Rig materials and rigs that can be made using the material.
I am going to start of saying this is maybe the most important part of the rig, it will also determine the mechanics of the rig.
It is always said keep it plain and simple, so lets start at the most simple and that is stiff rig material, this material has been over looked since coated braids were introduced. I use Fox rigidity, this is a quite stiff material, and all the major hook link manufacturers have their own. Why a stiff rig, well its anti eject just by nature, carp hate to reverse and that’s the only way its going to get rid of this type of rig. It has its limitations as well. One thing to keep in mind, use at least ten turns when you whip the knotless knot because this material is notorious for getting out of knotty situations.
Then one step up from the stiff rig is the kombi- link, now here we combine two materials, I use amnesia for the stiff part of the rig and then any heavy braid, there are so many but a very good one is Nash super sink. Merlin, super silk is also good for this type of rig. The two materials are joined, there are so many knots in use today, and I can say I use the double ginner for this. This is a good way to present bait when using pva (funnel web), by using the different materials what happens is the front section of the rig is now soft material, this should help the bait on the hair act like the freebies, with the back section made of the stiffer amnesia, this will keep the rig nice and straight, if the rig was curled around to be hooked into the pva then the stiff section will again straighten out the rig for you.
The next is the boom rig, now this can be used for bottom baits but comes into its own when a pop up is to be presented. It is the simplest of rigs to make but can cause you untold problems, this also maybe one of the best ways to present a hook bait in silt. The silt depth should be determined, then the boom is made up, tie the hook, use something like 18lb mono, then tie a loop, use the figure of 8 knot for the loop. The length of the boom is determined by the silt, but normally not longer than 180mm. Then into but through the loop you tie a second loop, now here a good stiff material must be used something like, ESP stiff rigger. Then 300mm long tie to your swivel. The reason the stiff material is used is to keep the boom straight, and make the boom work. You are trying to achieve a section of rig that is vertical and one section horizontal. The pop up should be able to pull the boom up and sit vertically, a long shank hook is normally preferred for this type of rig set up. If the carp are very sensitive feeders then this rig can be used for a bottom bait presentation, all that happens is the carp can now play with the bait as the boom section allows the hook bait to be loosely presented. Also it could be a rig the carp have not seen before.
The next material is soft braid, this again is a basic material, any type of sinking braid can be used, Fox reflex is very soft, and to Nash sabre braid is quite hard but sinks well. Kryston Merlin is very good material to use for this type of rig. All you are trying to do is make the rig stay on the bottom and the hook bait move around feely like the freebies. The length of the material used is totally up to you as the angler, keeping in mind the longer the hook link, the easier you make it for the carp to get rid of the hook.
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