christ these posts really got me thinking
but first of all it made me think why do i use the rigs i use
i prefer short stiff rigs i have been using mantis for a good few years now
i say short anywhere between 5 and 7 inches and peeled back at least an inch from the hook. i just add putty at the gather for pop ups or ballanced hook baits.
i used to use silkworm and tryed loads of other uncoated braids at longer lenghs say 12 inches but when fishing at distance they sometimes came back with a knot in and had always felt that there wasn't any point using longer hook links as they would probably fold back on themselfs and end up near the lead anyway. but as the same with longer hair lenghs i guess would feel more natural on the pick up, but would that give the carp to much thinking time when there mouthing baits and aid rejection. this really is a mind field because theres pros and cons to all rigs stiff short long and more supple.but i also think thats the beauty of using braid as a main line it gives such a superb bite indication.you can afford to exsperiment a bit. i feel conferdent in using a stiffer material i.e. mantis in an average of 6-7 inches.maybe i should try going longer with the stiffer material. ive have to say i think longer lenghs of lead core anything up to 6-8 even 10 feet has made a difference to my catch rate compaired a group i fish with using an average of 3 feet ,that and slack lines. i don't get the dreaded bleep then nothing, which i feel is fish feeling line gets spooked. the guy i fish with uses mono fished tight to the lead and he gets i feel fish deffenatly spooking of the line.as for complicated rigs isn't enouth of a head ache trying to get these small points right.
