What signs do you look for before deciding to try a zig rig?
Yesterday after fishing 2 bottom baits for a couple of hours with no takes, I decided to give it a try.
Got no experience or confidence whatsoever with zigs, but as the bottom baits weren't producing I decided I had to try something different.
There were no signs of any fish topping, there was quite a strong wind blowing and the app on my phone was telling me the air pressure was 1012 - 1013 (whatever that means lol)
Tried various depths but never had a sniff. Not even sure what to look for before deciding to try a zig.
Any advice to a complete novice at this method please?
Yesterday after fishing 2 bottom baits for a couple of hours with no takes, I decided to give it a try.
Got no experience or confidence whatsoever with zigs, but as the bottom baits weren't producing I decided I had to try something different.
There were no signs of any fish topping, there was quite a strong wind blowing and the app on my phone was telling me the air pressure was 1012 - 1013 (whatever that means lol)
Tried various depths but never had a sniff. Not even sure what to look for before deciding to try a zig.
Any advice to a complete novice at this method please?
In reply to Post #1
Well done for having a positive attitude! I think you're right to look at the air pressure as the higher it is, the more likely the fish will be in the upper layers. What depth is the area you were fishing? I often fish in shallower water when the air pressure is up. Maybe you weren't on the fish? You say you tried different depths with the zigs. Using an adjustable zig is useful for quick variations. Maybe you could try being more mobile until you find the fish. At least you were trying and good luck the next time you are out!
Well done for having a positive attitude! I think you're right to look at the air pressure as the higher it is, the more likely the fish will be in the upper layers. What depth is the area you were fishing? I often fish in shallower water when the air pressure is up. Maybe you weren't on the fish? You say you tried different depths with the zigs. Using an adjustable zig is useful for quick variations. Maybe you could try being more mobile until you find the fish. At least you were trying and good luck the next time you are out!
In reply to Post #1
general rule of thumb, high pressure will draw fish up and low pressure will push the fish down. That's not a hard and fast rule. From my experience, heavily stocked venues , zigs can produce in all conditions especially if spodding over them. never had much joy in clear, low stocked waters but I guess that's more because of location. Id say if its a fairly well stocked venue and you have seen no signs and you can move around, do that and fish mid depth and go from there.
general rule of thumb, high pressure will draw fish up and low pressure will push the fish down. That's not a hard and fast rule. From my experience, heavily stocked venues , zigs can produce in all conditions especially if spodding over them. never had much joy in clear, low stocked waters but I guess that's more because of location. Id say if its a fairly well stocked venue and you have seen no signs and you can move around, do that and fish mid depth and go from there.
In reply to Post #3
Imo air pressure does absolutely nothing to dictate where in the water column carp will be. It's the weather these pressure systems bring that does that. 30 degrees and sun at 990 will have them on top same as rain and big winds at 1030 will have them smashing the deck up. But of course high pressure normally brings those bright sunny zig conditions....
Imo air pressure does absolutely nothing to dictate where in the water column carp will be. It's the weather these pressure systems bring that does that. 30 degrees and sun at 990 will have them on top same as rain and big winds at 1030 will have them smashing the deck up. But of course high pressure normally brings those bright sunny zig conditions....
In reply to Post #4
Thanks for the info and advice guys. It was a very windy day and I would like to think I just wasn't on the fish as opposed to thinking I failed misserably and shattering my confidence even further.
I want to catch a carp on a zig during the colder months if it kills me lol.
If fishing this method guring the colder winter months, is it best to fish it with just the zig hookbait alone or do you still spod a slopy mix over the top?
Thanks for the info and advice guys. It was a very windy day and I would like to think I just wasn't on the fish as opposed to thinking I failed misserably and shattering my confidence even further.
I want to catch a carp on a zig during the colder months if it kills me lol.
If fishing this method guring the colder winter months, is it best to fish it with just the zig hookbait alone or do you still spod a slopy mix over the top?
In reply to Post #5
Hiya mate.
There are a few Good threads on zig fishing on here. Some good advice and worth a search.
As said, adjustable zigs are very useful if you aren't sure what depth the fish are.
In colder weather I'm one for single baits - maybe dipped in a bit of something to give a bit of attraction. (Something legal that is!)
A mate of mine swears by the bit of black foam approach and I have to say he does well. I've had a lot of success on a chunk of breadcrust fished zig style - keeps the bloody ducks off too
Enjoy it mate
Hiya mate.
There are a few Good threads on zig fishing on here. Some good advice and worth a search.
As said, adjustable zigs are very useful if you aren't sure what depth the fish are.
In colder weather I'm one for single baits - maybe dipped in a bit of something to give a bit of attraction. (Something legal that is!)
A mate of mine swears by the bit of black foam approach and I have to say he does well. I've had a lot of success on a chunk of breadcrust fished zig style - keeps the bloody ducks off too
Enjoy it mate
In reply to Post #4
You say air pressure has no bearing, then you say it's the driver behind the weather that influences the fishes behaviour. I think you may want to re-visit that one
You say air pressure has no bearing, then you say it's the driver behind the weather that influences the fishes behaviour. I think you may want to re-visit that one
In reply to Post #7
I said air pressure has nothing to do with the whereabouts of carp in the water column. I literally followed with 2 examples of how air pressure is not always the driver behind the weather.
I said air pressure has nothing to do with the whereabouts of carp in the water column. I literally followed with 2 examples of how air pressure is not always the driver behind the weather.
In reply to Post #8
There's a lot of nasty comments appearing in this forum lately.
Maybe its all the hormones floating around
There's a lot of nasty comments appearing in this forum lately.
Maybe its all the hormones floating around
In reply to Post #9
In reply to Post #9
Lol.
Edited to keep it friendly.
Lol.
Edited to keep it friendly.