Why a hawser for a hair?

[invicta]

Looking again at carp fishing after very many years chasing trout, I cannot understand why the main line has to be used to hair rig a hook bait. Isn’t that too high a price to pay for the otherwise supremely elegant knotless knot? Or is a conventional knot at the eye something to be avoided at all costs?

 

If it is, wouldn’t it be better to arrive at the water with a couple of dozen baits ready-tied to a few inches fine mono or even heavy duty sewing thread. It would then presumably not be difficult to trap the hair in the coils of the knotless knot at the desired position on the shank.

 

Or am I missing something?

[peter mccue]

Invicta,

 

What generally happens is that people don't use their main line for hairs, they use the hooklength material.

 

This makes a big difference to presentation, as the hooklengths are much more supple & stronger for a given diameter. They are designed for end rigs & nothing else, indeed the price of the better ones would facilitate the need for a second mortgage to fill out a couple of spools!!!

 

Going back to the original concept of the hair rig as per Middleton/******** would probably be a decent edge on some of the pressured waters.

 

Interestingly enough, a greater percentage of the success of the hair rig at the start, has been attributed to its hook out arrangement rather than its fine line attachment.

[invicta]

Picture getting clearer, thanks Peter

[Gaffer]

Hi Invicta, Peter is spot on regarding hooklink (hooklength) materials.

 

Braid hooklink for example......

 

Taken from this article.

 

However, I know of a lot of Carp anglers that use a length of their mainline (off a spare spool) for their hooklinks because it is soooo much cheaper (and in their minds just a effective) than buying purpose made hooklink materials. Berkley Big Game being a prime example.

 

The hooklink materials that I use are....

• Drennan Super Specialist braid for margin, Method and PVA bag work.
  
• Kryston Snakebite (Gold) for medium to long range work.
  
• ESP Stiff Rig for extreme range and pop-ups.
  

The only time I'd not use the Knotless-Knot (say that after a few beers!) is if I wanted a freelined hair-rig, in which case I'd do as you've suggested and do as you have suggested in wrapping the hair material in the coils of the Knotless-Knot.

 

[ 03. February 2003, 12:04 PM: Message edited by: Gaffer ]

[Ed Matysiak]

Knotless-Knot works for me. They also look really fab!