R I GC L I N I C When people first see me using

longshank hooks for my Chod Rigs and Hinge Stiff Rigs, they look at me like I’m a little bit strange. I can totally understand this though because, in most magazines these days, nearly all big-fish anglers are encouraging anglers to use a hook pattern that boasts an out-turned eye. Although I totally understand the concept and idea behind their hook choice, I’ve found that my trusty longshank hooks have a lot more applications than most anglers give them credit for. Now I’ve never been one of those anglers who thinks up weird and wonderful presentations just to be different than the next bloke, but I can honestly say that I think longshank hooks are one of the most effective hook patterns out there for Chod Rigs and Hinge-Stiff Rigs.

One of main reason anglers use a hook with an out-turned eye for rigs with a stiff section is because they don’t want to reduce the gape of the hook. I totally get this and couldn’t agree with the idea more, so I’d

never use a swept-shank hook or conventional wide gape hook with a Chod because the combination with the stiff material would most certainly reduce the gape and hinder the hooking capabilities of the rig. That said though, due to the length of the shank on a longshank hook, you can get away with using a super-stiff material, without reducing the gape of the hook. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, a longshank hook fished on a Chod Rig actually creates a much larger gape and one that I’m certain will hook more carp.

For me, the main advantage of using a longshank hook on a Chod Rig or Hinge-Stiff Rigs is the fact that it allows you to create a presentation similar to the old bent hook rig. As some of you may probably remember, the bent hook rig was an extremely effective presentation for large carp, but it did cause a little bit of controversy when it came to hooking smaller fish. For that reason alone, lots of venues banned the rig and anglers simply don’t get the chance to

use this devastating presentation anymore. Fortunately though, when using longshank hooks like I’ve described, anglers can now create a rig that boasts all the great attributes of the old bent hook rig, but the presentation is extremely safe and isn’t going to pose any danger to the fish.

As well as this, I’ve found that the hook holds are much better with longshank rigs than conventional style hooks with an out-turned eye because, when a fish picks up the hookbait, the hook travels much further into the carp’s mouth. I’ve lost count of the amount of anglers that have told me how they regularly loose fish on chods and I’m certain this can sometimes happen because the rig doesn’t travel far enough into the carp’s mouth to obtain a good hook hold. Have you ever experienced a hook pull when using a chod seconds after lifting into the fish? This is a common occurrence for most anglers and I’m convinced a longshank hook could eliminate this completely.

Nigel Williams reveals how, contrary to popular belief, longshank hooks can be used to great effect when fished D-Rig style on a Chod or Hinge Stiff Rig.

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This stunning 25lb-plus mirror was bagged on a Chod rig tied using a longshank hook.

As well as aid hook holds, I’m certain that the nature of the hook means that it spins quicker when a carp picks it up. If you look at the shape of the rig tied with a longshank compared to a conventional hook, you can see that it sits at a slightly more prone angle, which I’m certain will aid the spin factor. I’ve watched how the rig performs in the margins and the smallest bit of movement under the water causes the hook to turn extremely quickly. Perfect!

I’ve tried a variety of different pattern longshank hook over the years but, nowadays, I’m completely sold on the Avid Carp Reaction Range LSK hooks. Although it doesn’t really matter when using Chod rigs,

I absolutely love the fact that they boast a green non-glare coloration that makes them much more unobtrusive on the bottom. As well as this, I simply cannot fault how sharp and strong they are. I’ve always been a fan of sharpening hooks for many years but, if I’m honest, I’m happy to use these ones straight out of the packet. They’re that good!

Using longshank hooks may not be everybody’s cup of tea and I totally understand that. If you’re experiencing hook pulls or dodgy hook holds with standard hooks, give a longshank a try. On venues that are getting hammered on Chods and the carp are starting to approach them with more caution, I genuinely believe longshanks could catch you more carp.

Longshank hooks sit at a more

aggresive angle.

LSK hook are Nigel’s first choice.

0 1 . Attach an LSK hook to a length of Captive Stiff Rig Filament using a knotless knot.

0 4 . Now create a small loop in the Stiff Rig Filament as shown above.

0 7 . Now pass the Pin Down hooklink through the loop in the stiff material.

1 0 . Pass a quick-change Bait Screw through the D on the rig like this.

0 2 . Now pass the tag end of the knot through the back of the eye on the hook.

0 5 . Pass a length of 20lb Pin Down hooklink through the loop like this.

0 8 . Moisten the hooklinks with some saliva and gently pull the knot tight.

1 1 . Now attach the hookbait of your choice. Super-buoyant pop-ups are essential.

0 3 . Carefully blob the tag end with a lighter so that it can’t pass back through.

0 6 . Carefully whip the Pin Down hooklink down the length of the loop six times.

0 9 . To ensure the hooklink sinks and to tidy the rig, mould some putty around the knot.

1 2 . Finally attach the finished rig to a lead clip and it’s ready to use.

H O W T O . . .T I E N I G E L ’ S L O N G S H A N K D - R I G

@ n i g e l _ a v i d c a r p

A N G L E R P R O F I L E : N ige l Wi l l i ams A g e: 37 U K P B : 41 lb 10o z O c c u p a t i o n : Se l f Emp l o yed

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