Spooner Explains Why You NEED To Use Zigs

Carp Beginner

The last few seasons have been very kind to Neil, as he's used zig rigs to great effect, outwitting loads of carp from his Essex syndicate waters, including a new personal common!

We recently asked Spooner if he has always been a fan of zigs and he answered; ‘In all honesty, no. I’ve never previously felt confident in the method but that REALLY changed a few years back. I’d committed to a big hit of natural bait on my syndicate in an open water area of the lake that my target fish often got caught from. I had 3 nights ahead of me so felt the gamble was a good one.

The fish turned up in numbers over the bait and for probably 48 hours, I’d seen as many as 25 fish show over the zone but I could not get a bite. During those hours I tried various rigs and hookbaits including both solid bags and spinner rigs but nothing seemed to work.

I reasoned that whilst they were there because of the bait, they weren’t really feeding on the deck and were instead, probably just having the odd mouthful but holding in the area, likely in the upper layers.

An Adjustable Zig Ready For Deployment

I felt that working an adjustable zig above the bait may work. First cast and after changing the depth a few times, I had a random couple of bleeps. Those bleeps turned out to be a fish called ‘The Box’, a real special one at 39lb14oz. I went on to have another 4 bites in quick succession on that one rod. 2 blank nights, then a zig out and five bites in a matter of hours …

'The Box' - 39lb 14oz

My target fish then got caught so I changed venues and went with the same approach on another water and this accounted for a pb common, at 42lb 8oz, and it came in the hours of darkness. My confidence on the zigs was high to say the least and it’s safe to say the zig kit is ALWAYS packed, especially in spring!’

A New Zig Caught PB Common - 42lb 8oz!

Neil constructs his zigs with 4ft of Kruiser Control as his hooklenght, in conjunction with a Kamakura Choddy hook. A small, Goo soaked piece of foam is his favoured hookbait, which he likes to top off with worm sections for added attraction – A massive edge!

Topping your foam off with a worm is a HUGE edge

'I have so much confidence in this presentation'

Medium Zig Kit allows Neil to change depths effortless, covering various layers of water in quick succession. A 3oz lead helps set the hook, which Spoons fished on a tight, mono mainline, Carp Line being his go-to.