What does an average set-up look like underwater?

Question

“I was wandering what a bog standard rig looks like after being cast out to an area. Each month we see different pro’s tactics but rarely your average guy on the bank. Can you take a ‘regular’ anglers rig and see how it looks?”
JEREMY LEWIS, VIA EMAIL

We chose a standard set-up to cast out in order to answer Jeremy’s question and this consisted of: some rig tubing, a lead clip, 3oz lead, coated braided hooklink (with the last inch stripped back), 18mm ‘out-the-bag’ boilie which was tipped with a piece of fake corn and attached a small PVA mesh bag of pellets. This set-up is very popular and used by many anglers, therefore we took it as the regular set-up.

CARPology.net's Josh found a clear spot in the weed at Horseshoe (a deep carp hole off Disabled Point casting towards The Road Bank) and this is what it looked like. Josh got his presentation absolutely spot-on as it landed on the side of the hole where the bank rose back up towards the rod. The rig tubing (as leadcore is banned at Horseshoe) was laid out nicely but there are a couple of things to consider with this approach. The bag will help separate the hooklink from the main line in flight and on entry but it’s important that it sinks through the water on a tight line and therefore the cast, not just the set-up, is crucial.

By feeling the lead down, Josh straightened out the hooklink and was also able to feel the donk as the lead landed, with the rig straight behind it. It’s vital to hit the clip at the right time as well, ideally just before the rig enters the water so it doesn’t bounce back, as too soon will pull it back off the spot and too late and it will fall slack and end up in a pile. Another thing to be aware of when using round bags is the angle of the bottom that you are landing upon. Rising towards you is perfect, as the hooklink will be pulled straight as the bag rolls down the slope and the leader will sit nicely as shown in the pic. If he was hitting the back side of it, where the angle drops towards the rod, the hooklink would end up alongside the leadcore. If this happened and he was fishing a tight line he would have a problem as the leader would be up in the water right by the side of the hookbait. If it was intended to be laid on a bottom that dropped back towards the rod a slack line would therefore be best, and probably a solid bag rather than a mesh bag would give a better presentation to stop any roll occurring. Get it right though and this is what it should look like.