn’t work out today.
Question.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves more often if the bigger fish are in the mood for big bait today, wouldn’t they just want small bait?
After all, big fish also take very small bait! Take a look at the stomach of a bass when you clean it, often there are very small fish or mini crabs in it. You come across a large mackerel or flatfish much less often.
A good example of large fish that often prefer small baits are the smooth hounds, real predators that are not afraid of a big bait. A large ragworm, crab, mackerel fillet, squid or combinations, the bait is not too big for our gray friends.
Yet there are also days when it is all a little less big, preferably just small. So small it’s almost unbelievable!
A single shrimp, piece of ragworm, tiny crabs or a thin strip of mackerel or squid. Don’t be afraid that smooth shounds won’t find the small bait, when they go foraging their senses are sharp and they really find everything that is edible.
All about the hook.
If you choose to fish with smaller baits, you should also opt for a subtle hook. These hooks must be super strong. A big smooth hound fight quite hard, that in combination with some current and there is quite a bit of pressure on the hook. If this is not of good quality, you will have an illusion richer.
For fishing with smaller baits, the Cox & Rawle Aberdeen Perfect may be the best hook. This classic Aberdeen hook is a true all-rounder! With his strong round bend and micro barbs, this hook is very popular with sea anglers targeting all kinds of fish.
The thin wire is very strong and the point razor sharp, two important qualities that we look for in a good hook!
The thin wire of the Aberdeen Perfect is a must for smaller bait fishing. Smaller baits require a more subtle treatment. You don’t want to use a thick wire hook and coarse barbs when using a shrimp, mini crab or small worm baits.
With the Aberdeen Perfect you can present all the small bait subtly and naturally without worrying about losing a big fish by bending your hook!
Martijn
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