nicb

Atlast, differing oppinions and a decent debate... I agree with a few bits, but totally dissagree with numerous others, saying all progression rigs are designed to fill mags in not true, maybe everynow and again it may be the case but to say it comprehensively is not right... Unquestionabely we over credit the Carps INTELLIGENCE, what we dont over estimate is their instinct, carp learn by association If a carp gets hooked or spooked reguarly in one swim, on one bait, on one rig it will undoubtabley wise up and has been the case on the majority of the waters I fish... The exception to the rule would be waters with a substantial head of carp where feeding is a competition... I have been in the presence of numerous article writers who are using progressive rigs that they have published, remember back to Tels Spinner rig, he created that awful looing rig and fished it on the top waters in the Country his success is unparreled, I can vouch for him using this rig, I also use it myself to great effect with pop ups... I have also seen Rob using his maggot rig exstensively although it has been published.... Yes on numerous occasions rigs are designed to sell produts, but by no means all the time... As I have said before, and numerous others also, the Key to Carp fishing is the ability to adapt to a situation.. 1st you find them, then you concoct a way to fish for them and then you use tackle, baits and rigs that will enable you to do thid properly.. Eg, If I can fish straight on the bottom with no debris it will be a snake bite combi with a critically ballence dbottom bait, if there is debris I will use Tells rig and a pop up, if there is feet of weed I will use a Zig or float fish and so on and So forth. ther are so many people out there with oppinions it is up to you weather you follow them have an open mind, if you read in a carp mag that So and so used this to good effect in this situation and that suits your circumstances then give it a go, dont be a sheep and jump on the "big names make such and such up to sell X,Y &B" because that is not by anymeans always the case...

Deffo, agree with everything and in an ideal world, which everynow and then it can be, if the fish are on the bait then they will NORMALLY take a hookbait.... On a lot of waters I can see no issues with the approach and indeed it agrees with a previous post of mine... But sometimes there are band wagon posts, use a straight forward this, yeah dont over complicate, dont listen to the latest AC article ect ect in a lot of cases this is correct.. I am merely pointing out that this is NOT ALWAYS the case hence my Toll Pits example, there may be numerous occassions, especially on the pressured waters or very very old and wise carp that something a bit different, and possibly a progression is required.

Totally agree with your thoughts, in general, but not sure it is always the case... I have been lucky enough to fish some of the countries top waters, with varying results and have often sat up trees or in boats and watched the fish for hours, and the way they behave... Some rigs are just not good enough for these fish, they are far to bright for it and will dismiss it out of hand... I once fished as a guest of a big name at Toll Pits, Jim had some whackers over his baits and all around, the intellegence these fish showed was amazing, spiting baits out, and at one stage one upended over a pop up took it in, then another swam ova to him and bumped into him, he then reversed of the bait and swam off... We spent hours trying to work our way around it... The truth of the matter is that every rig will suit a certain situation. I certainly would never dream of using one rig soley as I think it is very important to be able to adapt accordingly to different situations... If I had to conclude I would say that IN GENERAL, if I was fishing for 1 bite as I do most of the time if possible I would use a critically balanced bait on as light a mono as poss or on braid so that when disturbed the bait will act as naturally as possible.. If I have more than 2 fish feeding on my baits I will try a pop up, probably just an inch of the deck, normally on Tels rig and I try and keep the bait as inconspicuous as possible so that it is just washed in in the general act of feeding.. Well thats me done!

Thats an interesting point but I think the answer is simple... The top fisheries in the country, made famous by there stock, car park, toll lakes, Fen Drayton, the Conns, Conning Brook, Wraysbury, Hoton ect ect have some amazing fish in them and are therefore fished for by the big names... These fish are quite literally hammered non stop, and the majority of them have seen everything that they can... So rigs have progressed and adapted to give them somethong new to think about... When these fish are caught and the captor normally a big name publicises his rig it is always STATED to be this new fangled invension with a hundred swivels and steel rings... So every joe bloggs fishing his local pond attemts to tie the spinner rig or Chod rig because they think thats the best way to catch Carp... 2 things though, I can assure you that the "big names" when fishing untouched or lightly fished waters really dont over complicate things, when chatting with a freind who happened to be a name told me to uncomplicate the rigs and just put the lead straight on the line, when I was younger this seemed a major shock to me, I have wised up a little now ;) And secondly, and I am not a cinic, there is a chance it will sell more products? ;) Sweetcorn caught the British rercord!!! ;)