Ask Bailiff

What rig for zig fishing in summer?

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

Bailiff says: Zig rig

Summer carp often sit up in the layers rather than feeding on the bottom, and a buoyant bait suspended at the right depth puts your hookbait right in front of them. This is the go-to method when the bottom is dead and fish are cruising mid-water on warm days.

Tweaks

  • Start with a hooklink 4-6ft off the lead and adjust depth until you find fish
  • Use a size 10-12 hook to suit small foam or buoyant baits
  • Try black foam early and lighter colours as the light lifts

Zig rig

A buoyant bait fished up in the water on a long mono hooklink. Catches fish that never go near the bottom.

MainlineZig lead or 2oz inlineZig lineSmall wide gapeZig foam or alignerSurfaceLake bed

Parts

Small wide gape, size 10
Zig line, 10 to 12lb, 4 to 12ft
Zig foam or aligner
Zig lead or 2oz inline
Size 8 swivel

How to tie it

  1. Tie a hair rig on a small hook with a piece of black foam.
  2. Attach a length of zig line the depth you want to fish, tied to a swivel on the lead.
  3. Cast, tighten down, and watch the line for signs of interest.

Your swim is different?

Describe it and Bailiff picks for that.