Here's a few well
recognised basic rigs for reference including a brief description of
the best situation for each. Click on the rig type below for details or scroll through the selection.
RIG
7 - TROTTING RIG A trotting rig is a float rig intended for drifting. The shot is much more spaced out on the line to keep it under gentle control whilst sitting in a flowing ebb of water.
Step 1
Slide on a waggler float around 4-5 inches in length and secure it with a rubber sleeve. Set the fishing depth so that the baited hook will be just tripping the bottom.
Step 2
Nip on to the line below the float enough pieces of shot to cock the float upright in the water. Similar to the basic float rig but space the shot out so that they finish further down the line.
Step 3
Attach your hook to the end of the line and nip another piece of shot on to the line about 4" up from the hook.
RIG
8 - FLOATING BAIT RIG This is ideal for surface fishing in the summer months for species such as Carp which bask in the warmth of the sun just beneath the surface.
Step 1
Half fill your bubble float with water to weight it.
Step 2
Slide your bubble float on to the main reel line and attach a swivel to the end of the line.
Step 3
Set up a hair rig as follows:
- Using a separate hooklength line, tie a small loop in the end.
- Pass this end of the hooklength through the bait using a baiting needle or boilie needle if you're using boilies as bait.
- Secure the bait by sliding a Boilie Stop through the loop and pulling the bait tight against the Boilie Stop to make sure that the bait won't come off.
- Next, take your hook and position the line along the shank so that the bait is between 2 and 5mm from the end of the hook.
- Whip the line 3 times around the hook at the base of the shank just before the curve and secure in a knot.
- Thread the free hooklength end through the hook eye and whip it around the top of the hook 5 times and secure in a knot.
Step 4
Finally, tie the hooklength on to the swivel which is currently attached to the end of the main reel line.
RIG
9 - POP UP RIG Pop-up rigs are ideal when fishing amongst weed or in winter when there is often a lot of leaf litter on the lake bed. The bait would normally be lost amongst the debris but with a pop up, the bait sits just above it and is clearly visible to the fish.
Step 1
Slide on your lead weight and nip a piece of shot on to the line at the point where you want the hooklength to begin.
Carp Rods
