IAN GEMSON

Ian Gemson
Ian Gemson started fishing as a child for whatever came along, mainly in the area of the Hampshire/Surrey border. He fished for pike and later fished with much success in matches on rivers, canals and lakes. Watching huge fish during the close season and seeing a few being caught infected him with the carp fishing bug.

Ian’s friendly and patient personality led him naturally into teaching. He has completed the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) level 2 coaching course organised by 1st4Sport which officially qualifies him as an angling coach. As a result of this accreditation Ian’s company, Smart Carping, is able to offer £ 5 million public liability insurance and has passed the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.

How to tie the Knotless Knot

A knotless knot is at the heart of carp angler’s rigs. This simple rig is devastatingly effective and if tied correctly ensures positive self hooking capabilities.


What you will need
Tools
Knotless knot instructions

1. Sharp braid scissors
2. A braid stripper (if using coated braid)
3. A baiting needle
4. Rig pullers


Tackle

Knotless knot instructions

1. Hooks
2. Hooklength
3. Heat shrink
4. Fine diameter silicone tube
5. Bait stops



Method
Step 1

Knotless knot instructions

Cut enough hooklength for you to be able to work comfortably with the braid; about 30-35cm is fine. Then strip about 12cm of coating off the braid.


Step 2

Knotless knot instructions

Tie a loop using an over-hand knot in the stripped end of your selected hooklength material. This loop is for your boilie stop to secure the boilie in place.


Step 3

Knotless knot instructions

Using a boilie needle, thread the bait onto the hair. Because I am using two boilies on this hair I have left a very long loop. This will hold both boilies in place and ensure they don’t move during the cast and therefore change the mechanical properties of the setup.


Step 4

Knotless knot instructions

Once the boilie has been threaded on to the hair a boilie stop is pushed through the loop to secure the boilie in place.


Step 5

Knotless knot instructions

Thread a small piece of silicone tubing on to the hooklength and then on to hook. Adjust the length of the hair to your desired length; 1-2cm from the bend of the hook is a good starting point.


Knotless knot instructions

Once you have got the required hair length, pass the hooklength down through the eye of the hook.


Step 6

Knotless knot instructions

Start whipping the knotless knot by winding the hooklength towards you as shown. This is to prevent the hooklength from getting trapped and cut by the gap in the hook’s eye as it meets the shank of the hook.


Step 7

Knotless knot instructions

Make a minimum of 6 turns down the shank of the hook, trying to keep the line tidy, then pass the hooklength down through the eye of the hook before you tighten down.

Make sure your hair is lying along the back of the hook and the knot is neat, now pull the knot down tight.


Step 8

Knotless knot instructions

Cut a 15mm length of clear heat shrink, pass it over the hooklength and down over the eye of the hook such that it is just covering the end of the knot.


Knotless knot instructions

Carefully steam the heat shrink down over a kettle and allow to cool. Whilst cooling, hold the hook and pull the hooklength down to form a gentle downward-facing kick.


Step 9

Knotless knot instructions

Now tie an overhand knot in the end of the hooklength, setting the length you require at the same time. Trim off the excess hooklength.


Step 10

Knotless knot instructions

Test the strength of you rig to ensure it is safe to fish with by using a set of rig pullers.


Knotless knot instructions

Once you are happy with your rig you can connect it to your lead system and cast it out to the hungry carp!

About the Rigs Page

The Rigs Page is a library of features to illustrate all those rigs that will be useful to both beginners and experienced anglers.

The rigs can be extremely simple and well known, or very complicated and little known, it doesn’t matter providing they make some kind of sense and have a really practical application.

It could be a standard running leger rig that a beginner will appreciate seeing in pictures, or a very complicated anti-eject carp rig that the experienced carp angler would like to see.

If you wish to contribute a rig to this section please remember that the emphasis is on illustration rather than words. Good line drawings are fine in the absence of photographs. Please send to graham@fishingmagic.com

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