54 Crafty Carper

In this month’s Rig Clinic Jake Wildbore takes a detailed look at one of the most infl uential rigs in recent times for big-carp angling – the Blowback Rig.

No.3 The Blowback RigThe Blowback Rig was originally designed to outwit rig-shy fi sh on

pressured waters, where most other rigs didn’t offer movement of the bait, leading to a reduction of hookholds. The basic principle of the Blowback Rig is that the Hair revolves around a rig ring, which means that the hookbait can slide up and down the shank of the hook, exposing more hookpoint and increasing hookholds.

A great benefi t of the rig itself is that it can be fi shed in virtually any situation and over contrasting lakebeds because it offers versatility with hookbait choice, which, in turn, alters the rig presentation itself. The rig can be used with pop-ups, bottom baits or used as a combination with a Snowman presentation. When using it with the pop-up or Snowman presentation, it offers a counterbalance of the hook, leading to neutral buoyancy and aiding the hookbait to act like a free offering. Also, because of the positioning of the hookbait, the hook lies fl ush on the bottom and the bait lays directly above, meaning any carp in the surrounding area will be unaware of the hook’s presence. The Blowback Rig is also highly effective when combined with a bottom bait; this offers a different approach because it means the hook becomes heavier when a carp inhales the bait and guarantees a sturdy hookhold, yet still incorporates the main advantage of the rig with the movement of the hookbait upon the ring.

It is very simple to tie up this rig. Start off with a stiff-coated braid hooklink and strip off around 4ins or so of the plastic coating material. Now make the Figure-of-Eight loop, to which you attach your chosen hookbait. One of my preferred methods is to use a 10mm boilie tipped with a piece of pop-up plastic corn for visual

attraction and the buoyancy aspect. Next, slide a rig ring down the hooklength just above the bait, leaving a small gap, and tie it on using an overhand knot. Then slide the hooklength through the back end of the hook’s eye and slide the hook down to the bait. Next, thread the hook through the rig ring just off the bend of the hook. To secure the hook, tie it on using a Knotless Knot and complete the rig using a small piece of rig tubing so the hook lies off at a good aggressive angle.

Hook choice is imperative when using this Blowback Rig; my preferred hook pattern when using the 10mm boilie and pop-up

sweetcorn is a Korda Wide Gape Size 8 because it offers better hooking capability, and the open angle of the hook and the in-turned eye of 15 degrees helps turn the point into the fi sh’s mouth very aggressively.

Last month the KD Rig was best suited to being fi shed over scattered boilies, but my preferred

method of fi shing the Blowback Rig is over a heavily baited area of particles and small or broken boilies, or fi shed as a single hookbait with a small PVA bag or stick.

I have experienced exceptional success when using this rig on many pressured day ticket waters where small baits and the hooking ability pick off the fi nicky-feeding fi sh. I’m a huge fan of the hookbait’s ability to slide up and down the shank of the hook, like on the D-Rig, which is another personal favourite of mine. I caught my fi rst 30-pounder using this rig, and the majority of the fi sh I have caught have fallen foul to this method, like the 22lb mirror pictured.

“My preferred method of fi shing the Blowback Rig is over a heavily baited area of particles and small or broken boilies, or fi shed as a single hookbait

with a small PVA bag or stick”

Size 8 because it offers better hooking capability, and the open angle of the hook and the in-turned eye of 15 degrees helps turn the point into the fi sh’s mouth

Last month the KD Rig was best suited to being fi shed over scattered boilies, but my preferred

method of fi shing the Blowback Rig is over a heavily baited area of particles and small or broken boilies, or fi shed as a single

I have experienced exceptional success when using this rig on many pressured day ticket waters where small baits and the hooking ability pick off the fi nicky-feeding fi sh. I’m a huge fan of the hookbait’s ability to slide up and down the shank

he Blowback Rig was originally designed to outwit rig-shy fi sh on pressured waters, where most other rigs didn’t offer movement

attraction and the buoyancy aspect. Next, slide a rig ring down the hooklength just above the bait, leaving a small gap, and tie it on using an overhand knot. Then slide the hooklength through

No.3 The Blowback RigThe Blowback Rig was originally designed to outwit rig-shy fi sh on he Blowback Rig was originally designed to outwit rig-shy fi sh on

No.3

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All the components required to construct Jake’s Blowback Rig are shown above.

As shown in the picture, start by stripping back 4ins (10cm) of coated braid.

Tie a Figure-of-Eight knot, slide on the hookbait and fake corn and secure in place with a boilie stop.

Crafty Carper 55

Crafty Carper Under-21s

No.3 The Blowback Rig

HOWTO...

TIE JAKE’S BLOWBACK RIG

Slide a medium rig ring down the hooklink and secure in place with an overhand knot.

Pass the hook through the ring and position it so that the ring is just off the bend of the hook.

Holding the rig ring in position, carefully tie a 6-turn Knotless Knot and…

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The No.1 bait choice for thinking anglerswww.ccmoore.com

Did you know...?

A Blowback Rig uses a rig ring on the hook’s shank to aid separation of the bait and hook when a fi sh tries to eject the rig, thus leaving the hook inside the carp’s mouth. Blowback Rigs can be used in conjunction with longer shank or progressively curved hooks, or also to great effect on shorter shank hooks when used in conjunction with an extended shrink tube kicker.

…add a small length of shrink tube and carefully steam into position.

The fi nished rig works brilliantly with pop-ups, bottom-baits and Snowman setups.

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Now turn over to read two-time BYCAC winner Rob Sutton’s monthly blog

>>

Jake’s favorite Blowback Rig combination – plastic corn

and 10mm boilies.

Pass the hook through the ring and position it so that the ring is just off the bend of the hook.

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…add a small length of shrink tube and carefully steam into position.

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