The carp rig is designed to position the hook away from the bait to improve the chances of hooking the fish. Instead of the bait being on the hook, it is placed above it, so that the carp takes the bait first and the hook follows. Rather than being thread directly into the hook, the bait is suspended above it, and as the carp takes in the bait towards its throat, the hook follows. These have been very popular with anglers in Europe for quite some time, and are now gaining interest in North America.
Carp rigs are a new concept to many fisherman, but with the proven results the rigs are popular and rightly so. The idea is fairly obvious; the approximate length from the carp’s teeth to its throat is about two inches, once they take the bait and move it towards the throat, the hook is then already in their mouth and it’s practically a done deal. Carp rigs were invented because the carp would nibble on the bait and feeling the hard metal hook, would reject the bait resulting in few carp caught.
The methods of catching carp has grown rapidly and will continue to grow. New developments have resulted in more sophisticated gear and clever hook bait arrangements. Your chances of catching more carp easier will increase the more you learn the different methods and type of the carp rigs, as well as the habitats and actions of the carp fish. Simply put, if the fish can’t see your rig, the easier it will be to catch them. Hiding your rig is the object. Fish are actually quite smart and can sense things in their environment better then we believe.
Don’t assume that just because you caught a great-sized carp in one lake, that using the same rig in another lake will generate the same result. More often than not, it won’t work. Most likely you will find that switching your rig a few times each season will assist you. While it may seem obvious, don’t forget to keep your rig color the same as the color of the lakebed; drawing attention to the hook is the last thing you need to do.
Your goal is to trick the carp so you must stay on alert the entire time. Getting out-witted by a carp is not fun or good for the ego, but it will probably happen at least once, so prepare yourself. Whether you are a expert or beginner, trying new rigs and methods is a good idea and you should not fear adding new types to your box of carp gear.
