Carp Rigs - The essentials

I have experimented with many different rigs in the past, some have worked but others have failed. I wouldn’t say there is one outstanding rig to use as each one differs and the success of the rig is also down to external factors including:

 

 

• The lake conditions - has it been heavily fished recently?
• Fishing methods - Are you spodding? Fishing in the right place?
• Ground the fish are feeding on - Are you fishing on mud, weed, gravel or sand?
• Bait - Boilies, PoP-ups, meat, maggots, worm etc…

If combinations of the above are not correct the fish feeding habits could be affected. So the perfect rig on its day may not work.

 
Likewise, if the fish are in a feeding frenzy, a rig which not been setup correctly may still work. It’s all down to the conditions on the day.

However having a correct rig will increase your chances of catching fish when some of the other factors are in your favour - it’s all about increasing the odds!

Remember though, that carp will eventually wise up to a good rig if its used on the same lake time and time again. So I would recommend you alternate rigs after a few fishing sessions on the same venue.

 

Stalking Carp

How often do you sit in one spot all day, only to blank?
Well, it’s never happened to me, why you ask? Because if I see they day turning out to be a duff I leave one rod baited up with my bite alarms set, and head around the lake to do some stalking.

Carry as little as possible, depending how far from my swim in going I normally just take my rod and reel, bait, landing net and unhooking mat. If I’m close to my swim the unhooking mat stays at the swim, as when I catch I take the carp back to the swim.

The key is to tread as lightly around the bank as possible, and keep low down, especially if the sun is behind you as your reflection will go over the water and spook any fish.

If the lake is clear, look out for carp, I advise you invest in a good set of sunglasses, as the reflection and glare is removed and carp will be very easy to spot.

If the water is brown, look out for muddy swirls or water movements as this is a sign of carp feeding on the bottom.

If by reeds, watch out for the reed cluttering together as this is a sign of carp swimming and feeding between them.

When stalking I keep things very simple, normally just a hook length tied to my main line, with a hook.  No weights, floats or anything else.

I throw very little bait in, as I want fast results, and then move onto another location, so only half a handful of bait is thrown in to entice the fish to feed, using this small amount I can guarantee the carp will be onto my bait within a few minutes, if they aren’t I move on…

The bait i tend to use for this method is either pellets or a lump of bread flake squashed on the hook so it sinks. If the fish are feeding on the surface I use either bread flake or dog biscuits.

Fishing with only a hook prevents the carp from being spooked, to detect bites I simply watch the line, when it moves about a foot I strike, if fishing on the surface I just watch the carp suck the bait in and then strike.

Using these methods I catch big carp 20lbs+ as I can see the fish I want to catch and drop the bait right in front of them, this tactic works 90% of the time.

Baited Bacon Strips

 

There are lots of different carp baits on the market these days. However one bait that is very cheap is grilled bacon ends.

 

 

I have used this on many occasions with great success. I think its because carp get used to luncheon meat, corn, boilies and pellets, so when a semi rare bait is introduced they jump on it immediately as they do not associate it with them being caught.

 As a tip, try soaking it with soya sauce overnight.

Feeding a Commercial Fishery

Commercial fishers are all different, however you can bet one tactict (most of the time) remains the same whichever commercial fishery you are on.

Feed little and often.

Adopt this method and you will keep fish in a feeding frenzy, literally throw in 5-6 grains of corn every few minutes, when you hook into a fish throw in another few grains to keep the fish feeding.

Throughout the day, if bites are getting harder, leave it for 10 minutes before throwing anymore bait in, you may find you have ‘over fed’ the swim, so just wait for the carp to hoover up your left overs.

I often find fisherman caterpulting corn and other bait by the bucket loads, even before they have a rod in the water. This can be disasterouse and wreck the swin for the day. Overfeeding a swim will result in fish pre-ocupied feeding off the offerings you have thrown in, and not taking the hook bait.

This method can be applied to breadflake, maggots, hemp-seed, small chunks of meat, pellets and any other bait that softens up quickly.

In the summer, using this method on a waggler you can see carp in a frenzy just below the surface, as soon as your bait hits the water you can be guaranteed a bite!

Also, feed little and often’ one or two other areas in you swim, if the fish do get spooked you immediately have a group of fish feeding elsewhere. Match fisherman use this approach to ‘bag up’ on a regular basis.

Carp Fishing in the Summer - In the margins

It makes me laugh at times watching fisherman lofting massive baits into the middle of a lake.
Ok, at times on big lakes, or gravel pits it is sometimes necessary, and yes on occasions I do it my self.

However the majority of the time I have a much higher catch rate fishing close into the margins, literally only a foot if that from the bank.

Fist of all, before hauling all my gear around the lake I look for a spot that looks inviting, I find either reeds or overhanging trees on the bank edge, with the depth of water approx 3feet works well. Also ensure there isn’t another swim close by, as you dont want another fisherman spooking the baited area.

Before I setup my end tackle I mix up some ground bait, the mix depends on the clarity of the water, and water temperature, but normally includes halibut or trout pellets as the main feed. I verly carefully place a few handfulls of bait into the area, Being cloe into the bank I can ensure the ground bait is all within close proximety and not spread around.

My tactic is to us a standard carp rig, with either a boilie or pellet. Place the bait about 15 feet down the bank from where fishing, I don’t cast the bait into the area, but walk down and just plop the hook bait into the chosen area (where I have just pre-baited the area) and retreat quietly back to my chair (letting out line to ensure the bait remains in place). I take this approach as I do not want to sppok any fish that may already be around the swim.

Once the spare line is reeled in I clip the line through my bait alarm and sit back and wait.

Look out for watermovement or a cloud dust appear, this will mean the fish are moving and hoovering up the particles within the groundbait - It’s only a matter of time before your bait alarm sounds and the clutch is screaming with your first run….

I always find the majority of carp I catch within the margins are bigger than the ones in the middle of the lake. It makes sense that a carp will feed in the margin and they feed into the bank for worm and grubs, overhanging trees also provide a food source in the form of insects anf flys.

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UK Carp Fishing Secrets

Welcome To UK Carp Fishing Secrets

Introduction To Carp Fishing
- Catching Carp
- What Makes a Successful Carp Angler

Watercraft
- Watercraft The Carp And Its Habitat
- Stealth And Deception
- Feature Finding
- Effects Of Wind
- Polarised Fishing Glasses

Approaches & Techniques
- Getting The Right Approach
- Stalking
- Winter Carp Fishing
- Static Carping With Bite Alarms
- Short Session Carping
- Surface Fishing
- Carp Fishi