Knots and Rigs Archives - CatsandCarp.com

How to Tie an Adjustable Hair Rig

July 26, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

How to tie an adjustable hair rig

My version of the adjustable hair rig allows you to shorten and lengthen the hair using only your fingers. This is fabulous is you want to change baits without changing your rig. You can go from a single 10mm boilie or kernel of corn to 30mm pellet or a snowman rig. Here are the steps to tying this rig:

Check out our video of How to Tie an Adjustable Hair Rig.

How does the Adjustable Hair Rig work?

To lengthen the hair simply pull it until the Stop knot hits the shrink tubing. To shorten the hair rig grip the Stop knot and pull it away from the hook eye.

Step 1: Cut two leaders (one 18″ leader and one 24″ leader) In the shorter leader tie a loop in the end the same way you do a normal hair rig.

Step 2: Pinch the smaller leader against the shank of the hook and then use the longer leader to tie a Knotless knot.

Step 3: Use the longer leader’s Knotless knot to pin the shorter the leader to the shank. As you tie the Knotless knot wrap really tight. The tightness of the wraps is what will give the adjustable hair resistance. Too lose and the hair will lengthen when the bait gets picked at by carp.

Step 4: Finish the Knotless knot and straighten out the two leader above the eye of the hook.

Step 5: Use the smaller leader to tie a Stop knot onto the longer leader.

Step 6: The Stop knot should only be an inch or two away from the hook eye. The Stop knot does not need to be super tight.

Step 7: Cut the tag ends and tie a Surgeon’ s loop on the end of the rig.

Step 8: Cut some smaller shrink tubing and slide it over the hair and then over the point of the hook. The smaller shrink tubing covers the wraps, tightens the adjustable rig and acts as a blow back rig.

Step 9: Cut a section of medium shrink tubing and slide it over the Surgeon’s Loop and over the eye of the hook to improve hook set.

Step 10: Steam the shrink tubing and you are done.

Step 1: cut a 18″ leader and put a loop in the end.

Step 2: Pinch the shorter leader and the longer leader against the shank of the hook.

Step 3: Take the longer leader and use a Knotless knot to pin the shorter leader to the shank.

Step 4: Tie the Knotless knot tightly to give the rig plenty of resistance.

Step 5: Connect the shorter leader to the longer leader using a Stop knot.

Step 6: Dress and tighten the Stop knot about 1-2″ above the hook eye.

Step 7: Cut the tag off and tie a Surgeon’s Loop on the end of the rig.

Step 8: Cut a piece of small shrink tubing and slide it on the hair and over the point of the hook. It should cover all of the Knotless knot wraps and terminate at the start of the hook bend. Put a piece of medium shrink tubing over the eye.

Step 9: Cover the eye and the shank with different size shrink tubing.

Step 10: Steam the shrink tubing.

Super Easy Beginner Catfish Rig

May 19, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

For a beginner it can be really intimidating picking the proper rig to go cat fishing. There are hundreds of different rigs and styles out there. So I am going to walk you through a rig that works all over the world and is the most versatile and simple of any cat fish rig I know: The basic fish finder rig.

Classic fish finder rig. A super easy beginner catfish rig.

This rig is a super easy beginner catfish rig. What makes this so simple is that it can be fished just about anywhere, it only requires three pieces of tackle to make and the whole thing is tied with only three knots.

The basic fish finder rig is comprised of a sliding lead (“sinker”), a swivel, some leader and then the hook.

Why is this such a great rig for beginners?

Fish finder rig with an inline flat lead

The fish finder rig is great because it is simple, it doesn’t require any expensive parts, its sensitive and it doesn’t spook fish. This rig is sensitive because every little movement of the hook sends vibrations straight back to the rod without the lead interfering. If the lead did not slide, the vibrations would be dampened by the lead.

The fish finder rig doesn’t spook fish as easily because the fish don’t feel any resistance when they pick up the bait. Because the lead slides along the main line, the fisherman can control how much resistance the fish feels. If the fisherman fish’s with the main line tight, the fish feels tension right away and the hook pulls into the fish’s mouth sooner. If the fisherman fishes with slack line the fish can swim away with the bait before it begins to feel anything. This allows the fisherman to adjust the tension in the line depending on whether the fish are bold or spooky when they bite.

How do you fish the fish finder rig?

This rig belongs on the bottom. You use it when the fish are feeding on the bottom. Most of the time cat fish are feeding at or near the bottom. You cast this rig out where the catfish are and let it settle to the bottom. Once on the bottom you reel the line in slowly until you feel tension when the lead hits the swivel. Most of the time I fish this rig with my line tight enough that there is a very slight bend in the tip of my rod. If the fish are grabbing the bait very cautiously and not immediately running away with the bait, then I switch to putting about 12-18inches of slack into the line.

Choosing the sinker.

Inline flat lead: great for rivers.

There are two ways to make a sinker or lead slide along the line. First option: you use an inline lead. An inline lead is basically a big lead bead. You feed the line through the hole in the center of the lead and you are done. Second option: you use a slide with a clasp on it and you clip the lead to the slide.

Slip clips are essential for fish finder rigs.

Using an inline lead is my favorite way to go but it has its limitations and its benefits. An inline lead is less likely to get tangled in the line and it requires one less piece of hardware. However, using a slider allows you to easy change leads. If you are fishing in a river you may need different amounts of lead depending on where in the current you are fishing. More current, more lead. Less current, less lead. If you have a slider you can adjust your lead to match the current instead of cutting your line and retying each time.

When choosing the size of your lead, you definitely want enough lead to cast far enough and enough weight to keep from being dragged away in the current or wind. But once you have got enough lead to do those things you also want enough lead to set the hook. The lead is what helps the hook dig into the fish’s mouth before you grab the rod. I prefer at least 2 ounces of lead when fishing for catfish with a fish finder rig, but 3/4 oz will do in a pinch if you are using sharp smaller hooks.

The shape of the leader depends on whether you are more concerned with casting distance or preventing your lead from rolling around. Flat leads tend not to be as affected by current. Round leads tend to cast further. So pick your shape based on what you are trying to achieve/prevent.

The swivel.

Korda helicopter sleeve helps protect your swivels

The swivel’s main purpose it to stop the lead from sliding all the way up to the hook. Generally you want there to be about 6-18inches of line in between the hook and the lead. However, you don’t always need a swivel. When fishing in current, you can put the lead above the hook without a swivel. After the lead settles to the bottom you can let out 12 inches of line and the current will sweep the hook downstream away from the lead. So the swivel is really only necessary when you are not fishing in significant current.

When I do fish with a swivel I like to have something rubber or plastic in between the swivel and the lead. Without a stopper or bumper inbetween the swivel and the lead, sometimes the swivel will partially jam into the inline lead or the slider and prevent the lead/slider from sliding. A bead or rubber sleeve can prevent this.

Korda micro swivels

I attach the lines to either end of the swivel using a Palomar knot. I also like to use a helicopter sleeve to protect and camouflage my swivels. The swivel you choose should be as strong as your leader or better. If the swivels don’t tell you their strength on the package, I generally use a #8 swivel for my beginner cat fishing rigs.

If you want to get fancy you can get put a fancy little swivel clip on the leader end of the swivel so that you can switch out leaders and hooks easily. This is nice for switching rigs quickly.

The Leader.

You want an abrasive resistance leader. I love braided lines and highly recommend the Spiderwire Stealth. The leader should be slightly weaker than your mainline so if you break off it breaks off bellow the swivel and you get your lead back. The leader should be about 6-18″ long.

The Hook.

Gamagatsu Circle Hook

Circle hooks are far and away the best choice for beginner catfish rigs. Circle hooks work by only digging into the catfish’s mouth as the hook is being pulled out of the catfish’s mouth. This means that catfish rarely swallow circle hooks. You’ll find that almost all of the cat fish will be hooked in the corner of the mouth or in the lips. If you choose to use a J hook the fish may swallow the hook and get it stuck in their throat or gut. Circle hooks are so much easier on the fish and easier to get out. You do NOT set the hook when using a circle hook. You simply wait until the fish has hooked itself, then begin reeling.

I generally use a 4/0 Gamagatsu circle hook for most beginner catfish rigs, but if I am going for trophy cat fish I will upgrade to a bigger hook (up to 10/0).

I generally attach the hook to the leader using the improved clinch knot.

Beginner Carp Fishing Rig

March 19, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

There are a lot of carp fishing rigs to choose from but the best beginner is a simple fish finder rig or inline lead type rig. The simple inline lead rigs are very sensitive, they are easy to tie and the require very little stuff to buy. I have caught a lot of carp on this “beginner” rig and I still use it a lot today.

My Favorite Beginner Carp Fishing Rig: The Fish Finder Rig

A simple fish finder rig with inline flat lead. This is a fabulous beginner carp rig.

An advanced fish finder rig with a Korda camouflaged inline lead and hair rig. This is fancy version of the same beginner carp rig.

A fish finder rig is simple an inline lead threaded onto the main line with a swivel tied at the end to stop the lead from coming off. A bead of rubber protective sleeve is put in between the swivel and the lead to keep the lead from getting stuck on the bead. Finally, a leader connects the swivel and the hook.

That’s it, fish finder rig is a such a great carp rig for beginners because it is so simple.

However, don’t let the facts that this is a beginner rig fool you. These beginner rigs are deadly.

Because the lead slides up and down the mainline, when a fish nibbles the bait a lot of that vibration is sent up the mainline without the lead interfering. This makes it much easy to tell when you are getting some action, even from very subtle carp.

These fact that the lead can slide is also good because it means that the fish is less likely to feel the weight of the lead when it initially picks up the bait. Very wary fish can mouth the bait a little bit without immediately feeling tension.

How to Take a Beginner Carp Rig to the Next Level:

Once you have mastered the simple fish finder rig, you can take this beginner carp rig to the next level by using camouflaged leads, swivels, hooks and sleeves.

Bit of corn on a hair rig with a piece of PVA foam nugget covering the hook point.

A hair rig is also a fabulous addition to any carp rig. Hair rigs are super easy to learn how to tie using the knotless-knot. Hair rigs take more effort to bait and tie, but it allows the fish to mouth the bait without feeling the hook point immediately.

Carp with their slow careful feeding habits and sensitive lips will often sense and spit out a hairless hook if they have ever been exposed to fisherman’s hooks before.

Best Catfish Rig You Have Never Seen: Egg Loop Knot

February 1, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

The egg loop knot is a fabulous rigs, but unless you are an Alaskan salmon fisherman you have probably never heard of it. The egg loop knot was design to help prevent salmon eggs from falling off the hook when fishing for silver and king salmon in Alaskan rivers.

However, don’t let the name fool you. Anytime you are fishing with soft squishy baits that fall off the hook too much, the egg loop knot is a life saver.

The egg loop knot is basically a knot-less knot or snell knot with a a twist. The result is that the egg-loop knot has a retractable knot along the shank of the hook that you loop around the bait in order to pin it to the shank of the hook.

To use the egg loop knot, just bait the hook normally.

After baiting the hook, extend the egg loop.

Put the egg loop around the dangling parts and then tighten it to cinch up the bait.

Soft baits like chicken liver don’t come off the hook easily once secured with an egg loop knot.

When catfishing with chicken livers, clams, squid, or cut bait that has gotten a bit too soft I love to use an egg loop knot. An egg loop knot can really put some fish on the bank.

One of the worst things that can happen is to cast your rig out only to have your bait fall off when it hits the water or after getting torn up by small fish. You sit there waiting for a catfish to bite a hook with no more bait on it. An egg loop prevents that from happening.

How to tie a basic fishing knot: Improved Clinch Knot

November 29, 2013 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

If you want to attach a swivel or hook to your line a basic fishing knot is the improved clinch knot. The improved clinch knot is far and away the most common knot I tie when I am fishing. Its strong, easy to tie and quick.

This video explains exactly how to tie the improved clinch knot. Practice a few time before heading out to the river and bring your smart phone with us in case you forget.

Here are some tips about tying an improved clinch knot that are not in the video:

1) If you are fishing with mono-filament line and your hook breaks off, examine the broken end of the line. If the broken end is curly like a pigs tails this means the knot slipped off because you tied it poorly. Make sure you are doing it right, perhaps use more wraps and make sure to wet the knot before tightening it up.

2) The smaller the diameter of line you are using the more wraps you need to make the knot hold. 80 lb mono-filament may only need 5 wraps but 4 lb line will need 8-10 wraps.

3) Dress the knot properly. Dressing a knot means tightening it in a way that results in the knot looking proper. The improved clinch knot should resemble a hangman’s noose when dressed properly. To dress the improved clinch knot properly put tension on the main line, tag end and the hook all the the same time but begin pulling the tag end first. Use your finger nails to help the wraps bunch up onto of the hook eyes if needed.

CatsandCarp.com

#1 site for whiskers and scales

Category Archives: Knots and Rigs