CARP RIGS CREATED FOR FISHING IN SILT


Making The Ultimate & Best Silt Fishing Rig

The best silt rig is one that doesn't tangle, or cause the bait to sit badly on the bottom. Yet, it should still present a bait well, and have good hooking potential. Here, I illustrate the silt fishing rig that I have used successfully for many years. 


Images showing effective silt rig presentationsThe best helicopter style carp rig for fishing on a silt bed

The lead has the freedom to plunge into the silt bed as far as possible without affecting how the hooklink rests on the top of the silt. 

If the lead plunges into the silt too far it may affect the sensitivity of bite indication, so to limit the depth try using a lighter lead if possible. The shape of the lead can also affect how far it dives into the silty bottom. I have found that a heavy, distance lead, with its narrow shape, will plunge deeper into silt. Whereas, using a flat pear or a gripper-shaped lead will decrease the depth at which the lead will plunge down. 


A big, plastic ring is added to the end of the stiff boom hooklink section of the rig. This stops the hook link from being dragged down into the silt along with the lead. 


Big plastic ring used on the silt bed fishing rig
How the siltbed fishing rig works when it plunges into silt bottom

A black, plastic bead is added to the leadcore just above the hooklink and rig. This protects the big ring and helps it to easily glide over the leadcore leader. If left alone like in the photo above, the bead and hooklink would travel too far up the main line on each cast, so to stop this, a knot is tied about 12 inches above the lead using power gum. The actual length to the power gum knot can be adjusted according to how deep the silt is out in your swim.  


Using power gum to create a stopper-knot so hook link doesn't pass through during the cast

Using power gum, add a fairly tight knot to the leadcore leader. The knot should be tied tight enough so it stops the bead and plastic ring but they can still both slide over the knot if pulled under slight pressure. Look at the photos below for detailed illustration. This makes sure the fishing rig is safe should the main line ever break during a fight.


Stopper knot adjusted to change the length that the hook link can traverse up the line
Picture shows how carp become free if rig break offIf carp breaks the main line the bead & hook link rig can slide over the stop knot if necessary
Hook link becomes free as pressure will release the stop-knot
Photo of ultimate silt rig presentationThe link & rig can push upwards as lead plunges into siltbed. this gives good fishing rig presentation on silt bottom

The photo above shows exactly how the best silt fishing rig works when the lead plunges into the siltbed. The lead weight dives into the silt, but as the hook link hits the bottom, the pressure from the silt allows it to travel upwards so it remains nicely flat on the top of the silt. This means the hook link and bait never gets pulled down into the silt with the lead, and will always give a great presentation on any silt bed or soft lake bottom. 


Shows The best way a simple carp rig presented nicely on silty lake bottomThe Completed silt rig lays nicely flat on silt bed

 

The picture above shows the best hook bait presentation on soft silt. The ultimate silt bed fishing rig has worked by allowing the lead to dive into the silt but stopped the bait from being pull down with it. 


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