What's the best set-up for the Adjustable Zig Rig?

Zigging can be a deadly method but unlike some other forms of fishing, the way to do it can be critical to success. When fishing on the bottom it’s easy to get away with large hooks, leaders and other forms of bulky end tackle. Zigging is different – it can be absolutely crucial that your tackle is fined down, when things are held up in the water column they become a lot easier for the carp to see.

I will always try to use as light a line as possible and in open water situations where no obstacles are present I will happily drop down to as low as 6lb line. You need to make sure you assess the situation properly before but providing there is no risk of being weeded up or the line coming into contact with snags or gravel bars, it’s fine to use light lines. If there are any of the above present then I would use no less than 10lb line; you might not get as many bites but fish safety must come first.

Losing the lead is something I will also try to do, it’s more important when there’s weed about but even in open water, it makes life easier when playing the fish. Losing the lead enables you to be in direct contact with the fish. For this job I opt for the use of a Hybrid Lead Clip.

An Anti-tangle sleeve also makes a world of difference and can honestly say that they reduce the amount of tangles quite dramatically. The use of PVA foam also helps to keep the hookbait separated and away from the line, it also makes watching for tangles a lot easier.

With all this said, the depth is by far the most important aspect of Zigging and you have got to make sure you play around with different depths until you start catching – the right thing at the wrong depth isn’t going to catch you a carp.