A zig rig is a long, light hooklink with a buoyant foam hookbait that sits at the depth carp are cruising. Start at around three-quarters of the water depth and work up or down until you get bites.
Why carp come off the bottom
We tend to think of carp as bottom feeders, and most of the time they are. But on warm days, in spring, and whenever there's insect life hatching or the lake bed is cold and uninviting, carp often cruise in the upper and middle layers of the water.
A bait on the bottom is no use to a fish swimming 2 metres above it. A zig rig is a long hooklink with a buoyant bait on the end, so the bait sits at whatever depth the fish are swimming at.
Signs the fish are up in the water
- You can see carp cruising or basking near the surface, but bottom baits aren't getting picked up.
- Fish are showing over deep water rather than over features or bait.
- Swallows, swifts or other birds are picking insects off the surface, which means there's a hatch.
- It's a warm, bright day after a cold spell, or a mild day in spring.
The parts
- Zig line. A thin, low-visibility hooklink line of about 8 to 12 lb. It should be lighter than your main line, so if anything breaks, it's the zig.
- Zig hook. A small, light hook, usually size 8 to 10.
- Zig foam. Buoyant foam, often black, yellow or red, cut to a small cylinder. Some anglers use a small pop-up or imitation insect instead.
- Lead. A lead of 2 to 3 oz on a lead clip set up so the lead drops easily.
- Winder. A rig board or winder to store long zigs so they don't tangle.
How to tie it
- Find the depth of your swim with a marker rod or a lead and a plumbing float. See reading a lake with a marker rod.
- Decide how far off the bottom you want the bait. A good start is about three-quarters of the depth. In 3 metres of water, that's a hooklink of about 2.25 metres.
- Tie the hook on with a knotless knot and leave a short hair of a few millimetres. Push a piece of zig foam onto the hair and trim it to size.
- Measure the hooklink to length and tie a swivel to the other end. Clip it into the lead clip.
- Wind it onto a zig winder until you're ready to cast, so the long hooklink doesn't tangle.
Fish two rods at different depths to begin with, for example one at three-quarters depth and one at half depth. When one starts getting bites, move the other rod to the same depth.
Casting and fishing a zig
Long zigs need a smooth cast. Hold the rod high, let the lead swing out and cast steadily rather than with a hard punch, which can make the line wrap.
When the lead lands, let it hit the bottom and then tighten up slowly. The foam needs a few seconds to rise to its full height.
Don't put out bait as you would for a bottom rig. A zig works because it's in the fish's path, not because it's in a pile of food. A few pouches of floating pellets or a small bag of crumb can draw fish into the area.
Common mistakes
The wrong depth
Carp in the upper layers can stay at a very narrow depth. If you see fish but get no bites, change the depth by half a metre and try again.
A tight line
A taut line rising at an angle through the water can spook fish swimming at the bait's depth. Fish with a slack line or a back lead.
Leaving it too long
Zig fishing is active. If nothing happens in an hour, try a new depth, a new colour or a new spot.
Always fish a zig on a lead clip with the tail rubber pushed on lightly, so the lead drops if a fish runs into weed. Keep the hooklink lighter than the main line. Many fisheries limit zig length or ban zigs altogether, so check the rules before you tie one up.
Questions
How long should a zig rig be?
Long enough to put the bait at the depth the carp are swimming. A common starting point is about three-quarters of the water depth, then adjust in 1 to 2 ft steps until you find the depth that produces bites.
What line should I use for a zig?
A low-diameter mono or dedicated zig line of about 8 to 12 lb. Thin line is less visible and lets the foam sit naturally, but don't go so light that you can't land fish safely around weed or snags.
What colour zig foam works best?
Black and yellow are the two most used colours. Black shows as a clear silhouette against the light from below; yellow is bright and stands out. Many anglers fish one of each until one colour gets bites.
Do I need to bait up when fishing zigs?
Usually not on the bottom, because the bait is up in the water. Some anglers fire out a little floating or slow-sinking bait, but most fish zigs with no free bait at all.
Are zig rigs safe for carp?
They can be, as long as the lead can come off if the main line breaks, for example on a lead clip with the tail rubber pushed on lightly. Check your fishery rules too, as some limit zig length.
