Ask Bailiff

What rig for fishing under overhanging trees?

Bailiff's answer, from the Carp Army rig library and what members have caught on.

Bailiff says: Solid PVA bag rig

Tight, awkward casts under trees need something tangle-proof that presents perfectly wherever it lands, and a solid bag does exactly that. It gives you a guaranteed hookbait sat in a small bed of feed even in a swim you cannot approach or fish accurately with a spread of bait.

Tweaks

  • Use a size 6-8 hook on a short 4-5in supple hooklink
  • Keep the lead moderate (2-2.5oz) for accurate underarm casts
  • Fill the bag with fine pellet or crumb for fast breakdown

Solid PVA bag rig

A short supple rig inside a solid PVA bag of pellet or crumb. The hookbait lands in a pile of food, wherever it lands.

MainlineInline leadWide gape hookSolid PVA bag, pellet packedSmall pop-up or wafter

Parts

Wide gape hook, size 8 to 6
Supple braid, 4 inch
Solid PVA bags
Inline lead, 2 to 3oz
Size 8 swivel
Small pop-up or wafter, 10 to 12mm

How to tie it

  1. Tie a 3 to 4 inch hair rig with a small hook and a small hookbait.
  2. Attach to an inline lead on a short swivel.
  3. Put a little pellet in the bag, then the lead, then pack around the rig with more pellet.
  4. Lick and stick, squeeze out the air, and trim the corners.

Your swim is different?

Describe it and Bailiff picks for that.