In an age where the chod rig has become the fashion amongst many carp anglers, other rigs that would be a lot more suitable for the situation they’re fishing become neglected. One of Max Cottis’ all-time favourites has to be the Stiff Hinge rig, and here he explains why… This is a fantastic rig for distance fishing and is one I will always employ for searching waters when I suspect the fish have been pushed out to extreme range. It doesn’t matter if there is a bit of weed about either; this pop-up presentation is perfect for laying over the top of the green stuff.
The beauty of this rig is that you can punch it pretty much anywhere and you know that it will be sitting fine due to its anti-tangle properties.
I always tie this rig using ACE Riga-Mortis stiff link material; not only is it virtually invisible under the water’s surface, but its stiffness helps to make sure that the hook bait is always pushed away from the lead clip system, which in turn helps to prevent tangles and increase hooking efficiency.
The construction of this rig is very similar to that of a chod rig, with the only difference being the curved end section which is presented on a stiff boom rather than travelling along your mainline or leader. This means that the aggressive curve and superb hooking abilities are still evident within this rig.
The Hinged Stiff Rig has done me proud on a number of occasions, especially those times when nothing appears to be feeding over my baited spots and I need to search the water with a single hook bait. I’ve had a number of big fish on this rig, both home and abroad – I really couldn’t recommend it enough.
If
you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to search big water and you need a rig that just won’t tangle, make sure you give the Hinged Stiff Rig a go – it may just put them extra fish on the bank for you!
To tie the Hinged Stiff Rig, simply follow the photos and instructions above, and best of luck…
Link to ace – http://www.acecarp.com/