SPECIMEN CORNER: Get your rigs to blend in

When targeting big carp, I believe fish location to be the most important aspect, followed very closely by bait presentation. If you cannot master these two challenges, the carp of your dreams will simply remain in your dreams.

A very important part of bait presentation is to get your rig to blend in with the various conditions your chosen water may have below the surface. If you have done your homework properly, you should be confident when selecting the colour of your complete rig that will compliment your chosen bait, and hopefully get a few big ones on the bank. 

A specimen carp rig is made up of two basic sections, namely the hooklink section and the contour leader section. The hooklink section is the hook and hooklink material, while the contour leader section will complete the rig when using lead core or rig tubing. This is the section or part of the rig I want to discuss in a bit more detail as I think there are still quite a few anglers who struggle to use it properly. 

A big carp is a wary creature and feeds very carefully, especially around unnatural food. Your rig needs to not only blend in with the lake bed, but also has to lie as flat as possible so that the carp cannot feel or swim into the line while feeding. Lead core is one of those great inventions that still accounts for many big carp around the world. It is basically a strong braided line that contains a length of thin lead on the inside which simply adds a bit of weight to the braid which in turn causes the braid to sink quickly and lie flat against the lake bed.

Lead core is available in a variety of colours and breaking strains which can be made to work on any water. Some countries have banned lead from their waters, but a number of tackle companies have changed the lead to a tungsten-type material. Lead core is normally available on spools of 10 metres which needs to be cut into a required length, about 80cm when casting and 120cm when boating the lines out. Each end must be spliced which can be very tricky, and sometimes take a bit of time together with a few broken needles before it is done successfully. Fortunately there are a few tackle companies that have ready spliced lead core in their range. They normally come in packs of two, and are available in different lengths. This obviously makes it a lot more convenient for the beginner big carp angler who struggles to splice lead core, and will also save time at the water’s edge should you lose a rig. When shopping for lead core take note of what colour you think will blend in at your chosen water, while at the same time check the stiffness of the lead core. 

TIP: When shopping for lead core take note of what colour you think will blend in at your chosen water.

Some manufacturers use a thick lead as an inner core which tends to give it a stiffer feel which I personally don’t like. The reason being that if you are fishing on a rocky bottom, the lead core does not adapt to the contours and might stand out over a small rock or stone, which may leave it exposed to sight and touch. I prefer a very soft lead core, in fact I have recently switched to a leader that has no weighted core on the inside. The braid has been weaved with extra fast sinking fibres that enables it to lie tight against the lake bed with enough suppleness to ‘flow’ with the contours.

A relatively new kid on the block is the “weed-look” leader and I believe this will be extremely effective, especially on pressurised waters.  It is also a lead-free braid that has a weedy-type material pulled over it that gives it a very natural look. They are available in a few different colours and come on spools of 5 metres, and are not too difficult to splice. Ready-spliced lengths are available in pairs as ready to fish kits. This basically means that they come with swivels, lead clips and tail rubbers. Some are available as semi-running rigs while others come with quick-change swivels and anti-tangle sleeves. All you basically need to do is attach the one end to your leader line, connect a hook link and you’re ready to bait up.

TIP: When boating my lines out I like to use very long combi hook links, and I have experimented with the weed-look leaders by using them as part of my hook link. I’d basically cut a length of 60cm and splice a swivel onto each end. A short soft hooklink of about 10cm will be attached to one swivel, while the other swivel will be spliced onto my leader which will be pulled into a lead clip. Prior to baiting up I will soak the weedy section in my bucket of hemp seed to draw in a bit of extra oiliness.

When I go out and place the baited rig carefully, the hook bait will be lying next to a natural looking piece of weed which is slowly releasing hemp oil; not many carp are going to swim past without being tempted! Of course one can use your preferred flavour to soak the weed look into, as long as it’s on an oil base so that it releases slowly. I firmly believe that this method will be perfect for winter fishing as an extra attractant when less and smaller baits are the order of the day.

Always check your rigs and bait presentations in the margins to make sure they do what you designed them to do, blend in!

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