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CARPology Rigs

CASTERS RAFTS AND D-RIG KICKERS

It's a winning combination: a great hookbait and a deadly hooker!

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At the backend of 2019, Terry Hearn revealed to the world the very refined rig he was using to present his ‘Caster Clusters’ on: a small cluster of fake casters which were superglued together and mounted on a small piece of black foam. It was very neat and very light. The rig featured here takes that original concept, but has the added benefit of featuring a trimmed-down wafter hookbait and a ‘caster raft’, which is much easier to construct than Tel’s ‘Clusters’. And by using a D-Rig Kicker, it allows the hook and hookbait to separate even more, helping to find a great hook hold. Here’s what you need and how to tie it…

First: How to make a Caster Raft. It really couldn’t be any simpler (or quicker)

1. Thread three fake casters onto a baiting needle—try and select a range of colours.
1. Thread three fake casters onto a baiting needle—try and select a range of colours.
2. Take a length of Chod material—ESP’s Bristle Filament or Korda’s Mouthtrap are great.
2. Take a length of Chod material—ESP’s Bristle Filament or Korda’s Mouthtrap are great.
3. Double the Chod material over and then thread the casters onto the material like so.
3. Double the Chod material over and then thread the casters onto the material like so.
4. To ensure they don’t come off, blob both ends of the Chod material with a lighter.
4. To ensure they don’t come off, blob both ends of the Chod material with a lighter.

Secondly: Now, how to tie the rig part of the set-up...

1. Secure your hook to a length of Mouthtrap using the Knotless Knot method.
1. Secure your hook to a length of Mouthtrap using the Knotless Knot method.
2. Take a D-Rig Kicker, wet the end and thread on a Hookbait Swivel like so.
2. Take a D-Rig Kicker, wet the end and thread on a Hookbait Swivel like so.
3. To stop it from reducing the overall hook gape, trim the tapered end slightly.
3. To stop it from reducing the overall hook gape, trim the tapered end slightly.
4. Pass the hook point through the Kicker and the Mouthtrap through the eye.
4. Pass the hook point through the Kicker and the Mouthtrap through the eye.
5. Take your hooklink material of choice—we’re using Semi Stiff Tungsten Loaded.
5. Take your hooklink material of choice—we’re using Semi Stiff Tungsten Loaded.
6. Straighten a length and then strip back around three-inches of the outer coating.
6. Straighten a length and then strip back around three-inches of the outer coating.
7. Using an Albright Knot, make 10 wraps down the Mouthtrap and 4 back up. 
7. Using an Albright Knot, make 10 wraps down the Mouthtrap and 4 back up. 
8. Trim the tag ends and either cover with a piece of silicone or some putty
8. Trim the tag ends and either cover with a piece of silicone or some putty
9. Take your hookbait of choice (we’re using a 16mm Krill Wafter) and cut it in half.
9. Take your hookbait of choice (we’re using a 16mm Krill Wafter) and cut it in half.
10. Thread this onto a piece of bait floss, followed by your Caster Raft and then blob.
10. Thread this onto a piece of bait floss, followed by your Caster Raft and then blob.
11. Trim the hookbait down so it’s equal on all sides and is nicely balanced.
11. Trim the hookbait down so it’s equal on all sides and is nicely balanced.
12. And here’s the finished presentation: refined and very balanced.
12. And here’s the finished presentation: refined and very balanced.
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