Magaligner Rig - An Introduction.
The "Magaligner" rig was developed by carp anglers. The idea is that an artificial maggot is placed length ways on the shank of the hook and two real maggots on the hook bend as normal. The artificial maggot on the hook shank is positioned in such a way that it causes the hook to turn in a fishes mouth, helping the hook point to catch hold.
I have found it an excellent rig not only for carp of all sizes, but for tench, bream, roach and even the odd rudd. It seems to keep the very small fish away and allow you to concentrate on the bigger fish in a water. The hook hold also seems to be excellent, with a clean hold in the corner of the mouth.
Tying the Rig - Things You Will Need.
The first thing you will need are some Enterprise Tackle "Magaligner Grubs". A packer of about 20 costs about £2.00 from most tackle shops.
They come in different colours, which allow you to ring the changes with colour presentations.
I'm sure that many of the more "do it yourself" people reading this, could soon make their own "magaligner grubs" from pieces of foam etc.
The hooks I like to use with the "Magaligner Rig" are size 10 "B911" Kamasan eyed. I dare say it would work equally as well with the spade end version, but I just haven't got around to trying them yet.
The hook size is critical, to small and it will get lost in the artificial grub, to big and you will loose the "flip over" effect.
I have found the hooks shown opposite to be just right for pleasure sessions using the Enterprise Tackle grubs. They will cope with carp, yet at the same time be light enough in the wire for roach, bream, tench etc.
Like hooks line choice is a personal thing, but if I'm fishing for carp from half a pound upwards (like you find in a lot of commercial fisheries), I like to use the line shown opposite. It is 0.15mm diameter and just under 6lb breaking strain. If your after smaller fish you can always scale down to a thinner diameter and / or breaking strain.
You don't need "posh" line, you can always take some line of your reel and use that to make the rig. Just make sure it's suitable.
What you must remember is that the "Magaligner Rig" works by the artificial grub causing the hook to flip over in the fishes mouth. If the line is to stiff or thick this effect will not happen as well as it should, if at all. So try and keep the line diameter / breaking strain down, but at the same time remember you don't want to loose fish through using to weak a line.
For any carp anglers reading this, I think braid is the best option if you are fishing for bigger fish. Or use one of the plastic coated braids and peel off some of the coating. It enables you to use a hook length of a high breaking strain, yet retain the suppleness needed for the "flip over effect" of the rig.
You will also need a baiting needle so you can push it through the artificial grub. The ones with a hook are no use, as the needle needs a sharp point to go through the grub. The one shown in the middle on the photo opposite, shows the correct type.
I've included a close up of the baiting needle point to show that the needle also needs a barb. This is so that once the needle is pushed through the grub, the line of your hook length can then be hooked over this barb. The line is then pulled through the grub.
Baiting needles like this are on sale in nearly all tackle shops for a couple of quid. You can of course use an ordinary sewing needle, but I have found you need pliers to pull the needle back out of the grub.
Please take great care when using a baiting needle with a barb, I had to go to hospital once to have one cut out off my leg.
Tying the Rig.
The first thing you need to do is to push the needle through the magaligner grub. Because we want to create a twisting effect for the hook to turn in the fishes mouth and catch hold, it is important that the needle follows the path shown by the dotted line.
The instructions on the back of the magaligner packet recommend that the needle is inserted about 1mm from the blunt end and comes out about 1mm from the pointed end.
The needle must enter and leave from the same side of the maggot, or the twisting effect will not work.
The photo on the right shows a baiting needle pushed through the grub. It needs to be pushed through so that the needles barb comes out at the other end.
The line is then hooked onto the barb and the baiting needle pulled out of the grub. The hook is tied onto the line that comes out of the pointed end of the grub.
The insert shows a close up of the position of the line as it enters and leaves the maggot.
The grub is then pushed down over the hook shank so it sits as shown in the photo on the right. It's the way the line leaves the hook and the way the grub sits on the hook, that creates the twisting effect in the fishes mouth.
Two maggots are then placed on the bend of the hook as normal and you are ready to fish.
Presentation.
If pleasure fishing I like to use it with a standard ledgering set up, with a block end maggot feeder as shown on the "ledgering page" here. If ground bait is allowed I will sometimes use it with an open end feeder.
Carp anglers using braid could try the method detailed on the back of the grub packet, which uses a helecopter rig and a pva sock of maggots. A lot will depend on what other fish are present. I'm sure that this rig presented over a bed of pellets or other particles would work well. One of my local waters has just suffered a boilie ban, so I will certainly be using the magaliner rig this summer, not only for pleasure fishing but for serious carping.
In Conclusion.
Although meant for big carp, I have found the magaliner rig to be excellent for pleasure sessions. It definitely helps you catch fish in the right circumstances. There is no such thing as the perfect rig for every occasion, but it's one rig you should try and see how you go on.
If rules permit, it's excellent on commercial type fisheries and will help you hook the bigger fish, but help keep off the very small fish of a couple of ounces or so.