HOW TO: Tie a stiff link rig

The stiff rig has been around for a few years now and has proved itself as an efficient pop-up rig. You only have to look at the angle the hook sits to see why. I can show you how to make it even better!

99% of anglers who use loops for stiff rigs employ the traditional figure of eight knot, blissfully unaware that have severely weakened the line. When using large diameter line for stiff rigs the strength of the line is usually sufficient to play and land most fish. However, imagine playing a large carp, you think it may even be big enough to smash your PB! It turns at the net when the tackle is at full stretch and *SNAP* your line breaks right on that bulky knot. Let me show you how to avoid weakening your line and play every fish with the confidence that your terminal tackle is as strong as it possibly can be.


What you need

Tackle
- Suffix Supple Link 20lb mono
- Sink Link uncoated braid


- Hooks


- Size 11 ring swivels



Tools
- Scissors
- Baiting needle
- Bait stop




Method

Step 1
With the sharp scissors cut of a length of the Suffix supple link Mono. Tie a simple over-hand knot in one end but don’t close the knot down yet.



Step 2
Pass the tail back though the open over-hand knot.



Step 3
Wind the leading line four times around the standing line below the open knot.



Step 4
Pass the line back through the open knot.



Step 5
Pull the loop and tag-end together to form a round loop. Trim the tail and the loop is ready.



Step 6
Now with a three turn grinner-knot, tie on a size 11 ring swivel. Tie the mono to the ring.



Step 7
Cut 20cm of ESP Sink Link braid and pass though your hook to leave a loop at the back of the hook long enough for the size of the bait you intend to use.



Step 8
Now tie a standard knotless knot.

Not sure how? Read my article, "How to tie a knotless knot".



Step 9
To set the length of the supple link simply tie a figure of eight knot in the double ends and trim off the excess braid.



Step 10
Pass through the eye on the size eleven ring swivel and pass the hook between the two lengths of braid to cause it to lock onto the ring swivel.




Step 11
Add your favorite pop up boilie to the hair.



Step 12
Add some Gardner putty to the swivel body to counter-balance the pop up.


Your rig is now complete with a stiff stand off boom and a super supple link.



This rig is devastatingly effective in the right situations. The large loop in the stiff boom will allow a free movement of the bait which should fool the most rig-shy carp. This combined with the free movement of the supple braid is a devastatingly effective rig.

Tight lines!