God’s Rig!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS READ AND JOSEPH BRAZIL
I SOMETIMES PONDER whether any rig since the original Hair Rig, has had a similar impact as the Hinged Stiff Rig. Personally speaking, I very much doubt it…
If the (big) carp in a water eat boilies, then this rig offers a pop-up presentation which is largely unequalled when it comes to presenting hookbaits two- or three-inches off the bottom. Whereas the Ronnie/Spinner, Multi and 360º Rigs are all exceptional low pop-up presentations, the Hinge… well, that is really something very special indeed, with all the key characteristics working truly synergistically, and in a way which exceeds that of any single part of the rig’s design.
With the passage of time, there have been numerous evolutions and ‘special’ variants, most of which still work well. How can they fail? The basis for the original concept remains so robust and effective, that it takes a lot to cock it up! Luckily, there’s no way I can realistically cover all the ‘ground-breaking’ variants here either:… all those versions that feature minor adaptations on how the hookbait is mounted or utilise different lengths or material for the boom. These adjustments are inconsequential in a broad overview of the rig. Instead, for this piece, I will focus largely on the classic Hinged Stiff Rig, and perhaps briefly mention the tried-and-tested options, and when to use them.
Using a good quality corkballed pop-up is so vital for the mechanics of the rig
Whereas the Ronnie is an exceptional low pop-up presentation, the Hinge is largely unequalled when it comes to presenting hookbaits twoor three-inches off the bottom
REVOLUTIONARY
Yes, I admit that I used a truly awful word in the first paragraph, one which is right up there with the most trite in the English language, but ‘synergistically’ is the only word I know which entirely describes how the key characteristics of the rig work together so perfectly. ‘Harmoniously’ comes close, but it is less descriptive of a rig’s mechanics than it is a nineties brand of hair spray.
Loops with plain swivels mean that there’s plenty of movement and no jangling of unnecessary rings