The Carp Column

[Rob Brownfield]

I liked the article but I think there is a little mistake. I believe Maddocks and Middleton came up with the hair rig due to bite offs and line thickness. The original hair was at least 2 inches long and allowed the bait to be crushed by the throat teeth but the hook and main line to remain in the mouth area, thus preventing a bit off.
The secondary reason was so the carp did not feel the mono until it was too late.

This is not ment to be a finger pointing remark, just hope I got this right as i am sure that is what I read in an article from Maddocks ages ago.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Carp Angler]

It's true that I haven't mentioned the bite offs, but having just re-read it, the other points you mention are contained in the article.

 

[p jackson]

Hi guys thanks for the history lessons bit my question is would hair rigs be any good in the sea as you can guess my understanding and use is limited

 

[Leon Foreman]

Thanks Rik, Seeing that the hair rig is fairly new to South Africa or rather new in beeing widely used as I am sure some people did use it in the pass but never got round to spreading the word, I have struggled to get some exact details regarding this method. On my firts attempt as was described in my first article I had the boilie about a centimeter from the hook bend. It did work wonderfull but after some research I have found that this can vary in accorance to your needs. I have simce treid other baits on hair rig such as sweetcorn and some pellets and particles. Alltough this has given a new dimesion in my fishing it is still verry tricky in getting the distance just right and needless to say what might work today might not the following day. I have reserved myself to accepting that this isnt an exact sience and should be tested and tested again till one has an average to work from.

 

[Gary Knowles]

I think hair rigs are already being used in the sea to fish small live baits. Pouting and such are hooked through the lip with a small size 2 then hair rigged to a large 4/0 or 5/0 and lowered down to wrecks to fish a nice fresh livebait for big cod, ling, etc..