Carp Spirit Rigs and Knots Guide

POCKET GUIDE TO

KNOTS & RIGS

…DETAIL IS EVERY Founded originally in 2002 for the European carp scene, Carp Spirit has evolved and built on its successes - now turning its attention towards UK anglers.

Today the brand is rapidly becoming one of the most talked about and fastest growing carp brands in the UK, with exciting sub brands like Magnum®, Inox, Razor Point and Arma-Skin®.

With quality, originality and detailed design being the foundations of the brand, it ensures that you have the very best tried and tested tackle when you’re out on the bank.

The designers at Carp Spirit® work tirelessly to push the boundaries - from spacious Arma-Skin® shelters to innovative anti-scratch, Nano Matrix carbon Magnum® rods and ultra-high grade stainless Inox™ rod pods - Carp Spirit® has it all!

02 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

It’s this ethos that convinced household carp fishing names Ian Russell and Rob Hughes to join our existing team of global carp consultants. Working closely with our sister brand Dynamite, the Carp Spirit® range brings fresh, innovative and detailed thinking and offers superb value for money.

With all the latest technological advances in tackle, it’s all too easy though for anyone to forget the basics - this handy guide is full of essential knots, rigs and tips to help you catch more!

If you’ve got the spirit the carp will follow!

YTHING

KNOT TYING P4

IAN RUSSELL’S RONNIE RIG P10

IAN RUSSELL’S ZIG RIG P12

ROB HUGHES’ GERMAN RIG P14 ROB HUGHES’ REVERSE COMBI P16

HOOK TO HOOKBAIT GUIDE P18 POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 03

| THE KNOTLESS One of the simplest knots you can tie and a key knot for all anglers to know.

The Knotless knot is so called because it isn’t really a knot, more a number of whippings down the shank of the hook, to form a hair-rig.

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1 Thread the line through the back of the hook whip the line down the shank eight times.

2 Then whip the line back up the shank twice to stop the knot from slipping.

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3 Holding the turns tight, thread the line back through the back of the hook.

4 Holding the hook and the line, moisten well and pull the knot tight.

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KNOT TYING

GOLDEN RULES 04 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

RULE 1

ake sure the line beds M down correctly.

This prevents the line strangling itself, which causes pressure and can see the knot failing.

RULE 2

lways moisten your A knots well prior to fully tightening.

This helps to lubricate the line and prevents line-damaging friction.

| THE PALOMAR Again, this is a very simple but highly effective knot.

The great thing about the Palomar is that is isn’t a strangulation knot, meaning that it has an extremely high knot strength.

It’s ideal for attaching hooks or swivels.

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1 Tuck the line through the swivel eye or hook then bring the line back through.

2 Form a single overhand knot with the hook or swivel in the loop.

3 Take the loop and push it over the hook or swivel.

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4 Moisten well and pull the knot tight and trim.

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POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 05

| THE FIVE-TURN GRINNER he Grinner is another very T useful knot to have in your armory.

Similar to the Palomar, it is also ideal for attaching hooks or swivels.

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1 Past the line through the swivel or hook, form a loop and whip the line five times 2

2 Past the tag end through the loop 3 Moisten well and pull both ends to tighten the knot 4 Finally slide the knot tight against the swivel or hook and trim

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KNOT TYING

GOLDEN RULES 06 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

RULE 3

I f it looks ‘wrong’ the chances are it is wrong!

So, cut the line and re-tie the knot. It could mean the difference between landing that fish and losing it!

RULE 4

eave a decent tag L end of around 5mm.

If the knot slips slightly, you have an insurance policy.

| THE DOUBLE GRINNER The Double Grinner Knot is a pair of Grinners back to back.

This is a brilliant knot to use when you’re looking to join braid to mono or when using a shock leader.

1 Lay the two lines opposite to each other, then whip one of them eight times so that it whips over both lines.

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2 Past the tag end through the loop.

3 Moisten well and pull both ends to tighten the knot.

4 Repeat the eight-turn Grinner knot with the second line.

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5 Past the tag end through the loop.

6 Moisten well and pull both ends to tighten the knot.

7 Finally, carefully pull both lines so the two knots back up to each other and trim the tags.

7 Finish off the mix with plenty of Citrus Oil to give the mix a good

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POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 07

| THE SNELL This is quite a tricky knot to learn, but it is the best knot to use when looking to form chod or stiff rig presentations.

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1 Push the line through the front of the hook and then form a loop.

2 Whip the tag end through the loop, trapping the hook shank.

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3 Pull the tag end to form the knot.

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4 Take the tag end and push it through the back of the hook.

5 Form the ‘D’ and then trim of the excess line.

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6 Carefully blob the tag end to prevent it freeing from the hook’s eye.

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KNOT TYING

GOLDEN RULES 08 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

RULE 5

est it prior to casting.

T If you can’t pull the knot apart, chances are the fish won’t either.

RULE 6

Give your knot the best chance for surviving the pressure it will be under by protecting it with a small piece of shrink tube.

| THE CHOD LOOP When using stiff hooklink materials, Grinner and Palomar knots don’t tend to sit correctly and the line is too stiff or thick to fully bed down.

Therefore, it is best to use a knot like the Chod Loop.

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1 Pass the line through the swivel’s eye prior to whipping it twice around itself.

2 Pass the tag end through the loop.

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3 Then, pass the tag end through the loop you have just formed.

4 Place the swivel end over a baiting tool prior to pulling tight to form a loop when the knot is tightened.

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5 Cut the tag end.

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POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 09

| IAN RUSSELL’S RONNIE RIG

THE IDEAL RIG WHEN LOOKING FOR A LOW-LYING POP-UP PRESENTATION WITH UNRIVALLED HOOKING POTENTIAL Without a doubt, the Ronnie Rig has become the ‘must use’ rig of recent years and with good reason.

Comprising of either a stiff or semi-stiff boom, it presents perfectly every time, is tangle free and will re-set itself if picked-up by birds or nuisance species.

Fished with either a pop-up or wafter, the high success rate of this rig is due to its incredible responsiveness. Plus, as the hook is mounted in a swivel, it offers superb hookbait movement, which even the wariest of carp struggle to deal with.

I’ve been using this rig almost entirely since receiving my first pack of Medium Curve Razor Point hooks - and I can’t see myself changing in the near future.

The hooks themselves are the sharpest hooks ‘straight from a packet’ I have ever used.

As the rig sits so low to the lake bed, I believe it’s not treated with suspicion, it’s hooking potential is incredible.

All the components you’ll need to tie the Ronnie rig.

10 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

1 Firstly, thread a small length of Carp Spirit shrink tube onto the shank of a the hook.

2 Next, attach the QC Rolling Ring Swivel to the eye of the hook.

3 Slide the length of shrink tubing over the QC swivel.

4 Carefully shrink the tubing using a small heat gun or over kettle steam.

5 Now, thread on a size 11 swivel onto the hook.

6 Trap the swivel on the hook using a Hook Rig Stop.

7 To finish the rig, tie the Opti-Mex boom to the rig swivel, and then bait floss a pop-up onto the small swivel.

POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 11

| IAN RUSSELL’S ZIG RIG

THE ONLY RIG TO USE WHEN SEARCHING FOR CRUISING CARP IN THE MID TO UPPER LAYERS When looking to target cruising carp ‘well off the bottom’, zig rigs are deadly.

Allowing you to present a small highly bouyant hookbait anywhere from six-inches off the lakebed, to just under the surface, or anywhere in between, it’s a presentation that has accounted for 1000’s of carp through all four seasons.

Fished as a single hookbait or with a sloppy spod mix fed regularly over the top, it’s one of those rigs that seems to catch when all others don’t.

12 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

Zigs are such an underused yet highly-successful method.

Carp are constantly swimming mid-water and usually only visit the lake bed to feed making them easy targets, with a depth of two-thirds depth being a great starting point.

My ‘go-to’ hookbait is a small piece of black rig foam as I feel this matches most water-born insect life.

Carp Spirit 10lbs Zig Line combined with a size 10 Razor Point Zig and Floater hook being my favourite combination.

1 Place a sliver of black foam into a rubber zig aligner and then thread it onto the Zig Master hooklink.

The components you’ll need to tie Ian’s simple Zig Rig.

2 Using a Grinner knot, tie a Size 10 Zig and Floater hook onto the Zig Master hooklink.

4 Prior to casting, Ian hooks on a small PVA nugget wrapped in PVA mesh to prevent tangles.

3 Carefully push the rubber zig aligner onto the shank of the Size 10 hook.

POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 13

| ROB HUGHES’ GERMAN RIG

MY ‘GO TO’ BIG FISH RIG, AND BELIEVE ME IT WORKS! An absolutely brilliant rig for both Pop-ups and bottom baits alike.

Great with a big hook for big fish.

When these go in - they don’t come out.

A sharp hook is essential, and they don’t get any sharper than Razor Point.

14 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

I caught almost all of the big fish I had last year on this rig, and the curve of the hook and the added line aligner is impossible for the fish to easily eject.

The medium curve’s are amazingly sharp and durable and the carp have no chance when this rig is around.

1 Take some 20lb Combi-Soft to tie the hooklink.

2 Attach a Razor Point Medium Curve Shank hook in size 6 - using a Palomar knot.

3 Thread on a line aligner so it covers the knot and the eye of the hook. Make sure it points inwards.

4 Take a 3mm ring and a hook bead and thread them on the hook, ring first trapped with the bead just before the bend.

5 Tie a large overhand loop in the other end for use with a quick change swivel and anti tangle sleeve.

6 Take 10cm of floss and thread on the boilie of your choice, bottom bait wafter or pop up.

You’re ready to go.

7 The finished rig.

POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 15

| ROB HUGHES’ REVERSE COMBI EASY TO TIE, TANGLE FREE & REALLY EFFECTIVE When it comes to fishing Pop-ups, the Reverse Combi is a brilliant rig - easy to tie, tangle free and really, really effective.

Loads of people use Ronnies or the hinged stiff rig, but this gives a Pop-up rig a real twist and is my ‘go to’ rig - especially over weed.

The curve of the chod section makes it really tricky for fish to deal with and it’s caught me some massive carp.

16 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

…my ‘go to’ pop-up rig and with the ready tied chods as good as this it can’t get any easier.

The reverse combi is such a good rig especially when fishing over a difficult bottom (e.g. Canadian weed), you can extend the length of your hooklink and critically balance your hookbait and you’ve got the best solution for tricky presentations.

On clearer bottoms cut the hooklink length down and fish it low to the deck - it scores everytime.

1 Take a ready tied Choddy size matched to your bait. I tend to use 8 in UK and 6 overseas.

2 Cut a length of 20lb combi soft to length. 30cm if a reasonable bottom, 45cm if fishing over heavy weed.

3 Tie a figure of 8 loop knot but thread the rig onto just 1 strand so it can slide.

4 Tie another loop at the other end of the hook link with a swivel attached in the same way as the chod rig.

5 Take your time and balance the hook bait critically using putty so it sinks slowly to the bottom.

6 The finished Rig. Brilliant for Pop-ups over weed.

POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 17

| HOOK TO HOOKBAIT GUIDE

TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR RIG, THE SIZE OF YOUR HOOK MUST MATCH THE SIZE OF YOUR HOOKBAIT No rig is 100% effective, but if you get the mechanics of hook size to hookbait correct, you are 99.99 per cent there!

You are aiming for the ultimate hook-hold when a carp picks up your hookbait, but if you pair a 20mm boilie with a size 10, the hookbait will mask the hook.

Alternatively, if your hook choice is too big compared to your hookbait, it will act unnaturally and you will probably fail to get a run in the first place.

Here’s a simple one-stop guide to matching the size of your hook to a range of common hookbaits…

| BOILIES • 12mm - Size 10 or 8 Boilie Beak or Medium Curve Shank hook • 15mm - Size 8 or 6 Boilie Beak or Medium Curve Shank hook • 18mm - Size 6 Boilie Beak or Medium Curve Shank hook • 20mm - Size 6 or 4 Boilie Beak or Medium Curve Shank hook 18 | POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS

| POP-UPS • 12mm - Size 8 or 6 Medium Curve or Stiff Rig/Chod hook • 15mm - Size 6 Medium Curve or Stiff Rig/Chod hook • 20mm - Size 6 Medium Curve or Stiff Rig/Chod hook

| MAIZE • Single Grain - size 10 or 8 Medium Curve or Short Curve Shank hook • Double Grain - size 8 or 6 Medium Curve or Short Curve Shank hook

| TIGER NUTS • Single Nut - size 8 or 6 Boilie Beak or Long Shank hook • Double Grain - size 6 Boilie Beak or Long Shank hook

| PELLETS • 14mm Pre-drilled - Size 8 or 6 Medium Curve or Short Curve Shank hook • 21mm Pre-drilled - Size 4 Medium Curve or Short Curve Shank hook

| SURFACE BAITS • Quarter Big Fish Floating Durable Hooker - Size 10 Zig and Floater hook • Half Big Fish Floating Durable Hooker - Size 8 Zig and Floater hook • Full Big Fish Floating Durable Hooker - Size 6 Zig and Floater hook POCKET GUIDE TO KNOTS & RIGS | 19

THE ULTIMATE HOOK | CLOSED EYE

Careful attention to detail means each hook eye is perfectly created so no damage will occur to your hooklink.

| NEW ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

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| DURA-POINT TECHNOLOGY

Produces one of the sharpest and longest points in the carp hook world, even after multiple uses.

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Special coating ensures each hook blends in with the venue bottom therefore minimising spooking of fish.

| MICRO-BARB

| JAPANESE CARBON STEEL

Tiny barbs ensure minimum damage upon entry coupled with an extraordinary hook hold during the fight.

The highest quality steel available for producing carp hooks, providing strength, durability and reliability.

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Short Curve Shank

Zig & Floater

Long Shank

Boilie Beak Point

Medium Curve Shank

Stiff Rig/Chod

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carpspirit.com |

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