Carp Catchers Blog

The advantages of this rig is that it provides all the anti eject properties of a normal fluorocarbon rig but the bait has a lot more movement to help with the flipping and hooking process. The soft hair material also allows the weight of the hook to come into play when the fish picks up the bait.

For this demonstration I used Korda IQ Fluorocarbon, a Korda Wide Gape Hook, a Korda Ring Swivel and ESP Hair Braid.

Step 1.

Remove about 4-5 inches of Hair Braid from the spool dispenser and tie a small overhand loop in one end.

Step 2.

Thread the tag end through the back of the eye of the Korda Wide Gape and hold the hair at the required length.

Step 3.

Moving away from the join in the eye whip round the hook shank 5 times and pass the tag end through the back of the eye again.

Step 4.

Now trim the hair braid in front of the eye, then repeat steps 2-3 with the Korda IQ Fluorocarbon but whip up the shank 7 times and twice on the way back down before passing the tag end through the back of the eye and tighten down gently. Then trim the fluorocarbon above the knot leaving just a little fluorocarbon pertruding.

Please note for the purpose of this knot demonstration the Knotless knot with the fluorocarbon was done without the hair braid already on the hook, when tying this rig you will be tying the fluorcarbon over the hair braid Knotless knot.

Step 5.

Using a palomar knot tie the fluorcarbon to the ring on the swivel setting the rig at your desired length making sure to moisten the knot and tighten down gently before trimming the tag end.

Double over the fluorocarbon at the end of the hooklength.

Now tie an over hand knot round the swivel with the doubled over section of fluorocarbon.

Then pass the swivel through the loop created with the fluorocarbon.

Moisten the knot and tighten down gently. Then trim the tag end.

The finished rig should look like this.

All the knots used in this demonstration can be found by using the search bar in the top right hand corner of the blog. The knot used for the hair braid and fluorocarbon at the hook end was a Knotless knot.

If you have been using fluorocarbon rigs but have been getting funny hookholds then this rig could be one solution to the problem.

Give it a go.

Tight Lines

Dave

The Guru Inline Method Feeders are ideal for small commercial carp waters where the actions comes thick and fast. Guru have designed a method mould to go with the inline feeders and make loading them with method mix even easier. Creating a neat presentation that can be cast accurately, which is very important with this type of fishing.

Step 1.

Attach a short hair rig to the size 11 swivel supplied with each feeder and attach the bait of your choice. Guru’s own ready tied method hair rigs are ideal for the job.

Step 2.

Now place the bait on the hook bait platform.

Step 3.

Take the correct size Guru Method Mould and fill it with the desired amount of method mix.

Step 4.

Now carefully bring the loaded method mould and the method feeder together, making sure the hook bait remains in place and apply pressure to both.

Step 5.

Carefully, making sure not to break up the method mix, push the feeder from the mould by applying pressure to the back with both thumbs.

Your method feeder will now look like this and is ready to cast out.

Give it a go

Tight Lines

Dave

The Avid Carp Solid PVA Bag Loading Kit has been put together with quick and convenient solid PVA bag construction in mind. The kit is supplied with 20 transfer solid PVA bags, 10m transfer PVA tape and an Avid bag loader.

Solid PVA bags are generally fished with very little or no solid food items in the bag, a small hookbait and a short hooklink with an inline lead.

Step 1.

Squezze the bag loader and insert into the PVA bag.

Step 2.

Now drop your baited rig and lead into the bag and hook your tubing/leader into the V groove to hold the lead in place.

Step 2.

Slowly fill the bag up with your chosen mix until the bag is half full, then unhook your leader and lower the lead on top of the mix.

Step 3.

Then top the bag up so the lead is just covered in bag mix before removing the bag loader and compressing the mix with your fingers.

Step 4.

Once the bag mix is packed down, twist the top of the bag , wrap some pva tape around it and tie a couple of granny knots to secure it all. Make sure the bag is tight and compact, it will cast further and more accurately.

Step 5.

Now trim all the excess PVA away above the knot, leaving a few millimetres as a buffer for casting to ensure the bag doesn’t come undone.

Step 6.

Pinch the bottom corners of the bag before licking and sticking them down to create nice round aerodynamic edges.

Your bag is now complete and ready to cast out. Give them a go.

Tight Lines

Dave

The Korda Hybrid Lead Clip design features an integrally moulded Ring Swivel ensuring that the swivel simply cannot pull free from its housing. This forces lead ejection in the event of it becoming jammed ensuring that carp can be landed easily in weedy, snaggy conditions.  The streamlined one-piece design means there are no fiddly locking pegs or hinges to worry about – just connect the leader to one end and the rig to the other! The up rated arm allows leads up to 5ozs to be cast safely even at extreme range and the clip is available in all four of the key translucent Safe Zone colours: weedy green, clay, gravel and silt.

Here is a demonstration on how to set up the Korda Hybrid Lead Clips.

For the purpose of this demonstration I used Korda Dark Matter Rig Tube, Korda Tail Rubbers and a Korda 3oz Pear Lead.

Step 1.

Cut your tubing to your desired length, a couple of inches longer than your rig is enough to prevent tangles and thread your mainline through it.

Step 2.

Now thread on a Korda Tail Rubber. Please ensure you use a Korda Tail Rubber as the Hybrid Lead Clips have been designed to work safely with them.

Step 3.

Then tie your mainline to the eye of the swivel housed in the lead clip using a Palomar knot.

Step 4.

Clip on your desired shape and size of lead, wet the clip and slide the tail rubber into place.

Your setup is now ready for you to attach your desired rig and its away you go.

Give them a try. To purchase click on the above links.

Tight Lines

Dave

Guru produce two types of inline feeders, the Guru Inline Method Feeder and the Guru Inline Pellet feeder. They are setup the same way but are used with different bait loaded onto the feeder. The Guru Pellet feeder is designed to be used with soft scaulded pellets as loose feed in the feeder and the Method feeder is to be used with a method mix moulded around one side of the feeder, both giving similar presentations with different baits. Both of the Guru feeders come in two sizes, 24 grams and 28 grams.

Step 1.

Remove the small tail rubber and swivel from either end of the feeder, like so.

Step 2.

Now thread you mainline through the tail rubber (Narrow end first) and the feeder.

Step 3.

Attach the swivel supplied to the end of your mainline using a Palomar knot.

Step 4.

Push the tail rubber back into place at the top of the feeder, then pull the swivel back into the bottom of the feeder.

Now to attach the hooklink. If you buy Guru’s readymade hair rigs they will come with a loop tied in the end but if you like to tie your own then tie a loop in the end using a Figure of eight loop knot.

Step 5.

Pass the looped end of the rig though the swivel of the feeder.

Step 6.

Now pass the hook though the loop at the end of the rig.

Step 7.

Pull the hook end of the rig until everything tightens down. The rig will look like this.

Your feeder is now ready to be baited and cast out.

Give them a go. To purchase either the pellet or method feeders click on the the above links.

Dave

The Guru Pellet Feeder is an innovative design that protects the softened pellet loaded into the feeder during the cast and on impact with the water but allows the loose pellet and hookbait to come free of the feeder once on the lakebed. Here is a step by step guide of how to load the feeder.

Step 1.

Take some standard off the shelf pellets, such as, Trout or Halibut pellets and cover them in boiling water for a couple of minutes before draining the water off.

Check the pellet is sufficiently softened, if not repeat the process with boiling water until they are the right consistency.

For the purpose of this demonstration I only prepared enough pellet for one feeder. If you are planning a day session I would suggest you prepare as much as you think you may need.

Step 2.

Attach the feeder to your mainline, followed by a rig and your choosen bait. I would suggest something that matches the pellet in the feeder.

Step 3.

Partly fill the feeder with the scaulded pellet.

Step 4.

Then place the hookbait in the feeder like so.

Step 5.

Now top up the feeder and compress slightly. Make sure not to compress the pellets too much though, as you want them to loosen and release the hookbait once on the lake bed.

Your feeder is now loaded and ready to cast out.

The feeder will land on the lakebed with the pellet still intact.

But after a minute or so and a gentle pull back of the feeder from the rod it will release the pellet and your hookbait.

This type of presentation is perfect for any waters where weed is present or you are fishing in a greater depth than normal. Although it will work perfectly on all waters.

Give it a go.

Dave

The Seaguar knot was specifically designed for attaching fluorocarbon to monofilament. Fluorocarbon has become very popular in recent years with carp anglers due to its sinking and invisibility properties when submerged in water. However fluorocarbon has a very poor tolerance for incorrectly used and poorly tied knots. The Seaguar knot forms a reliable connection between fluorocarbon and monofilament, is easy to tie and the finished knot is neat and does not compromise the strength of either material.

Below are two ideal products for tying fluorocarbon leaders with.

Korda IQ Fluorocarbon

Step 1.

Hold the monofilament and fluorocarbon leader together.

Step 2.

Form a large loop in the leader and mainline.

Step 3.

Twist both loops anticlockwise three times.

Step 4.

Pass the tag end and the entire leader through the loop.

Step 5.

Moisten and pull all four ends to tighten. Trim the tag ends and your done.

Give it a go.

Tight Lines

Dave

Avid Carp Corn Stops combine the benefits of an imitation bait with a boilie stop, mimicking grains of sweetcorn perfectly. They are available in long and short to suit different hair lengths, it also enables you to change bait size without the need to tie new rigs. The Avid Carp Corn Stops are made from durable plastic and come in bright and visual colours to draw attention to your hookbait whatever the conditions.

Step 1

Thread your choosen bait onto the hair.

Step 2

Attach the Corn Stop to the hair loop via the hook on the underside of the stop.

Step 3

Pull the Corn Stop into the bait and your ready to go.

Tight Lines

Dave

Avid Carp Sight Stops are a useful boilie stop that adds visual attraction to your hookbait. They are available in long and short to suit your hair length and enable you to change bait size without tying up new rigs. The Avid Carp Sight Stops are made of a durable plastic and come in a range of bright and visual colours to draw attention to your hookbait in any conditions. The Avid Carp Sight Stops are availble in either Yellow or Mixed Colour packs.

Step 1

Thread your choosen bait onto the hair.

Step 2

Now attach the Sight Stop to the hair loop via the hook on the underside of the stop.

Step 3

Pull the stop into the bait and you are now ready to go.

Tight Lines

Dave

This Spool knot is very simple to tie and is used to attach your mainline to your spools before you refill your reels.

Step 1

 Pass a loop of line around your spool.

Step 2

Now pass the free tag end over and around the line, creating a loop.

Step 3

Then wrap the tag end 3 times around the line, closing the loop.

Step 4

Now pass the tag through the loop created above the twist of line.

The picture below illustrates what the knot should now look like.

Step 5

Moisten the knot and gently tighten down.

Step 6

Now keeping the line moist slid the knot tightly up against the spool. You are now ready to reattach your spool and start loading your new line on.

Tight Lines

Dave