Just like the real thing
Kev Hewitt, Stu Lennox and Sean Leverett are already huge fans of ESP’s new Zig collection – and going by the attention to detail on their new Zig Bugs, we’re pretty sure you will be too
ESP’s awesome ranges of ready-to-use rigs are becoming as legendary as their main consultant, Terry Hearn’s carp-catching skills. And now the brand has ventured into Zig Rigs, not only launching a dedicated Zig hooklink material but also a collection of four ready-tied Zig Bugs which are set to create big waves now that they’ve officially launched this month.
The big questions
Hang on, Zig Bugs aren’t exactly new…
That is correct, but then we/ESP never claimed these were. And whilst ready-tied Zig Bugs have been around for a few years now, ESP’s association with the method dates back over a decade to 2004, when Bristol angler, Mark Drake (the brother of ESP sales rep and expert fly tyer Dave Drake) first used them on Pinewood Lagoon. He soon gave some to Terry Hearn who was also fishing the lake at the time and between them they tricked a few of the lake’s prized residents on these bugs. Being considered such an ‘edge’, they were kept quiet at the time, but now ESP has created said range which matches these original bugs and made them available to all.
What is the design based on?
They’re shaped and dressed to mimic hatches of water boatmen, making them particularly deadly throughout the spring months. The chunky black body and little feather whiskers act as a silhouette, replicating a bug perfectly and acting as a lure to carp feeding aggressively on fly hatches. Add in that they are expertly tied to a super sharp ESP Curve-Shanx hook and are buoyant enough to support a long mono hooklink (think: 14ft long), and you’ve got the perfect Zig package.
The underside offers up a flash of colour
So what are the options?
There are four bugs per pack and each one has a different coloured belly: Pearl, Red, Green and Yellow to add a visual flash of colour for added attraction. They’re available in two sizes, 8 and 10, and in a choice of barbed or barbless.
Are there any downsides to these?
Aside from them being the most realistic Zig Bugs on the market? Absolutely not!
“GIMME”: £7.25; esp-carpgear.com
Are these the most realistic Zig bugs on the market? Almost certainly!