Zig rigs: find the depth carp are actually sitting at
Course pack: Zig depth log and set-up card. Coach Willy, our virtual AI coach, can explain each step, set you a practice task and check your understanding.
Who it's for
You've done the basics and want to tighten things up. Aimed at carp.
Where and when
Done on the bank. Best in: all.
What you'll work through
- 1Spot the days when carp sit up in the water
- 2Tie a zig and set a starting depth
- 3Cast, feed and adjust the depth
- 4Land fish safely on long hooklinks
Step 1: Spot the days when carp sit up in the water
Alright mate, let's get stuck into zig rigs: find the depth carp are actually sitting at. I'll walk you through what to look for, what to try and how to tell whether it helped. We'll start with spot the days when carp sit up in the water, then work through a proper practice job at each step. Take it at your own pace and keep a few notes so you've got a useful plan for next time.
By the end of this step
Have a go at: spot the days when carp sit up in the water.
Willy’s take
Zigs come into their own on the days when carp stop grubbing the bottom and start sitting or cruising up in the water instead, often in warmer, bright spells or when there's a thermocline, a layer where temperature changes sharply, holding fish at a particular depth.
Signs to look for are carp showing or rolling well off the bottom, fish visible cruising mid-water on a clear day, or simply a complete lack of interest in bottom baits despite carp clearly being present and active.
If you're blanking on the bottom but seeing fish higher up, that's your cue to try searching the water column instead of just sitting it out.
Kit I'd start with
- A zig session needs a slightly different kit list than bottom-bait fishing, built around measuring and adjusting depth rather than feeding a fixed spot.
- Pack a marker rod and float, or a simple marker float set-up, to measure the actual depth of your swim before tying anything, a reel of zig nylon or fluorocarbon in a breaking strain suited to the fish and venue, a few lengths of zig foam cylinders in a couple of colours alongside some small buoyant pop-ups as an alternative hookbait, hair stops or bait screws, a tape measure or marked rod section for setting consistent hooklink lengths, and a notebook for recording what depth produced interest.
- Keep your usual safe lead clip or helicopter arrangement, since the lead system doesn't change just because the hookbait's up in the water.
- There's no need for loose feed or spod gear with zigs, since you're searching through a layer of water rather than building a bottom feeding spot, so leave the bait bucket at home and travel light for this style of session.
On the bank
Worked example
Say you've had two bottom-bait rods out all morning with no action, but you keep spotting carp rolling and cruising well above the bottom in open water. Rather than waiting it out, that's a clear signal to switch at least one rod over to a zig and start searching depths.
Your turn: Spot the days when carp sit up in the water
- 1
Watch for carp showing or cruising clear of the bottom.
- 2
Note a lack of interest in bottom baits despite fish being present.
That's the free sample — this is where it stops
The full step keeps going with the rest of the practice job, common mistakes and fixes, a check-your-understanding quiz and your Zig depth log and set-up card. Then 3 more steps, each with its own task, and Coach Willy on hand to talk it through.
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