Ok so I am a newbee when it comes to zig rigs. This weekend I will experiment for the 1st time on a water that holds carp up to 40lb. I'm concerned about what i am researching and having such a light (12lb) hook length. Am I right to be concerned? I expect the hook length to only be about 4ft and will be using an inline setup.
Also any other tips would be appreciated.
Also any other tips would be appreciated.
In reply to Post #1
A 12 lb hooklink is hard as nails mate, just take it easy.
A 12 lb hooklink is hard as nails mate, just take it easy.
In reply to Post #1
12lb will be fine mate, just make sure you take it easy in the fight & you may want to fish a drop off lead to make it easier to handle (though at 4ft, you'd be ok either way).
Some good videos on YouYube on Zigs
12lb will be fine mate, just make sure you take it easy in the fight & you may want to fish a drop off lead to make it easier to handle (though at 4ft, you'd be ok either way).
Some good videos on YouYube on Zigs
In reply to Post #1
12lb will be fine, i've had fish up to 30lb on lengths up to 12ft on it. As said earlier drop of leads would be better, keep the clutch tight and give them time, if you try to bully a fish you'll likely loose it.
12lb will be fine, i've had fish up to 30lb on lengths up to 12ft on it. As said earlier drop of leads would be better, keep the clutch tight and give them time, if you try to bully a fish you'll likely loose it.
Thanks for the advice guys, plenty of action today but unable to hook in to anything 4 good takes missed.
In reply to Post #1
Don't rush trying to get fish into the net and obviously better if lead comes off.
But majority of my big caught carp, lead hasn't come off.
Don't rush trying to get fish into the net and obviously better if lead comes off.
But majority of my big caught carp, lead hasn't come off.
In reply to Post #1
Tried the zig rig for the first time myself a few days ago. I used the Korda medium sized float kit. I must say, it was easier to set up than I thought it would be. Caught a small sized carp on it too so that gave me confidence that I can set it up, cast it out (I'd recommend using dissolvable foam to pin the hook to the float when casting) and play it into the net.
Tried the zig rig for the first time myself a few days ago. I used the Korda medium sized float kit. I must say, it was easier to set up than I thought it would be. Caught a small sized carp on it too so that gave me confidence that I can set it up, cast it out (I'd recommend using dissolvable foam to pin the hook to the float when casting) and play it into the net.
In reply to Post #7
Drennan clear pike subfloat less carp tax, been using them for over 20 years with adjustable zigs never had an issue bit of foam on the hook wait for foam and float to reach surface then reel down to your required depth.
Drennan clear pike subfloat less carp tax, been using them for over 20 years with adjustable zigs never had an issue bit of foam on the hook wait for foam and float to reach surface then reel down to your required depth.
So what are the runs like as I had plenty of action but didn't hook a thing. Had 4 good takes but not screaming runs
In reply to Post #9
TBH they vary mate, sometimes it's a screamer, other times I've just seen the tip bouncing- I genuinely don't think they know what's going with Zigs sometimes.
What size hooks are you using I've used size 6s in the Zig aligner sleeves but overall settled on size 8s Wide Gape style hooks as they seemed to work the best.
TBH they vary mate, sometimes it's a screamer, other times I've just seen the tip bouncing- I genuinely don't think they know what's going with Zigs sometimes.
What size hooks are you using I've used size 6s in the Zig aligner sleeves but overall settled on size 8s Wide Gape style hooks as they seemed to work the best.
I was fishing zigs a few weeks back, when the temps were up, I had an absolute pool of fish in front of me, and was initially trying to get them to have it off the top but they were extremely cautious and this tactic was unsuccessful.
So I stuck out a zig, and soon realised the carp were coming in to enquire then spooking off, a bit like they were on the surface baits, brought the zig back in and noticed my hair was probably a tad too long, so I wound the hair around the shank of the hook a couple of times, so the foam basically sat on top of the bottom curv of the hook, and to my surprise this resulted in two very quick takes.
I don't know if this is how I should have been fishing them in the first place? Though have had fish on zigs on looser hairs previously, just not as quickly or as savagely. It is certainly something I will have to consider any time I choose to fish them from now on, and maybe food for thought for some who are missing takes or getting runs with no fish being hooked.
So I stuck out a zig, and soon realised the carp were coming in to enquire then spooking off, a bit like they were on the surface baits, brought the zig back in and noticed my hair was probably a tad too long, so I wound the hair around the shank of the hook a couple of times, so the foam basically sat on top of the bottom curv of the hook, and to my surprise this resulted in two very quick takes.
I don't know if this is how I should have been fishing them in the first place? Though have had fish on zigs on looser hairs previously, just not as quickly or as savagely. It is certainly something I will have to consider any time I choose to fish them from now on, and maybe food for thought for some who are missing takes or getting runs with no fish being hooked.
In reply to Post #11
Like the way you adjusted and tweaked your rig to get some interest. You mentioned a hair and foam in your rig. Have you tried the alignas?
Does anyone use anything else other than foam for zigs? Like a pop up? Or wafter?
Seen some zig bugs by Nash. Are these just a gimmick or have they worked for anyone?
Like the way you adjusted and tweaked your rig to get some interest. You mentioned a hair and foam in your rig. Have you tried the alignas?
Does anyone use anything else other than foam for zigs? Like a pop up? Or wafter?
Seen some zig bugs by Nash. Are these just a gimmick or have they worked for anyone?
In reply to Post #12
I use trimmed down pop ups where artificial are banned.
Messed around with zig bugs for a while, no better than foam I found.
Obviously wafters are not the one. You want your hooker as buoyant as possible mate.
I use trimmed down pop ups where artificial are banned.
Messed around with zig bugs for a while, no better than foam I found.
Obviously wafters are not the one. You want your hooker as buoyant as possible mate.
In reply to Post #12
It's either foam or cut down pop up for me when using zigs.
As Yonny has pointed out a wafter wouldn't cut it as these would not suspend your rig in mid or upper layer water due to their buoyancy level. They are designed to almost be weightless when a fish comes across your bait on the bottom and to sit perfect under the weight of the hook.
No idea on the zig bugs, I've never used these, sorry.
It's either foam or cut down pop up for me when using zigs.
As Yonny has pointed out a wafter wouldn't cut it as these would not suspend your rig in mid or upper layer water due to their buoyancy level. They are designed to almost be weightless when a fish comes across your bait on the bottom and to sit perfect under the weight of the hook.
No idea on the zig bugs, I've never used these, sorry.
In reply to Post #14
Cheers @Yonny and @Smashingit.
I always wondered how wafters differ from pop-ups as I thought they were the same except a different shape. So they don't float, just weightless.
Cheers @Yonny and @Smashingit.
I always wondered how wafters differ from pop-ups as I thought they were the same except a different shape. So they don't float, just weightless.
I was using a pop up about a foot under the surface in 7ft of water. Not tried artificial as I don't have confidence in them, maybe I should but still no luck on the zig. Gave up with it last weekend and dropped in a bottom bait. Within 3hrs I had banked 2 PB's in a row. Maybe zigs aren't for me after all.
In reply to Post #16
It sounds like you were probably too high in the water with your zig.
You might have had more success lower, say 2 or 3 ft down or even further as you picked up some off the bottom.
I've had my best morning on a tricky lake with a bait about a foot or two off the bottom when the water was cool and clear.
I often use a fine 8.5lb line for lower visibility if the situation allows and especially if I'm high in the water.
It sounds like you were probably too high in the water with your zig.
You might have had more success lower, say 2 or 3 ft down or even further as you picked up some off the bottom.
I've had my best morning on a tricky lake with a bait about a foot or two off the bottom when the water was cool and clear.
I often use a fine 8.5lb line for lower visibility if the situation allows and especially if I'm high in the water.
In reply to Post #16
Or they were clearly feeding on the deck. Use zigs when you need too, not just because.
Or they were clearly feeding on the deck. Use zigs when you need too, not just because.
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