Flipper Rig Tips From Tel

1. Ideal Hair length
Hair length is obviously dependent on bait size and type, but for the most part, I like it to be around seven or eight millimetres. That’s the length I find most effective when fishing with 15mm boilies or a couple of small tigers, but if using a bulkier hookbait, such as a 20mm boilie, then I like a bit more clearance and I tend to lengthen it by another millimetre or two. 

2. When it’s right
You’re looking for the hook to turn effectively every time you pull the rig across your palm, with the hook righting itself fully into the upright position for maximum penetration.

3. Not too long
With a lot of bottom-bait rigs, the Hair might benefit from being a little longer than what I’ve just recommended, but it’s not quite the same with the Flipper, as its the weight of the actual hookbait that is helping the hook to turn, and I’m not sure that it’d be beneficial to separate them by too much. 

4. Start longer
I tend to tie up several rigs at a time, and I often start off by tying the Hairs a touch too long. Only a tiny bit, just in case the two tigers I’ve just picked out for hookers add up to being a tad longer than the previous two. If necessary, a little slack in the Hair can quickly be taken up by following the Hair around the contours of the hook’s bend, which is just fine when lowering into the edge, or from a boat.

5. But if you’re casting
Bear in mind that for casting out any distance, the Hair is likely to slip off the bend, lengthening it a bit, and so in that case I simply fish it the normal way with the Hair cutting across the gape, and I simply tie an extra Granny Knot in the Hair tie to pick up the slack, shortening it back to the right length in the process.

1. The Flipper as I like to use it, with a relatively short Hair of around 7-8mm 

2. Tigers. I like to pick the small plump ones, preferably the same size each time, but when you’re using two it’s likely that your Hairs length will vary by a small amount from hookbait to hookbait

3. I’ll put them on and off the Hair several times if necessary, sometimes shaving off a thin slice to butt the two up tighter together in order to gain a little more length in the Hair

4. It’s not far off, but to me, this Hair is just a tiny bit longer than I prefer, so I need to make an adjustment 

5. By following the Hair around the contours of the bend, it’s now shortened a touch, just how I like to fish it

6. The easiest way to shorten a Hair you’ve already tied is by tying a Granny Knot in it. When using two nuts I often do this from the start anyway, to provide a little more grip and to stop them from separating on the Hair

7. When it’s right, the hook should flip and fully right itself every time, with no misses