Rig Basics: Hooks, Sinkers, Leaders and Float Balancing

A rig is everything attached to the end of your line to hook a fish. For float fishing it often runs, from top to bottom, float, sinker, swivel, leader and hook. Once you know what each part does, the many little items in a tackle shop make much more sense.

Hooks

The hook is the part that catches in the fish's mouth. In Korea its size is given in 'ho', and in the common Korean system a bigger number means a bigger hook. Hooks of the same size come in shapes made for crucian carp, black sea bream or rockfish, so choosing by name is easiest. Small mouths need small hooks, big mouths big ones. The barb near the point keeps fish from slipping off, but barbless hooks are safer for fish you'll release.

Sinkers

A sinker is the weight that takes your rig down to the depth you want. Its weight is also given in 'ho'; in sea fishing, 1 ho is about 3.75g. Strong currents and deep water need heavier sinkers, while in calm, shallow water a lighter one feels less strange to the fish. Tungsten and eco-friendly sinkers are increasingly used instead of lead.

Main line, leader and swivel

The main line is the basic line from the reel or rod, and the leader is the short line just above the hook. Leaders are often a little thinner than the main line, so fish see them less and, if you snag the bottom, only the leader breaks and you keep your main line and float. The small metal link joining them is the swivel, which spins to stop the line from twisting.

Balancing the float

A float has the buoyancy to hold up a set amount of sinker weight. Matching the sinker to the buoyancy marked on the float is called float balancing. If the float sits too high, bites look dull; if it sits too low, it sinks even without a fish. Set it so only a little of the tip shows above the surface, and even small bites show clearly.

If you're new