[The actual Hair Rig]

@daleg, I wouldn't advice useing a verry thin braid. It will cut the fish's mouth quite badly. I've seen it happen and belive me it wasn't a pretty sight.

As for the hair tied on the shank it couldn't be easyer. A Grinned knot should solve it.k

[what lead to use in deep silt]

Maybe it isn't of any use my advice to slimeysime now, but to other guys may be usefull in the future.

For silty waters the best leads are the Trilobe leads, better if in-line. This leads when enter the water start raise the nose and slow down. So were where a dumpy pear or a flat pear lead starts drilling for oil, the trilobe lead setteles on the lake bed and it gives the fish a chance to see your bait.

The solution with the PVA bag is also good as long as you don't pierce the bag. The air that is traped inside the bag slows it's descend.

Hope it helps, Mihai!

[rig safety]

I must say that KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is what I embrace this days. After Reading Nick's test about leadcore I've stoped using the thing completely.

To me the running rig is the safest rig that was ever invented. No leader, no beads, nothing that could harm the fish in any way.

Everyone likes to think that his rig is safe but there are manny out there that make their rigs after they heard someone has caught a biggie on the latest wonder rig.

I've allready found 3 death rigs at my lake and it's only the beginig of the seasson. ( here it is anyway).

Sorry if it's a bit of a rambling, but had to get it of my chest.

Tight lines, Mihai!

[Korda Hybrid or Good ole' mantis???]

New to the carp seen and am thinking of giving the Mantis Dark a try any preference on the breaking strain .

15lb or 25lb.

 

I would say for this time of year to use something limp like Silkworm in 12lb or even 10lb.

[line aligner?]

Hi, I would like to state my opinion about the line aligner.

At the begining of the auttum I tested 3 rigs: 1 line aligner (the Jim Gibbinson one); 2nd rig was just with the shrink tube curved; 3rd rig was a simple knotless knot. The hooks were size 6 Fox SSSP, the hooklenght was 15lb Mantis.

In 2 months time I've made 10 sessions of 48h. The Line Aligner rig has cought the most fishes then the knotless knot rig and last the rig with the shrink tube curved.

14 fish from 12lbs to29lbs for the Line Aligner rig; 9 fish from 13lbs to18lbs for the Knotless Knot rig and 3 fish from 8lbs to 11lbs for the curved shrink tube rig.

I will continue the tests in the spring 'till the end of fall and that will have more substance.

Tight lines, Mihai!

[Korda Hybrid or Good ole' mantis???]

i have had a similar problem with the striptease, it's great stuff when the coating doesn't break at the knot, does anyone know a way around this as i have found the colour to be perfect for the lakes i fish and therefore do not want to change the product.

 

I've had similar problem with the Stelth Skin and I've seen that if u wet the knot with plenty saliva or even sink it in water it doesn't break.

[Split shots and mono]

hi, why don't you try the split shots that the match fishing guys use? It's a soft lead so you can open it with your nails and it's easy to put it on your line. I'm using Dinsmores and never have my line kinked. Or, if you don't trust the shots you can use putty and that will defenetly not cause any problems.

[Hair length]

I also changed from a bolt rig to a running rig but with a big bead fixed on the tubing about 2 feet from the swivel; to give the fish a jolt once they were running confidently, which also seems to have improved the quality of my runs.

 

got to admit mate, that sounds an aweful lot like a death rig unless there's some other detail that you've omitted

 

i don't think is a death rig, i think is the-now famous- "Shocker Rig",don't you, guys?

[FLUROCARBON?]

i'm not sure if u can tie the palomar knot wrong, is the easier knot to tie.

[how many rigs?]

I never leave home without at least 40-50 pretied rigs.

1/4 are simple knotless knot with and without line aligner, 1/2 are combi rigs (Tim Paisley style), 1/4 are D rigs, stiff rigs.

[FLUROCARBON?]

With Palomar u shouldnt have any problem. I was doing the same griner knot until I read here about Palomar & fluorocarbon. Didnt have a problem with it since.

[Coated Braid any good ones???]

I'm a Kryston fan and Mantis&Mantis Gold never let me down in any situation. The Sufix range didn't convinced me (maybe in UK they are better but in Romania they are not the best quality) and Korda,well after all i've read on this site they are prety much cack.

[tying a swivel]

I've heard that the griner knot is not good 4 florocarbon becouse they strangle it and the palomar is more indicated for the job. Any ideas?

[Do you use KWIK LINK?]

When I'm using the stick method I always use the kwik link and never had any problem with it.I use the Korda 1s. Anyway they've made a big diferece to my fishing.

[Help with hooklink]

From Suffix i use only the uncoated 1s like Silky Soft,Hercu-line Blen&Suffix Heavy. The coated 1s are not so good around here becose the coating is very breakable.I mean when i'm trying to ty the Stealth to a swivel with a griner knot 'when I'm pulling to tighten the knot it makes a hinge becose the coating will breake.But I think u don't have problems like that with your hooklinks.

So I bought Kryston Mantis&Mantis Gold and the broblem was gone.

Hope it helps,Mihai.

[What IS the BEST HOOK]

I love The Longshank X-Korda.In 2 years i lost only 1 fish with those hooks.