Rigs for ZIGS

Fellow carpers often ask me what I think is the best set up for a zig and I have to reply somewhat vaguely that it all depends, and that's the truth it does depend on all manner of things including what depth the lake is that you are fishing , I can only say what works for me personally and here I'll try to relay what little I've learnt from my many experiences using these weird looking set ups.

 The two main criteria are that

.1. IT DOES NOT TANGLE and FINDING THE RIGHT DEPTH

a. For fixed links.

To make things simple I prefer do away with all tubing , leadcore etc. To avoid tangles I simply use instead a 20 ft length of 25lb b.s. flourocarbon as a shockleader, to this I attach  a lead clip (I use Korda) ,making sure the tail rubber is only just slipped on  i.e. as loose as possible as it is very important that you dump the lead. More often than not I like to use a combi zig which comprises of a fairly stiff hooklink material again to avoid tangles --- 12lb bs minimum flouro. to this I then attach the supple braided section ( Korda supernatural or similar ) using a 4 turn double grinner knot which Ive found to be 100 per cent reliable.  Hook choice is down to the individual, sizes 8 and 10 are the norm. Personally I like the Korda mixers in 8's and their long shanks in 10's , the braided part of the hooklink is between 3 to 6 inches and enables the  hookbait much more flexibility  and movement which then in turn allows the fish to take the hookbait well back into the mouth,vastly improving not only our chances of a take but also of a good hook hold......Happy days!
 As to actual baits I use both the foam and cut down pop-ups, I'm happy with foam during the daytime but a cut down pop-up gives me more confidence at night (probably because of the fact that it is actual food I suppose) as for colour I normally start out with either black or yellow or a combination of both together. remember to keep it as small as possible while at the same time obviously ensuring that it will remain buoyant for as long as you intend to leave it out there, this is where foam scores well as it will never lose its buoyancy. As for pop ups the" proper job"ones seem to be very good and even when cut down seem capable of floating the titanic! When fishing a straight nylon only hooklink again i use 12lb b.s. flouro. but for better presentation use a Korda choddy size 8 fished "D  Rig" style , i find that the hook just sits that much nicer. Finally it also helps to use another tail rubber on the swivel end of the hooklink. As a general rule I'll start off fishing with one set at at one half of the actual depth and the other one at two thirds, obviously moving it up if you can see fish near the surface or the weather is very warm and visa verse if its cooler, experiment and see ,i actually really enjoy the zigging and on some waters consider it to be my main weapon especially at this time of year. Finally don't  forget  when casting , cast high , lay the hooklink on smooth ground or a groundsheet if you prefer and then ALWAYS STOP THE LEAD BEFORE IT HITS THE WATER  TO STRAIGHTEN THE HOOKLINK .....this is vitally IMPORTANT!!!!! 

b. I use the excellent Fox adjustable floats when the depth i need to fish at exceeds say 13 ft and generally use a hooklink of 5-7 ft  of which it is vitally important that you remember the exact length...........why? I'll tell you why ......so that after you have followed the instructions on the packet and let your float up to the surface you KNOW EXACTLY how far you are fishing under the surface,  it pays to work out measurements from the top down rather than try to work out how far you are fishing off the bottom, after all from the top down is the KEY to finding the zones that applies to anywhere on the lake ! My main tips for not tangling with the floats is to wrap a foam nugget around the stem and then pass the hook through both ends , in effect doubling or folding the hooklink.  A word of warning though ....multiple float set ups are not just asking for trouble  they are trouble every time i hook a lively fish on one it manages to tangle one or both of the others ...resulting in an awful mess...you've been warned , but apart from that they are brilliant because you don't have to keep casting to alter the depth you are fishing , simply let it up ..or pull it down ( buy the cheap one , you won't need the coloured tops ) If your memory is poor like mine try and keep a record of the actual depths you are fishing with these floats so you know which one fished at which depth was actually taken!

      
                     One of my first ever zig captures.. white tips at conningbrook 6ft zig ...2001!

TIGHT LINES  .............................................MR.F.