What rig set-up is best for weedy conditions?

Elliott Gray

Rig-wise, amongst real heavy weed, I’d opt for a lead clip and a stiff link, with the hook protected by dissolving foam. You don’t need to bait these spots too heavily in my opinion, not the tiny little ones anyway, a few freebies is often enough.

My favourite rig for fishing around weed

Jon McAllister

Rig and lead set-ups are simple. I always use the Multi Rig, sometimes known as the ‘Jon Mac Rig’ and it’s basically a pop-up rig. In weedy conditions I want the hookbait visible and I’ve used that rig for over a decade now. Surely it goes without saying that you’re going to need the lead to drop-off to help you land a fish once you get a bite. Again, I always use a lead clip so I’ve never got any worries about a carp using the lead in its favour as it twists and turns in its attempt to free the hook mid battle. One thing I will state here, is that in weedy conditions you need to up your hook size. I’ve lost fish in weed on a session and upped the hook size and each time I’ve done so it resulted in a fish being banked. Don’t be afraid to use a size 4, I use them all the time these days. I’d even use a size 2, no problems.