3 WAYS TO GLUE RIGS
Yes, it’s so easy you only need a cocktail stick
IT HAS been some time since glued rigs made an appearance in the UK fishing scene. What was an entirely new way of building rigs might have confused a few people and created some scepticism, but if you’re like me, you struggle to build a rig any other way now.
What is not to like about glued rigs? They are easy to assemble, tough, neat, and quick to make, once you have the hang of gluing.
They really are quite simple; I am sure some people are put off thinking it’s a tricky art, but if you can apply a blob of glue to a piece of line using a cocktail stick, you can glue a rig. Yes, it’s that simple.
THE METHODS
It has to be getting on for four years since we started gluing rigs and, as you can imagine, there have been a few different methods and techniques devised by people. I wouldn’t say any techniques are better than others, but some might be more suitable in different fishing scenarios.
Firstly, we have the reliable tubing, bead and swivel set-up. This is the style of glued rigs that, most likely, we all started using when gluing was introduced. It is tough and reliable and neat. The free-flowing beads help keep free rotation of the swivel, while the tubing ensures a strong bond to the line.
Luckily, you can buy glue tubing to fit up to 80lb line now, so this style of glued rig doesn’t have to be for the light stuff. I still use this style for nearly all my rigs, and it hasn’t let me down yet.
Next up is similar to the previous arrangement, minus the tubing. You’re probably wondering how you fix the swivel in place with only a bead either side? It is simple, glue the beads.
This method has recently become favourable with a lot of match anglers because it creates for a neat, if not the neatest snood attachment you could possibly make. You don’t need any special bead for this technique, just some plain old micro beads. It is important while doing this not to let the swivel touch the glue.
Finally, there is the two-way bead snood attachment. You can either glue a piece of tubing or a micro bead either side of your two-way bead. The two-way beads are a favourite of some beach anglers but seem to be extremely popular among boat anglers.
ANGLING ADVANTAGES
What are the applications and advantages of the different gluing styles? The first tubing and bead style is the strongest, and I use this most for my flapper rigs and general fishing.
The second option, where you glue the beads, is ideal for lighter, finer rigs. As you have kept components and weight to a minimum, it would make them ideal for fishing up in the water column.
Finally, the two-way bead set-up might be more useful when fishing at close range or in ultra-clear water for shy-biting fish. With the beads being clear, you really are making your rigs as invisible as possible.