By: Tim Creque
                                                  Carp anglers Group

                      A few people have asked what a hair rig is, how and why it is used.
                   I’m going to explain how to tie a hair rig in this article and why it is effective.

                   The hair rig was the invention of Lenny Middleton and Kevin Maddocks, who were looking for
                   a way to fish with boilies, and other hard baits, that would improve hook hold over simple side hooked
                
                   bait (The Fox Guide to Carp Rigs). The design of the hair rig allows the hook to be fully exposed while
                   the bait is on a length of line that extends past the bottom of the hook.

                   The genius behind this type of rig is that it cuts out a lot of the mouthing of the bait that carp are
                   able to do. When the fish feels the hook, the immediate reaction is to spit and run. The spitting of
                   the bait helps to plant the hook in the bottom lip of the fish and as it begins to run the hook,
                   it pierces through the lip for a perfect hook set. Couple the hair rig with a fix lead (sinker) or
                   running (slip) rig of one to four ounces, and the fish hooks itself. Now you simply have to loosen
                   the drag and wait for the fish to take off.

                  The versatility of the hair rig extends beyond just carp. Fishing this way for smaller catfish
                  produces excellent results with a perfect hook hold in the bottom lip or corner of the mouth and no
                  need to set the hook ferociously.

                  Many different types of baits can be used with this type of rig. Many of the same baits that you
                  use directly on the hook can be used on the hair rig. This can range from sweet corn, to worms, nuts,
                  and even dough bait. Dough bait can be molded around a hard object like a bead or pieces of maize
                  to leave the hook exposed and improve hooking.

                  The need for the hair rig was originally the boilie, but other hard baits have been utilized as well.
                  The boilie was created in England, as a more durable dough bait that nuisance fish couldn't peck away.
                   In the US, however, the nuisance loathed by many carp anglers is the catfish. Channel catfish tend
                   to love boilies and other, more carpy, baits like sweet corn. Other hard baits include dry seeds and
                   nuts like maize (field corn), tiger nuts (chufa), peanuts, and chick peas (garbanzo beans) that are
                   soaked and boiled in water, and other flavors and attractants, to soften them up. Boiling makes the
                   bait more attractive the fish and easier (safer) for the fish to digest.

                   That should be enough about the rig for now. Let's take a look at how it can be constructed.
                   For the hair rig you will need a small hook, preferably with an in-turned eye, like the Korda Wide
                   Gape size 8 I will be using here. You will also need a foot or two of 20lb braided hooklink,
                   like PowerPro, Spider Wire, Sufix Braid, or Fox Cortex, which is a braid with a removable plastic
                   coating that I will be using. An optional piece of equipment is a small piece of rig tubing that allows
                   for some adjustment and may enhance the hooking effect. The final piece of equipment that will need
                   is a baiting needle. This is what you will need to put bait on the hair. It can be a purpose built needle,
                   like mine, or you could use a straightened jig head or something similar from a fabric or craft store.
                   Step 1:

                   Pass the hooklink (leader) from the front of hook (point side) through the back.
                   If you are using a coated hooklink, like the photo, you will need to strip off three or four inches to
                   expose the soft, flexible inner braid. 
                   Step 2:

                   Pass the hooklink down the back of the shank and then back up to the eye to create a loop that
                  extends one to two inches below the hook. Extending the tag end of the line past the eye will allow
                  you to adjust the size of the hair after the rig is finished. You can then cut the excess off after
                  the rig is baited. 
                    Step 3:

                  Wrap the hooklink, on the frontside of the hook, down around the shank five times or until the wraps
                  are about even with the point of the hook. Be sure to start the wraps on the side where the bend of
                  the eye starts and not where the end of the wire closes off the eye. The sharp end of the wire could
                  wear through the hooklink during the fight.
                     Step 4:

                   Pass the end of the hooklink through the backside of the eye towards the hook point.
                  This helps the point of the hook turn down into the lip. 
                    Step 5:

                  Pull the end of the hooklink all the way tight and you have a nearly completed rig.
                  If you have added wraps to the point where they are even with the hook point you are ready for bait.
                      Step 6:

                   I like to slide a small piece of tubing onto the hair and then over the hook to hold the hair
                  against the shank. This gives a little room for fine-tuning and I believe it enhances the hooking
                  effect since it slides back when the bait is ejected from the mouth while the hook stays in place.
                      Step 7:

                  To add bait to the hair rig you need to use a baiting needle. It is small needle with a hook in
                  the end to latch onto the hair. Thread your bait, in this case sweet corn, onto the baiting needle.
                    Step 8:

                   After hooking the loaded baiting needle to the hair, simply slide the bait onto it. 
                      Step 9:

                   After removing the baiting needle, you will need to stick something through the end of the
                  loop to hold the bait on the hair. This can be a small stick, part of a blade of grass or a small piece of
                  plastic, like I am using here.