benefits of elastics - Talk Angling fishing chat and tackle advice

keith · 21st September 2006, 03:11 PM

I personally use hydro for all my commercial angling, ranging from white for small carp to red for the lumps. The pole deals comfortably with it.

Can anyone tell me the benefits of latex over the hydros.

I am led to believe it is softer and therefore more forgiving on the strike. The problems arise when trying to land fish and getting their heads up.

It is something I would like to try out but do not want to rip out the hydro if there are no added benefits to changing.

Brian G · 21st September 2006, 07:37 PM

If its good enough for Steve Ringer then its good enough for me, its certainly more than usefull where skimmers also come into play, I use it most of the time now and have had fish to double figures on it. Mind you I would not use it in snaggy situations and if it was all lump fishing.
It would be worthwhile trying it in a couple of tops if you have them spare.

danny · 21st September 2006, 07:41 PM

steve uses hydro aswell now arnt sure if hes kicked the latex in the head

danny · 21st September 2006, 07:43 PM

ive tried it and didnt get on with it back to hydro and am very pleased think most of it is what u get used to .when i fish uk champs which all the best anglers fish 99% use hydro so that gives u an idear of how good it is. latex is cheaper yes but it dont last as long. so my oppinon would be to keep with hydro if its broke why fix it.

Brian G · 21st September 2006, 07:45 PM

I see you have still got your rubber fettish Danny

How you doing and its nice to see you on line.

MarkC · 21st September 2006, 07:45 PM

Keith, I was sceptical of the benefits of hydro, having used Middy hi viz for many years without a problem. Hi viz became scarce, so I tried latex on the recommendation of some my clubmates and found it great if you want to play fish forever

.
I was fortunate to win a spool each of blue, white & black hydro in an angling mag competition, my local tackle shop swopped the blue for a black for me ( I rarely fish tiddler matches

) and I now use it in all my top kits. Red hydro being the most used now. At £15 a shot, I would never have bought any to even try it, but now I'm hooked. I have not had to replace the original hydro, which i've now had in use for about 3 seasons.
I didn't like latex because I felt it was virtually powerless, i've also had some power tube to try. Used the medium power yelo stuff on a practice session at Makins a couple of weeks back and found it very, very stretchy and soft. Need to get tension right & try it again before coming to a conclusion.
Meantime I'll stick with hydro

danny · 21st September 2006, 07:59 PM

only a bit m8 only use hydro white grey black and red. not doing to bad, cheers nice to back on

Clive · 21st September 2006, 08:02 PM

Keith Latex wins hands down over Hydro in sizes below 5

Size 5 and above Hydro is unbeatable

The only advantage Latex has is a smooth strike which on most commercials is a waste of time any way. once the fish is hooked you may just aswell have knicker elastic on for all the use latex is
Hydro on the other hand has a progressive action which builds the more pressure you apply

So if your used to the way Hydro acts stick with it mate latex is a backwards step