End Tackle According To... Dave Levy

The game-changing rig moment which altered everything for me occurred when I first started carp fishing in the mid-’80s, whilst using luncheon meat and balls of paste. I was fishing one day and this guy had a 14lb common. To me, it was a monumental carp, and as the guy unhooked it, he held the rig up and said, “The Hair Rig… you seen it?”

“No,” I replied.

Not putting your hook in the bait seemed crazy to me, but obviously I started to use the method right away. Since then, there have been many variations of the Hair, but it still all boils down to the same mechanics, with separation of the hook and bait allowing movement of the hook. 

The last rig-related item I bought and loved was… in all honesty, I didn’t actually buy it. I’m lucky in that I have a lot of input in RidgeMonkey’s end tackle. In the past, I’d always found coated braids good, but their main failing was the quality of the braid, with all the emphasis going into the coating. When designing the CamoX 25lb and 35lb, I made sure that every aspect was covered, and this stuff is amazing as a hooklink.

On my wish list for a future end-tackle item would be a replacement for lead. A few companies have tried, and I’ve even seen stones used, but as yet, no one has matched lead for its density. The main problem as I can see it, is the possibility of it being banned in the future. 

Many anglers influence me when it comes to rigs. I’m not one to sit on the fence and call all the latest rigs rubbish. I’ll investigate and experiment, and I won’t wait to find out how good something is three years down the line. I was fast on to the Hinge Stiff Rig and the Chod Rig. Looking back, my main influence would have been Gerry Chandler—Gerry was so forward-thinking with his rigs. In later years, as I learned about bait and more about carp themselves, it became clear that the rig was actually only one part of a much bigger picture.

I have an excessive collection of baiting needles—and let’s not mention pop-ups!

I don’t think we’ll have a new rig come along that will supersede what’s currently out there, but the rigs we use will evolve and become super efficient. I have seen a few rigs that are spring-loaded, so as the fish lifts the bait, it goes off like a trap. These still use a basic version of the Hair. I like where rigs are and I don’t want to outsmart the fish too much, as it’s also about the hunt. If you could cast out and catch non-stop, it would be boring and there’d be no challenge. It’s a bit like the hormone fiasco. If it’s real, then they can keep it. I want to hunt carp on a level that sees me also respect them. 

One small tweak I made to a rig which had a massive outcome was the use of a soft boom. Set-ups like the Hinge Stiff Rig and the Ronnie Rig were effective, but they became much more so when finished with soft booms.

When it comes to hand sharpening hooks, let’s use really basic physics… anyone who thinks a sharp hook isn’t better is a moron, end of!

My preferred hooklink length depends on the lakebed. Most of the time, I’m happy to keep my hooklinks at about 7-inches, but on softer silt, I may go much longer to allow for it. Over hard gravel, I’ll go down to 4-inches to reduce any margin of error. The use of the right rig in any given scenario is, in my opinion, right up there with good watercraft. 

When it comes to hooklink materials, for my day-to-day stuff it will be the CamoX, as it blends in with any environment. I love the stuff, but I will change if the situation demands it. 

I’m a bit of a tart when it comes to hookbaits, and will often have baits in soak for up to a year! It’s not often I’ll use one from the bag, and if I do, it’s balanced with a bit of cork.

When it comes to hookbait choice it depends on the time of year. During the colder months, I’ll go for something highly visual with plenty of smell, as the carp will have a slower metabolism, and this affects both their sight and smell. That’s why these types of bait work so well in cold water. In the warmer months, I will start to match the hatch more, as the heightened senses of the carp are then being used fully, and a whole spring of seeing bright hookbaits can put them on edge, depending on how pressured the venue is.

I see end-tackle products making life much more convenient. They’ll be ready-made and usable straight out of the bag, so we’ll have an easy life and will be able to just ‘Pot Noodle’ our life away. We are living in a time of convenience, and the problem is that ready-made rigs and baits are really very good! This is why watercraft and rig craft, and use of perhaps life-long experience, will be key as we strive to remain on top of our game.