Nice. I may have to order myself some and try them out then.

Are these the Gama Live Baits hooks you are refering to?
I usually prefer a hook with a downturned eye, but I have always liked Gama hooks for other species.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true

Man I forgot about the Gami Live baits, see those Korda videos turned me onto the korda hooks and now I pay 4x the money for a hook of VERY similar quality. These are great hooks, stood up to a lot of good fish in the heavy weed in Austin years past.

I have been using partridge czech nymph hooks. they are actually fly tying hooks but they are really light wire and strong! saw e'm on BCT and it gave me the idea to use e'm. BPS has e'm in the fly shop for 5 bucks for 25

Strong is good! I wouldn't use any light wire for hair rigs myself though. But I might for sweet corn and local swims and that sort of thing.

Don't forget the Tiemco hooks Zach pretty much taught everyone on. those were good hooks and cheap.

How bout this for a topic for next week or whenever? Lets look at hook links and hair rigs, including pics of how you do yours. Constructive and well intentioned suggestions on how to improve an individuals rigging would be appropriate here.

A lot of us have a down time from fishing due to the dang heat, so now would be a good time to learn how to tie some rigs while watchin fishing shows.

+1

Well, I am getting a lot of requests for Rigs as our next topic. I know it has not been a week, but you all need something to keep your minds off the heat.

Let us talk about our Favorite Rig(s)!

1. What is your Favorite rig?
A. Describe the rig and how to tie it.*
B. Describe the materials you use (line, hooks, tubing, swivels, leads, etc).
C. Why you feel it is effective and when you are most likely to use it.
D. Post any photographs, diagrams or links.
E. If you are a new carper or trying a new rig, feel free to post your current rig and ask for feedback.

* Go into as little or as much detail as you would like to.

Topic Resources - Links:

Bolt Rig
http://www.carpecarpio.com/carptips.html

Reverse Combi Rig
http://www.carpcatchers.biz/carpcatchersblog/index.php/uncategorized/the-reverse-combi-link-rig/


Notes: I will edit this post to include additional links and resources. Please stay on topic. Hair rigs will be a future topic, but some overlap won't hurt. Please PM future Topics (with questions) to me. I am looking for a volunteer to help me write these topics. "Making Method" will be our next topic. I have 97 topic ideas so far, so don't worry about us running out. The next topic will always be the one most requested.

1. What is your Favorite rig?
-Lately have been using a bolt rig with a blowback rig

A. Describe the rig and how to tie it.
-Fix a 2 oz egg sinker next to your swivel with a split shot (bolt) and for the blowback google "blowback rig" - involves using a small steel ring tied to your hook.

B. Describe the materials you use (line, hooks, tubing, swivels, leads, etc).
-Tie my rig with left over 50lb powerpro braid, Gamakatsu #4 hook, 90lb swivel, 2oz egg sinker, split shot.

C. Why you feel it is effective and when you are most likely to use it.
-I used it all the time because its very simple. Most effective when fish are not spooked. I like it because the fish essentially hooks themselves, but if you don't have a bait runner make sure not to set your pole down. It's not called a bolt rig for no reason!

D. Post any photographs, diagrams or links.


Except on mine, I do not use the clip system. Just an egg sinker threaded on the main line and held against the swivel with a split shot.

E. If you are a new carper or trying a new rig, feel free to post your current rig and ask for feedback.

1. What is your Favorite rig?
Over the past weeks I have really become a fan or the Reverse Combi Rig.

A. Describe the rig and how to tie it.
This rig is made to have a rigid hair to assist in hooking up.

a - I take a piece of fluro, fold it, tie a overhand knot to create the hair loop. I tighten the loop around one of my Wacker baiting needles which make the loop the perfect size for my popups. I don't like baits to go over the hair loop knot. It also tightens and secures the knot. I press down on the loop to flaten it as much as posible.

b - Put on a very small piece of hair alignment tube. I like the St. Lawrance Hair Alignment Tubing.

c - Take the hook though the hair alignment tube so that the hook is facing the right way. Place a bait on the hair, and then line up the fluro where I want it. The fluro will have a bend in it. Position it so the bait is under the hook curve. Remove bait.

d - Finish the knotless knot with the fluro

e - Bend the fluro 2 inches up from the eye of the hook. This is how high a pop up will be off the bottom.

f - Then I tie 40 pound braid to the fluro using a modified albright (wrap both ways). 7 wraps up, and a wrap in between each wrap on the way back.

g - Tie lock knot on the fluro end (clinch).

h - Tie lock knot on braid end.

i - Tie braid to the swivel with palomar - 8 inches above fluro.

j - Put rig glue on hair loop knot, albright and palomar.

k - Put tungsten puddy on the albright knot. Enough to sink the pop up. Not very much.


B. Describe the materials you use.
- Fluro - I use Seaguar 20# Fluro or Amnesia 20#. I prefer the Amnesia.
- Braid - 40# PowerPro
- Tungsten Puddy
- GLT Penetrator 1 Hooks (size 4 or 6)
- Rig Glue

I use this rig in conjunction with a standard bolt rig with safety clip or my sliding rig. I will post the sliding rig separately.

C. Why you feel it is effective and when you are most likely to use it.
I believe the rigid hair helps with getting a better hook up; more with buffalo than carp, but it has worked well with both. I use it with pop-ups , maize or boilies..

D. Post any photographs, diagrams or links.
My rig varies from this, but this is a great visual.
http://www.carpcatchers.biz/carpcatchersblog/index.php/uncategorized/the-reverse-combi-link-rig/

I'm a noob.. These posts will help me a lot, keep them coming! Thanks guys..

1. What is your Favorite rig?
Adjustable Hair Rig

A. Describe the rig and how to tie it.*
I regular no-knot rig, but with a separate line for the hair that can be shortened or lengthened as needed.
First, make the hair. The hair can either be a 4" length of line doubled into a loop, or a 2" length with a hair loop at one end and a knot on the other (for grip and to keep the hair from pulling out).
Thread your hooklink through the eye as if tying a normal knotless knot, but hold the end even with the bend of the hook. Make two or three wraps of the knotless knot, then overlay the top of the hook and hooklink with the hair that you make earlier, making sure there is plenty of hair on both sizes of the wrap, and continue wrapping over the hair and hook another 4 to 6 wraps, adjusting the hair so that it remains along the back of the hook (it will tend to shift around with the wraps). Put the end of your hooklink back through the eye, like a normal knotless knot, and tie on a swivel or create a figure-8 loop, however you normally do your hooklink. You should have about an inch of hair coming out both backwards and forwards from where the wraps are holding it onto the hook.


B. Describe the materials you use (line, hooks, tubing, swivels, leads, etc).
Hooklink: any that you happen to like. I use 30# PP braid, 25# Mantis, and/or 15# flourocarbon for different purposes.
Hair: a supple braid or light mono. I use older 30# PP braid, or 4# stren mono.

C. Why you feel it is effective and when you are most likely to use it.Its draw is that you can ajust the length of the hair for your particular hook bait or if you want to try a longer or shorter hair.

D. Post any photographs, diagrams or links.
For this I've used a Scorpion Venom 2x size 2. The markings on the white background are inches.
Here is the hook with two types of hairs, continuous loop, and knotted loop.


Here I've made the first couple of wraps with the hooklink and have laid the knotted loop hair on top.


I have wrapped another 8 or 10 wraps, and pull the hooklink back through the hook eye, careful not to 'trap' the hair.


And here is a finished hook with adjustable hair!


Feel free to PM me with any questions.

1. What is your Favorite rig?
Duh -- the one that catches!!
I really have no favourite rig, and since I use quite a few different ones, can't honestly say I've ever had one outperform another. KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE _ STUPID) is easier said than done - when you are a rig junkie - however, I DO NOT go out there attempting to do anything any than any other Carper does --- just catch fish Perhaps a subtlety might be, that I have a pretty large rig wallet, with (at any given time) around 25 or so different combination's. As 99% of the time I use a quick change system for hooklinks, I can change it out super quickly, and -- if one thing isn't working - try something else. Why put all your eggs in one basket?
B. Describe the materials you use (line, hooks, tubing, swivels, leads, etc).
Another long list - if you are building different rigs - for different situations/baits. Having everything you need (bankside) - for any given situation is a pretty heavy load, so -- that's why I have rigs pre made in the wallet.
Simply though (?) = PP 30/50lb braid, Fluorocarbon, Kryston Mantis/Snakeskin for stiff links, Hooks ranging from short straight/curved shanks to long straight/curved shanks ( nominally sizes 8 through 4) (to outrageously big Special Carp Hooks -- that I will catch on one day !!), mostly #8 Korda barrel swivels (as they fit a lot of 'regular' sized lead inserts/safety lead clips) Korda Kwik Klips (for quick change rigs), any convenient rubber.silicon sleeves to cover the Kwik Links, heat shrink tubing for line aligners, silicon tubing for hair aligners, 'gummy bobber stoppers' (for keeping the bait at the end of the hair) As for leads, I always have a variety, to suit the rig I'm using, and bottom conditions (silty/firm/rocky etc), ranging from Method "cage" feeders to inline method grippers, and just about anything that will clip to a safety lead clip, when fishing PVA sticks/bags ( I hate PVA bags - but, they have their uses/moments!!) ranging from round/square pears, to flat grippers, and grippers with holes, so I can use method with them if I want.
C. Why you feel it is effective and when you are most likely to use it.
I think I'll pass on this one tonight!!
D. Post any photographs, diagrams or links.
I pulled a few rigs out of my wallet whilst fishing tonight - just to give an idea of a few of the pretty different set ups that I frequently use. Some of them are very easy to build, and others - a pain in the rump -- BUT, you never know until you try it!!

From the top -
1/ Simple #4 straight shank with in turned eye, (with hair exiting the shank pretty much opposite the point and NOT to one side or the other!!)
2/ Similar set up - but, with line aligner shrink tube, and silicon tubing on the shank for hair aligner/postitioning.
3/Curved long shank #6, with two pieces of silicon tube on the shank -- One to keep the hair on the back of the shank (not falling around the curve) and one for the hair/shank exit point.
4/ Re-setting blow back rig, with Long straight shank #4 , line aligned with shrink tubing, with small bore silicon tubing as the 're set' spring.
5/ Long curved shank #6, with 6lb Kryston supple braid hair tied directly to the bend, aligned with hook widgets, and a Kryston Snakebite stiff link.
6/ (Successful) KISS rig from tonight. #4 straight shank #4 - non line aligned, 4" hooklink on a sleeve protected Kwik Link, 2oz Korda method feeder, and a single piece of imitation fluouroglow (in the dark - if you have the correct UV torch/charger) maize, hooked lengthwise -- not through the middle!!
Maybe rather a lot of info here -- but, as we are clearly going through a transition period - all about nurturing/respecting/ caring/sharing the Carping community here -- and very simply just building on that, I'm definitely on board for making things better for all -- if I can possibly help.

Tight lines,
Brid.

Well Brid, I need to make it down to Austin and tie some rigs with you. Nice pic. I feel like I now have the reverse-combi rig down, I might concentrate on your #4 next.

DT - I look forward to meeting you -- and learning the reverse combi rig -- as I've not used that one!! They all have their 'moments', and - if nothing else, on slow days - changing rigs definitely makes one feel like they are at least doing something to convince the fish to bite. Of course it doesn't always work out that successfully

i just use an in line atomic gripper as a bolt rig with a hair rig on bottom

Ted, what is a Atomic Gripper?

This weeks Topic is Making Method.
Feel free to answer any or all of the following questions with any length of an answer as you wish.
Questions, links or additional information about the topic are welcome.

1. What are your favorite Method ingrediants?
A. Binder
B. Breaker
C. Wetter
2. What is your favorite Method Recipe(s)?
3. Do you have any tips, links or other information about this topic?

Topic Resources (please post any others):
CAG Method - http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1911

I have only been using method for a short while. I primarily have used PVAs in the past.

1. What are your favorite Method ingrediants?
A. Binder
Flour, Corn Masa, Old Fashion Oats
B. Breaker
Calf Mana, Rabbit Pellets, Corn Meal and my current hookbait
C. Wetter
Lake Water, Cream Corn

2. What is your favorite Method Recipe(s)?
Right now it is - 2 Parts Old Fashion Oats and 1 Part Calf Manna with my hook bait mixed in. This works well for short to medium casts. I would need to add more binder for a longer cast.

3. Do you have any tips, links or other information about this topic?
- Bring extra bag of binder with you to the bank so you can adjust while you are there.
- Bring an extra bucket with you to the bank so you wash your hands and not pit out your equipment (I learned this the hard way).
- Start with a small amount of wetter and add more slowly.

The next ingredients I want to try out is Bird Seed and Hemp Seed.

This weeks Topic is Making Method.
Feel free to answer any or all of the following questions with any length of an answer as you wish.
Questions, links or additional information about the topic are welcome.

1. What are your favorite Method ingrediants?
-Oats, grits, maize

A. Binder
-oats

B. Breaker
-grits, maize

C. Wetter
-lake water or maize flavoring

2. What is your favorite Method Recipe(s)?
-put in grits, put in oats, add maize and maize flavoring. Kinda just test it out till it seems like it will stick together.

3. Do you have any tips, links or other information about this topic?

+1 on an extra bucket for lake water and for bringing everything to the bank. Also recommend when you make a method ball and put it on your weight (especially egg sinkers), pull your line on the rod tip side of the method ball a few times and repack. Tug, repack, tug, repack, tug, repack. You will find it will stay on the sinker better and cast longer.

I've found a method ball with this composition breaks down very quickly and is highly visible. Plus I generally fish with maize so some other offerings similar to my hook bait are offered to get them feeding on the maize.

A. Binder- Quick Oats and Butter Grits
B. Breaker- Maize and Pellets (Calf mana or All Stock)
C. Wetter- Water from the Boiled Maize

Also I have been flavoring my Maize and Method with

Nick,
Are the grits you are using instant grits?

Anyone,
What is the difference between using:
Old Fashion Oats and Instant Oats?
Grits and Instant Grits?

I don't do the instant grits thing. I do the regular grits that come in the cylinder container or most recently I found some in a big sack (for a lack of better terms).

The grits really and truly help break up the method once it hits the bottom but don't so much so that you can't cast. You'll see a cloud when it hits the water and it will break up within just a few minutes to a nice pile right next to your bait.

Not real sure on the instant oats as I've never used them, but I think both instant and old-fashioned oats will act as a binder.

The difference between instant and quick grits is that the instant are pre-cooked and will act as a binder while the quick grits act as breaker.