Chub - Simple set up and to hair rig or not?

[Richard Frissen]

I cannot make up my mind regarding the benefits (if any) of hair rigging for Chub. RSVP with thoughts please..........

I have recently gone back to the matchmans style of fixed paternostering for Chub.
6lb X-Line main line when conditions allow and Reflo Power line normally in the 4lb 12ozs strain for hooklinks. Stepping up if needed.

i.e tie in a double overhand loop to stand off the main line approx 6inches up from a bomb or feeder. Then loop to loop the hooklength off this.

Changing the length of hooklink dependant of the "boldness" of bite - erring on short during very cold weather or very confident feeding to reduce the chance of a "bite off" Normally 6-10inches. I often find using a feeder or when fish are getting a bit wary after a few missed bites that going up to 24-30inches will produce a positive bite when it appears the swim is finished.

I have recently used a "Carp" tackle item - dont know what its called but is a tapered rubber sleeve about 3inches long (I think its used for helicopter rigs)
for sliding down the main line to shield the safety link clip (Drennan) that I attach the bomb/feeder too. This sleeve fits snugly over the safety link clip and prevents tangle almost completely. Another tip if you do use this rig is to remove the swivel and loop of nylon/powergum etc from the feeder and clip to the wire mesh of the feeder (metal cage type)

Hope that all makes sense - Is it easy to post a diagram on here????
If so how?


Tight lines all

 

[Simon King]

hi Richard,

In simple terms, it's only worth hair-rigging if you're fishing bolt-rigs. Without them, it's likely that insufficient tension will be created to produce the "pricking" that makes the fish bolt. More likelihood that the chub will be able to (r)eject the bait without hooking itself.

For any other presentation, using quiver-tip, bobbin, touch-leger, (or blast from the past) swing-tip, best with the bait on the hook as you want to strike upon seeing indication.

I favour bolt-rigs myself, with short, stiff links where there are fewer, but bigger chub. In areas where I know there may be shoals around, I prefer particles (hemp/maggots), but with an inline feeder, very short link again fished bolt-style. The competition within a shoal will see them hook themselves, otherwise you'll be striking at air a lot of the time when they attack the feeder.

Your rig sounds way too complicated for me!
Sounds like the "Dink-Dink", though and isn't that now seen as an unsafe rig (question, not statement)???

 

[Tom Marshall]

I try to keep all my rigs very simple.

Below are the two rigs I use for 95% of my Chub fishing. The first is as simple as it could be really, I tend to fish 8lb mono straight through with a clip link swivel then a float stop and an appropriate sized Super Specialist this is handy as I can change the length of the hook link at will.

If I feel a more subtle presentation is needed I use a big eye swivel with a clip link then a small Drennan swivel stop bead this allows me to use a hook link of my choice.

I don’t use a hair rig for Chub as I have never been happy with the hook up rate.
When fishing for Barbel I have had the rod tip bouncing around all over the place for a long time before a Chub has finally hooked itself, striking at these knocks while using a hair rig has not been productive for me, having said that I have also had pretend Barbel bites resulting in nice Chub well and truly nailed. It all comes down to what you have confidence in I suppose.

Tom.

 

[Luke Ayling]

thats pretty much what i do tom,aswell as the trusty old link ledger..

luke

 

[Tom Marshall]

Yeah link ledger and a doctored blackcap feeder fished inline for maggots and casters pretty much completes the book of my chub rigs!!