What is a zig rig?

[icepuffin]

Being new to fishing some of the terms used I don't understand.

One of them is a zig rig, it is mentioned frequently and I have tried to search on the forum for a picture or visual representation of what a zig rig is.

Perhaps someone could please explain to a numpty like me what it is and why it is so popular - many thanks.

[zammmo]

P.M. sent

[willi4692]

Simply a long hooklink. When combined with a buoyant bait such as, pop-ups, cork balls, foam etc, will pull towards the surface and will present your bait off the bottom of the lake bed. For example, you see fish cruising on the surface, five feet up for instance, you create a hooklink five feet long with a buoyant bait and your bait should be presented on the surface, if you want a bait in mid water, 3 foot hooklength.

 

If that makes sense, that is the basic principle of a zig rig. There are several things you can do to make the set up look far less blatant but that sort of information is all over this forum, have a quick look and i'm certain you will find all the information you need.

[icepuffin]

Thank you, simple really, i had it down for some sort of set up in the shape of a 'Z' - hence the name.

I suppose they could have called it a 'V' rig for vertical.

[craiggater]

The zig rig is always a very good rig i use it alot threw the whole year. Even good in the winter when the sun is out but still cold. I seem to do well with black fome i dont no y but it seems to work so i stay with it

[icepuffin]

Well that's one question to cross off my list, many thanks.

Not sure about using foam though, I would worry about a fish swallowing it, would it disolve?

[zammmo]

Trouble with zigs is you can really only fish in depths up to 12ft as this is the average length of a rod..There is a way round this by using an ajustable zig with a sub float..Vids of how to tie and use this rig are on utube...

[bowza]

Re the foam, its pva disolving foam people use, so ones its helped get the bait up to the surface, it does disolve and no risk to the fish

 

, I am yet to try a zig rig myself

 

Bowza

[beza26]

I don`t think craiggater was talking about rig foam, wouldn`t be much good of a hookbait would it The one hes referring to won`t melt and its not like your throwing freebies of it in so theres only the one on your hair which is obviously unlikely to be eaten.

[icepuffin]

A bit off subject now i know , but what if a piece of foam does get digested, is a fish able to 'spit it out' .

Even some of these imitation baits that are available now, do they just sit in the gut or will they break down over time ?

[beza26]

Ill leave that for someone else to answer, can`t be bothered to get into that

[craiggater]

Well that's one question to cross off my list, many thanks.

Not sure about using foam though, I would worry about a fish swallowing it, would it disolve?

it's a foam that you use to make a bottom bait lift off the bottom!! And i have been useing it for a while now and i have never had a carp take it off my hair. i use a pellet stop the v ones that sets in the pellet so it makes the foam very hard to come off even bye me pulling at it. If i didnt think it was safe i wouldnt use it. I have seen other people use it and non have ever really said its come off. I am sure it cant do that much harm to the fish or no company would make it to use with baits hope thats cleared up every thing

[gonfishing]

in simple mate its like an upside down float set up.

you still have your lead on the botom but ya bait(bouyant bait, popups , foam etc) goes up, it allows you to fish a bait at anything from a few inches off the bottom to a few inches below the surface and everywhere inbetween.

hope that helps mate

[beanz]

A bit off subject now i know , but what if a piece of foam does get digested, .

Even some of these imitation baits that are available now, do they just sit in the gut or will they break down over time ?

 

 

im pretty sure it comes out the other end

 

 

[is a fish able to 'spit it out' ] all to often ,

[icepuffin]

ahh well - another question I can tick off the list. No intention of causing or stirring up any arguments over imitation baits, just one of those questions I thought I should ask.

[craiggater]

I wouldnt like to try and pass it lol i am sure it would sting

[gnorty]

I am sure it cant do that much harm to the fish or no company would make it to use with baits hope thats cleared up every thing

 

fishing tackle/bait manufacturers producde great volumes of bait/tackle that is considered by some to be unsafe. An example is high oil pellets which many are now starting to think is very unhealthy for fish in the long term.

 

Having said that, carp will happily eat a tiger nut and then poop it out whole, so a bit of rig foam should not present a big problem

[icepuffin]

I hadn't thought of that , I suppose they must also suck in the old small pebble as they feed.

[Guest Anonymous]

If you're honestly concerned about what fish can swallow, regurgitate, whatever, go Cod fishing in the Thames estuary. I think we worry far too much

[salokcinnodrog]

If you're honestly concerned about what fish can swallow, regurgitate, whatever, go Cod fishing in the Thames estuary. I think we worry far too much

 

Use a used Polystyrene cup as bait then

[gr33ny]

using the pva rig foam is harmless, disolves fast and also you only need to nip the foam slightly so detaches from the hook within a few seconds, i use flurocarbon for the hooklink works realy well,