salokcinnodrog

I just cannot catch on Zigs, no matter what I do. It may be me or it may be the waters I fish, whatever, when I try it I have absolutely no joy. It is not even used as a last resort as I often think, "ah hah, fish moving about, either mid depth or near surface, so on with the zig", yet I get no joy. I've tried various baits, bright pop-ups, dark baits with no additional flavour, black foam, cork balls etc. I can catch on surface baits, reasonably well (usually freelined) and bottom baits, but the zig just doesn't work

You can do that, although I would check very carefully the breaking/bending point of them. Snap links do have an occasional tendency to open out and the clip pull free. Also remember as with Quick links the Lead is further away from the hooklink, and there is a "slight" additional pivot point that may provide a little extra movement before the lead is hit on a take.

i use a rubber bead on the tubing mate bill I would be a bit careful if using a bead on the tubing. When trying to pull one off have you ever noticed the tubing tends to 'scrunch' up? This is one of the reasons why I won't set a helicopter rig up with tubing I actually stopped using a Shocker set-up with Bead on the tubing. Even though Solar make or made them with their soft rubber beads that do normally slide, as their Running rigs, I got a little worried that the bead may hold the Lead on the tubing and create a potential rig that couldn't eject the lead. I don't know whether there are new snags in my lake from trip to trip, and don't want to be attaching a lead via Paper clip everytime, as in most cases I have no need to lose it.

Yes it definately was a bolt rig, still is to me The fish hits the lead and bolts - screaming run. Worked then, works now. We used to use a No.4 split shot though, not a bead, which is why I never liked them much. Obviously fish left towing rig around. Although a carp can easily break a no.4 split shot off it wasn't something I was happy with. The stop knot and bead setup works well nowadays but it is slightly different so i guess it was called a shocker rig instead. Anyone remember messing around with a biro pen... To be honest, the line was clipped up tight, yes, but there was no more than an inch between the two split shot so tight or slack line didn't make much difference as the rig was a 'self-hooking' rig. Thats what I remember anyway. T Hutchy describes it as a gap of between 6inches and 3feet

Just realised over time that what is now known as a Shocker set up with the Back Stop is probably the original Bolt Rig, or more correctly with the Lead attached Pendant style Amazing how things change over time, and what we now call a Bolt Rig is a Standard Semi-Fixed set-up. Its amusing how we can change things simply by using Tight or slack lines as the original Bolt rig I believe had the lines tight and in clips?

From the search facility: http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=28917&highlight=evesham http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=27977 The first is a dedicated thread on Evesham Vale, with what is probably 2 pages of information, some useful, some chat. The second thread is a link to Fisheries by county. Slide down to the county you need and then see what is in the area. Some of the lakes will give you phone number for information, and on many you may find that they appear under the search facility. Then by posting on a thread you bring it back to the top of the section to get up to date information.

From the search facility on Lakemore: http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=33376&highlight=lakemore http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=25140&highlight=lakemore Just by posting on a thread you bring it back to the top of the section for up to date information

Talk nicely to the people on the bank, if they like and accept you, then you may get a head start, but you will need to spend a lot of time looking and walking. You will have a lot of blanks, and need a new pair of shoes for all the walking you will have to do All information on there is closely guarded, do NOT expect an easy ride

I buy all mine now ready made as quote all mine i make are rubbish and a waste of time still dont go anyway , Practice makes perfect. I would never buy a ready made rig. If a knot breaks who is to blame? Yet if it happens on a rig you have made yourself you know who is at fault. It is not hard to tie a simple knotless knot to the hook, and a knot to the swivel. The knotless knot can be covered in Shrink or silicon tubing for a line aligner. http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=22185 I carry a ready selection of rigs I have tied myself, although admittedly my Combi rigs are 2/3 to 1/3. I don't tie on the bank, as I have spent many hours often watching the fish and know what I need to achieve, although I think with a running lead rig, length is not as important as it is with a Semi-Fixed/Bolt rig set-up I'll have to have a play with your idea for Combi set-ups, although as mine are currently working it may take me a while

You don't mean Kryston Icky do you? http://www.kryston.com/solutions/icky.htm Bondage that Icemaster posted is the rubberised version of the Icky, both are cyanoacrylate based

Kryston Superstiff? Often with braid a lot of tangles occur as you pick up the rod. The braid being softer falls around the lead, then as you pick up the lead moves first and then the hooklink pulls tight around it. I use Braid for most of my fishing with Running leads, and use PVA stringers, mesh or bags. No problems with Tangles. I also know that if you use a Combi Link then you can really avoid tangles even without PVA. 2/3 Mono (Amnesia) and 1/3 Braid works

Local Lake this week. One swim, absolutely disgusting, Line, Leadcore leaders, rigs, broken glass, Beer Cans and bottles, the remains of fires in the swim. Just out of the swim, in almost every part of the undergrowth, and some plain ground, the whole area was covered in Human Excrement and that piece of Bog roll. Just over the road from the lake is a Picnic area with a Public Toilet For Gods sake, if you do get caught short on the bank, BAG IT OR BIN IT.

Had a couple of nights on the lake this week, and was absolutely disgusted. Wandered around, and although the D was free, which meant I could set up and have a Social trip with a mate, the area was absolutely disgusting. The swim was littered with the remains of fires, broken glass, lengths of line, (including 2 Leadcore leaders). Not even hidden in the bushes, but just left on the bank out of the swim, some even in the Car Parking area, the whole area was covered with Human Excrement and Toilet roll. The most stupid thing about that is that 2 minutes over the road at the Picnic area is a Public Toilet and Water refilling station

Stick to the mullet. It suits you Flat top for me mate The loop knot also works with Coated Braids, although after a few casts it does "crumple" and the coating starts to break

Plus it depends on the swivel type you use. If you use a swivel with an addititional ring for the "loop" and have the standard end on the Mainline then you wouldn't need a loop knot. If you use the extra Ring on the mainline then a loop knot may be useful. Incidentally with all the problems with Leaders and Helicopter set-ups (Chod) have a look at these little beauties Beach Beads If there is a need for a Helicopter type set-up, then I know that Cox and Rawle (Sea Fishing) make a perfectly acceptable item for it, as do JRC Beach Beads. It is basically a Dumbell shaped bead, with the TOP section of the dumbell which can pull off the "pin". Even better is that it can be used as a Sliding Heli- set-up. You don't have to pin it down near the lead, it can slide up and down the Mainline, and DO NOT use Rig Glue to hold it together, and use it the opposite way to the advice from Cox and Rawle. It may not be perfect, but I do try to reduce the risks

Wow Paul, That place is steeped in Carp fishing history Damn right. And it was stocked by the late, great Donald Leney. I should know, cos ive flicked through his famous stocking books Get a copy of Carp Fever by Kevin Maddocks, lovely account of some of the fish in there and the ingenuity used to catch them in the "days of yore".

I don't think that it knotless knots well unless the hook you use has a totally closed eye. Even though you go opposite to the join, strands still get caught in the join. I mostly used to tie the hook on with a Uni knot and attach a separate hair, often of Dental floss If I ever used it Knotless knotted I ended up stripping it down, but leaving the knotless knot coated, then stripping the hair, and also a section above the hook eye (use a pair of childrens plastic scissors or a sharp finger nail to break the coating). If there is any weed or gunk on the bottom, then I wouldn't use it for bottom baits, as the gunk gets in between the strands. However it is a brilliant hooklink, but so flipping difficult at times.

Suffolk Water Park has Cafe, Toilets Showers. Taverham Mills, has lodges, toilet and showers Waveney Valley, Yew Tree, Marsh Farm Anglers Paradise Stick them in the search as they do come up

In the top of this section is a Sticky called Where to Fish by Counties http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=27977 The search facility also brings up a fair number of threads on Leicestershire waters. Go to the Search, type in Leicestershire, click "search all terms", Click Forum and choose UK Where to Fish, press Submit, and about 60 threads on Leicestershire waters will come up

Depends on what I want hair wise. I've switched off from using the knotless knot at the moment as I found I lost a couple of fish due I think to the hook not turning in aggresively enough. I went back to Line aligners, and the hook tied on with a Uni knot with a hair made from 4lb Mono tied to the eys. Covered over with Shrink tubing. I always use a separate hair (or D-rig) with fluoros and monos as I don't like a stiff hair on a line that thick and definitely lost a fish with a Mono hooklink where I had been too lazy to tie a D-rig

I don't do the final "tuck" through, but yes

Tench have been showing, and there have been a couple of fish pulled out attached to rigs on that favourite item of tackle I know that my Mate pulled in a Tench attached to a Leadcore rig on there last week. A few Carp showing up, but it is not as easy as it used to be

To me it depends on the hooklink material. I attach all my rigs to the hooklink swivel, don't like Quicklinks of any sort as I feel that it is another pivot point that may or may not be used for the rig to be ejected. I know the thinking is old fashioned, but I don't want anything that can be used to slow down the feel of hitting the lead, that additional link may allow it. When it comes to Fluorocarbon or mono and combi hooklinks I tie the line to the hooklink swivel with a loop knot. This is the one that is shown in Kryston packaging. The best way I can describe it is tie an overhand knot in the hooklink material, but don't pull tight, put swivel on the end, then go through the overhand loop with tag end, go round the line 4 times, and then back through loop, wet and pull both pieces tight. You then have a formed loop. I feel that it gives a little extra "arc" movement that may allow the Carp to move without feeling for the Lead or any resistance For braided hooklinks I just use a straight Uni knot to attach the hooklink material to the swivel. Not much need to feel for the "Lead resistance" as the braid is not going to be tight, and the Carp doesn't know when the resistance is going to pull in. Mind you, I do tend to use Running Leads on most occasions, so there is not much chance of the Carp feeling the Lead, but because I use tubing there will be some resistance. [edited for typo]

Correct mate. And if people are still worried they shouldn't be fishing, maybe take up knitting or something It is as making it as safe as possible. I know that accidents happen, in any form of fishing, whether that is a deep sea trawler who gets his net snagged on the Sea bed, to a Rod and Line angler snap-off that leaves line trailing, both are in reality still fishing. As for using a Running lead in Snaggy waters I know at times I still need to do so, but in that case I attach the Lead to a Paperclip to the Run Ring. The Paperclip will open out and release the Lead. It is far better in my mind to have a fish that is not trailing a lead then at least it has a chance to eject the hook through that callous forming. Paul, by the way, a sewing needle is a "pure" clean object, so that may actually stay in the skin, whereas a hook that embeds is covered in other junk, and usually gets rejected

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