Rigs
My Straight-Talk Guide to Rigs
Look, I'm not here to give you a rig-building masterclass - YouTube's already flooded with those. And honestly? If you'd rather buy pre-tied rigs than fumble with knots at 2am, nobody's judging. Do what works for you.
Carp Angler’s First Rig – Hair Rig
Let’s cut to the chase: this basic bottom bait rig is where every successful carper starts. It’s the rig you’ll still come back to years from now, no matter how fancy your tackle box gets. All you need is a single piece of line and a good hook – that’s it. No gimmicks, no complications, just fish-catching simplicity.
While all those extras might make your rig look photogenic in the box, the fish couldn’t care less. What matters is presentation, location, and confidence. Master this fundamental rig first, understand why it works, then experiment later when you’ve got the basics down cold.
The Stiff Hinge Rig
This has become my absolute confidence setup for one simple reason – it just works. The stiff hinge rig gives me perfect presentation every time, keeping my buoyant bait hovering naturally just above the lakebed. Paired with a snowman hookbait, it creates that irresistible "easy meal" look that carp find hard to ignore.
The only time I switch things up is when I've got pellets handy – then it's straight to the solid bag approach for that slow-releasing, scatter effect.
At the end of the day, fishing's about confidence, and this rig gives me exactly that. When you find something that works and that you enjoy using, why overcomplicate things?
Zig Rig
For me, zig and floater fishing is all about reading the water and choosing the right moment. When summer rolls around and I spot carp basking near the surface or cruising just beneath, that's when I'll reach for either a trimmed-down pop-up or some fake dog biscuits to mimic their natural snacks.
I don't bother with blind casting – if I can't see them feeding up top, I stick to other methods. That said, there's something exciting about watching a carp sip your bait off the surface or seeing your zig rig disappear as one intercepts it mid-water. I'll admit, it's not my go-to tactic – usually, I turn to zigs when I'm struggling on the bottom and need to search different depths to salvage a tough session.