The zig rig has been around for many years now and allows a buoyant bait to be fished from the lake bed at the depth of your choice. Although effective at any time of the year, zig rigging really comes into its own through the spring when the carp are spending much of their time in the upper layers. A good starting point on any water is to begin at two thirds of the depth in front of you and then take it from there. If you have no luck to start with then don't be afraid to experiment. The depth the carp are sitting at will vary on conditions and the time of day. Also remember that the carp won't suddenly all swim to the bottom just because it gets dark. Carp will pick up a zig rigged bait at any time of the day or night - if you have the nerve to give it a go!

STEP 1

Here are the basic items needed to construct a zig rig: Size 10 ESP Big T Hooks, 10lb Pro Clear line, 0.5mm Korda Silicon Tubing, and for bait some Bankside Pineapple Pop Ups. 

STEP 2

Thread on a short piece of silicon tubing and then tie a normal loop into your hooklink.

STEP 3

Carefullly pass the hookpoint through the tubing and thread around the hook to the position shown.

STEP 4

Put a bait on before you finish the rig off to ensure you get the length of the hair just right. We also like to add a thin piece of Gardner Zig Rig Foam to the top of the boilie.

STEP 5

A simple knotless knot finishes the rig off.

STEP 6

To create an agressive 'bent hook' effect, push another short length of silicon over the eye as showm.

STEP 7

We use two lead set ups depending on the situation. For weed free waters we prefer the inline set up, whilst in weedy venues a swivel lead fitted on a safety clip is a better option. When fishing zigs always go for the lightest lead you can as this will make playing a hooked carp a lot easier.

STEP 8

This inline set up works well for zig rigging in open water. A short two to three inch length of anti tangle tubing pushed into the tail rubber helps to reduce tangles.

STEP 9

For weedy waters a safety clip set up fished without a tail rubber ensures the lead will drop off quickly if it gets snagged. To secure the lead for casting the clip can be tied up with PVA string.

STEP 10

Along with the ever dependable Pineapple pop ups, another very successful bait for zig rigging is a small piece of foam, with yellow and black two well proven colours.

The boys from Bankside have just returned from their annual spring trip the the fantastic Abbey Lakes complex in France and it's fair to say that they bagged more than their fair share of big carp. In conditions more suited to sunbathing than fishing, the warm days and chilly nights made the fishing somewhat patchy at times, but our determined party of six still managed to put around seventy carp on the bank between them, including a number of 40's.

There are lakes to suit all tastes at Abbey but our lads decided to concentrate their efforts of Heron and Fox, both of which hold carp to well over 60lb.

A variety of tactics were employed to catch, from close in stuff down the margins to single bright hookbaits at range.

Most of the lads went in with the new Bankside D-Liver and even though it soon became apparent the carp weren't feeding heavily, the bait still produced the goods.

Bright hookbaits also proved very successful with plastic or the ever dependable Pineapple pop ups catching a lot of fish.

If you fancy a go on Abbey for some of the best looking carp in France then give Finchy a ring in the shop for more info, or book direct at Angling International on 01948 880884.

A new year and a new range of Bankside goodies are ready to be released. The new D-LIVER range has been tested thouroughly and has taken plentiful captures to over 50lb already. D-liver has a superb meaty taste and smell that is instantly recognisable as a nutritious food source. Combining our exceptional liver powder, special blend of flavours and taste enhancers this bait offers a real alternative and more importantly is completely different from most baits available today. If you're looking for that edge this year, then why not give it a try.

D-Liver will be available in 12mm and 16mm, these are boiled for a minimum time to ensure maximum nutritional value is retained. Matching Pop Ups, Shelf Life paste, Xtract and Bag mix is all available providing a complete range for all fishing situations.

D-Livering The Goods Already

Someone who has been doing rather well this winter whilst testing the D-Liver range is Nigel Williams from Cheltenham. This pristine 31lb 8oz common from a tricky undisclosed venue is one of only a few fish banked this winter, so well done Nige. A glugged D-liver pop up over a scattering of freebies was the successful tactic. Nige Commented 'There are quite a few anglers baiting areas all the time on this venue, so I needed a bait that was different and one that I would have confidence in. Judging by the fish showing over the spots all the time, D-Liver certainly encourages interest and will be my first choice for this year'.

Team Bankside member Stuart Morgan is certainly no stranger to big barbel and with less than 48 hours of the river season left he's struck yet again with this stunning 14lb 3oz specimen landed during a short evening session.

Stuart commented 'this fish fell to a boilie hookbait fished alongside a PVA bag of Grubber Pellets and is a great way to finish off the season.'

The underwater world always fascinates carp anglers, and in this exciting new series Rob Hughes dons a snorkel and has a look at bait presentations, tactics, how rigs behave and also see some stunning carp footage of the creatures that we love in their natural environment.

Bankside Tackle will be one of the first to get stocks of this brand new DVD, but if you can't wait until then please click here for a preview of what Carp: Above and below is all about. 

AWESOME UNDERWATER FOOTAGE 

Part 1 of Carp: Above and Below sees the team venture out to the awesome Abbey Lakes complex in northern France where the fish are pretty clued up and the water very clear. Join Rob Hughes and pals Jon “Shoes” Jones (aka The Trickster) and Lee Croson on a fantastic session where the lads catch some incredible fish giving their tactics for success. We investigate the deadly “parachute bag” method and see exactly why it is so successful with slo –mo underwater footage of what happens when your rig hits the bottom. In addition we look at a fantastic stringer presentation with a twist, and also how to get the best from your hook link set ups. It’s enlightening stuff and Rob manages to land a stunning 57lb Abbey mirror in the process showing his tactics are bang on. 

TIPS FROM THE BRITISH CHAMPS

The 2008 British Carp Angling Champions Jon Finch and Ian Poole join us to give an insight into some of the strategies and baits that netted them the top prize in UK Carp angling and bag a 40lb common and a 50lb mirror in the process. Finchy has been out to Abbey a few times before and applies his wide range of knowledge but it’s Pooley's first trip so we can see the approach from two different angles and how successful these boys can be. 

ADVANCED BAIT BOAT USE

There is no question that using a bait boat can increase your success, and Viper’s Keith Williams lets you in on some of the advanced ways you can use a boat. We look at the use of bait boats, how they drop their bait, what the presentation looks like and also some advanced tips and tricks to give you an edge. 

The beginning of the year always sees lots of new products launched and the latest gadgets from the ESP stable never disappoint. By popular demand the ESP Curve-Shanx are added to the increasing hook range. If you're a fan of Korda Kurv's or Kamasan Carp Maxx, then these new ESP hooks will certainly have a place in the tackle box. Super sharp, Teflon coated and a gradual curve, this hook will turn over and grab hold of rig cautious carp. Available in all the regular and intermediate sizes.

Next up are the ESP Ready Tied Leadcore Leader Helicopter Rigs. Now available in 1m and 1.5m lengths and in four colours: Weedy Green, Original Camo, Sandy Gravel and Choddy Silt all with colour coded beads and sleeves. These are the best ready tied leaders on the market; perfect splices everytime, reliable and safe and a testament to ESP high standards. These will also be available in the Bolt Clip version later in the year.

The Original Ghost Hooklink has been a popular seller for anglers wanting a stiff Fluorocarbon Hooklink, but can be limiting on its presentations. The New ESP Soft Ghost is limp and supple and ideal for a wide variety of more flexible rigs and presentations. Its other characteristic of being denser than water also helps the rig to lie tight to the bottom. ESP Soft Ghost is available in 10lb, 12lb, 15lb and 18lb breaking strains.