HOW TO TIE THE BASIC COMPLICATED RIG

Incredible versatility

So, when would you use this rig? Well, I’ve had bites on it in the silt, while stalking, over light weed and on gravel patches. Pretty much everywhere really! I can’t over- emphasise the importance of that little PVA bag in ensuring the presentation is perfect. To tie this rig really couldn’t be simpler – hence the name!

As the rig is so versatile and can be presented on pretty much all manner of lakebeds, you can cast it towards showing fish and sit back safe in the knowledge that it will be presented and fishing effectively. There aren’t many set- ups that offer such certainty.

Tying the fluorocarbon to a ring on the lead clip is such an important part of achieving this. If you used a quick change swivel and an antitangle sleeve, it wouldn’t enable the rig to move when it comes to settle, and the lead could potentially drag it down into any softer silt or weed. This would force the hooklink to kink and become a hump underwater, which is likely to be ignored by any rig- wary carp.

If you’re looking for a neat, simple, reliable rig, then give this a go!

Sam Mills, email

I’ve not heard of this one before! Maybe it’s a certain rig that you’ve heard of that’s incorporated this pattern of hook? Curved- shanks are a fantastic pattern lending themselves to numerous different presentations, whether that’s the popular Ronnie rig or a German wafter rig.

I’ve used both of these rigs with this pattern of hook and have certainly never come across damage to the mouth as a result of the pattern itself. Any hook used incorrectly with a rig can cause damage, but with the amount of information on the web and in magazines these days, there should be no excuses for poor/ dangerous rigs.

IYCF@ bauermedia. co. uk IYCF Magazine, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA www. facebook. com/ iycfmag @ iycfmagazine

Lee Barrow, Manchester

The trick to leadcore is to ensure it’s not too long, as this can

I’m a huge fan of bottom baits and always use them if I can get away with presenting one. Pop- ups are great, there’s no denying that but, when a carp feeds, it’s usually sieving its way through the contents buried in the lakebed. So why would you use a pop- up if the carp are happy to feed amongst it? It’s all about the situation you’re putting the hookbait in. If you’re looking to fish right on top of weed, then a chod rig with a pop- up will no doubt be far more effective than a bottom bait. If, however, you can present a bait on the deck – whether a wafter or bottom bait – I’d always favour it. cause problems when casting.

I’d also recommend purchasing ready- tied leadcore leaders. The TA ones are great as they’re the perfect length and are set up to fish helicopter style with a drop off bead. Or you can buy plain 1m ones for use with lead clips etc, if that’s what you prefer. These are also far more subtle than others, with a thinner core running through the material which enables it to lay over the contours of the lakebed far better than a thicker leadcore.

Take 14in of fluorocarbon. This is the new Thinking Anglers example currently on test Form a loop in the end to create the hair and tighten down

Slide on a hair stop to trap the boilie on the hair Select a size 7 Out- Turned Eye hook

Slide down a bag of pellets to cover the hook to prevent tangles on the cast

Thread on your bottom bait. I like to use 20mm Krill straight out of the bag

Whip back up the shank towards the eye to finish the knotless knot

Allow the hair to exit, then continue to whip down the shank a further five times

Hold the hookbait tight to the bend of the hook to gauge the length of the hair

Whip the line twice down the shank of the hook and around the hair

Thread the line through the eye of the hook

The result of dropping a basic complicated rig on to where Steve had seen fizzing in the margins!

Tying the hooklink to a ring without an anti- tangle sleeve is essential for the rig to work effectively

Curved- shank hooks are very versatile

If you’re able, and it’s permitted, climbing a tree will help you spot carp

are Well- tied rigs cause unlikely to carp damage to

A good pair of binoculars is essential for spotting carp

GAZ FAREHAM: A J12 brute caught using the above set- up

Leadcore is my favourite way to present rigs