THE GUIDE TO ZIG FISHING FOR BIG CARP
Zigs didn’t really establish themselves in my carp-fishing armoury until the beginning of 2013 when starting a new year on the Langholme syndicate. Before then I had dabbled with them, but never really given them a proper go, due to the lack of confidence.
At the start of March 2013, nothing had been out of Langholme since the previous November/December, and after having a few blank sessions fishing singles, I decided I would have a session solely on zigs – and I’m so glad I did! Since that session, zigs have found a constant place in my carp fishing and I have total confidence in them. In fact, they are generally my go-to tactic in winter, if allowed.
On this particular session in March 2013, I deployed zigs on all three rods set at varying depths up to 10ft in around 14ft of water. On the first day, I received the tell-tail zig bite of a slow drop-back. After a good battle, I netted a good-looking, sizeable common, but after not having caught anything for a few months, I underestimated its size! Upon weighing, the scales reached round to 33lb, which was a new PB for me, coming to a 10ft zig. It was a carp known as the Black Common, a very rare visitor to the bank. Zigs were now a part of my fishing!
The session yielded another three fish, but the Black Common was the cream of the crop.
The capture of the Black Common was a significant moment in my zig fishing!
Why Zigs?
Surprisingly, carp spend most of their time not on the deck or at the surface, but between the two. This is even more true of deeper lakes and especially at winter. At the start of winter, the deeper water will remain warmer, but as winter takes hold and with cold water being denser, this goes to the bottom, where it remains cold – not very inviting! The surface layer is significantly affected by the weather. When we get some warm sun, it warms up nicely. On cold, windy days, the surface is cold. The middle layers can therefore be more stable and therefore more comfortable to the carp. This is often referred to as the thermocline. The most comfortable level for the carp can vary, so it requires some experimentation with different depths of zigs, ranging from 1-2ft off the bottom to within the top 1ft of water. I’ve personally caught carp on 2ft zigs in 14ft of water, as well as 12ft zigs in the same depth. That’s why I always start a session with different-depth zigs to try and find the depth the carp are at.
Set-Up
Zigs by their nature can be tangle-prone, but there are some steps which can be taken to help minimise this, and I have regular zig sessions where I’ve not had any tangles. It is worth following some of these to ensure you use zigs effectively, as they can bring you a fish you wouldn’t potentially have caught, and they can sometimes throw up some of the rarer lake residents and some absolute gems!
Zigs can often throw up the rare ones
Never use tubing or a leader (leadcore, lead-free, etc.) when using zigs, as this gives the zig something to catch on during the cast. Use naked tail rubbers designed to be used without tubing/leaders, etc. Some venues don’t always allow tail rubbers to be used when using zigs, as they want to ensure the lead is discharged, especially on venues with weed. I personally don’t like tying up a lead clip with PVA tape, because once dissolved, there isn’t anything to set the hook, as the lead easily falls off the arm of the lead clip. To get around this, but always check with the lake owners first, use alternative lead clips, such as the MCF Dumper. This still allows the lead to discharge very easily, but still has enough to pull the hook home prior to the lead discharging on the take.
Use the sharpest hooks you can get, and use tight lines, as zig bites often result in a drop-back. I like to keep things simple with my zig fishing and therefore don’t use adjustable zigs. Don’t get me wrong, these can be a game-changer, as you are able to adjust the depth without having to recast, but I’m just not a fan of the extra knots, floats, etc., required. Plus, most of my zig fishing has been done at over 100 yards and adjustable zigs aren’t the easiest for achieving distances. Sometimes, I think recasting can get you a bonus fish if you land right in front of them, or if the sound of the lead landing catches their interest and they come investigating. Several times I’ve had a take on a zig whilst dipping the tip and sinking the line. Lastly, always ensure to feather the line and trap it just before the lead hits the water. This is a must to avoid tangles with zigs.
Bait
Bait on zigs is very dependent on the rules of the venue. My go-to is zig foam and nine times out 10 this is black. I’m not sure why, and whether it’s because black imitates a bug, but I have so much confidence in black. I have caught on other colours and mixing colours together, but black is my go-to.
On venues where artificial baits are banned, then I fall back on to the DNA Baits Peppered Squid Candy Sticks. These can be cut to any length required and are extremely buoyant – very important when using zigs.
Zig Edges
Over the years, I’ve incorporated some neat little edges into my zig fishing, which I think has helped me catch on zigs when others haven’t, and as I write this, I wonder if I should stop!
My first edge is using DNA Baits Intense Boosters liquids and Sticky Sweet in conjunction with the DNA Baits High-Attract Powders. My favourite combination is the Fruitylicious Intense Booster with Fruit Sense + powder. These combined is a sweet treat from heaven!
Next up is the Milky Malts Intense Booster used with Milk E+ powder. Have a go with this and then you’ll understand why this is such a great combination. Sticky Sweet and the Betaine HCL powder is another winner. If you can use foam, put it in some liquid and give the foam a squeeze before adding the powder. This allows the liquid to soak into the foam, giving out attraction for hours.
I also add maggots (again, if the venue allows) to some floss and attach these. If using a zig aligner, then I thread the needle on the back between the foam and aligner and tie the maggots using a couple of over-hand knots. If I’m using a Candy Stick on a hair, I then use the maggots and floss as the boilie stop. Thread the floss through the loop, tie off into a ball, then pull the Candy Stick up to it gently. I generally only use three or four just for that added movement. Both these edges can be combined, with the maggots coated in Intense Booster and High-Attract Powders.
This has been a killer zig hookbait for me
The combinations of liquids and powders can be down to personal preference, and the DNA Baits range gives you plenty of options to try. This year I’ll also be trying the new Amino Smoke on my zigs, too!
Another small edge for me is to fish to the clip to ensure I’m hitting the same distance. Very rarely I’ll just randomly cast a zig without knowing the distance it’s going. By doing this, if I’m lucky enough to get a bite, I know exactly how far to clip up for the next cast. If I didn’t, I would be gauging the distance by eye, and in winter we know the carp can be shoaled quite tightly.
A winter zig capture
I’ve also had great success when using zigs at night, especially on those clear moonlight nights. It’s definitely not just a day tactic!
I hope after reading this and learning about some of these insights into my zig fishing it gives you the confidence to give them a try and put some extra carp onto that bank that you may possibly have not caught if fishing solely on the bottom.
Remember, zigs aren’t just a winter tactic and can also be prolific in the summer, too.
Zigs also work in the warmer months, too!
One last tip, make sure the lead does discharge, especially if using the longer zigs. You don’t want a 4oz lead bouncing around on the lead clip whilst trying to net a fish on a 10ft zig!
