Specimen Secrets!
Dai Gribble reveals his favourite pike legering rig
LAST week I showed a float rig that covers a lot of different situations – my go-anywhere float rig.
However, there is one situation to which this rig is not suited – long-range fishing, particularly when it is windy. In this instance, legering is a far better option.
But which is the best rig for this, a rig that is as reliable and as tangle-free as possible? Well, after trying many over the years, I have narrowed down my pike leger rig to just one. Not only are tangles kept to a minimum with my favourite rig, but it allows me to present baits in a variety of ways.
ATTACH YOUR DEADBAIT
I generally attach the deadbait with the top hook in the root of the tail and the bottom hook along the flank. The one exception is if I am using sardines as bait. Sardines are very soft, so I prefer to hook them with the top hook through the mouth. This makes them less likely to fly off during the cast.
KEEP THEM APART
It’s important to match the weight of the leger to the bait. This helps to keep them apart when casting, so the bigger the bait, the heavier the lead required. The right
casting process is crucial too – you must swing the rig behind you so that the lead and bait swing away from each other, before casting in one smooth motion.
On the other hand, if you hold the bait still prior to casting the bait and lead do not swing apart – in fact they hang together, making tangles more likely.
Standard smelts and small coarse baits cast well with a 1½oz to 2oz lead, whereas a 3oz lead works better with bigger baits.
ALL-IMPORTANT INDICATORS
When legering for pike I use drop-off indicators combined with bite alarms. Drop-off indicators are fished with an open bail-arm so that the indicator will pull off easily when a pike takes the bait, leaving line to come off the reel with no resistance.
And, as I explained in last week’s article, as soon as the line is moving you should strike promptly to avoid deep hooking a fish or giving it a chance to drop the bait.