How I Get The Most Out of Zig Fishing

My Take on Zigs and How I Get The Best From Velocity Baits Products.

Velocity Baits V-Cloud, Yellow Creamz, White Liverz, Red Chilliz and
Orange Fruitz.

I just thought for the benefit of myself that I haven’t written a blog, so this one is just a how to get the best of the products and you may have seen or what will be featured in this blog are pictures of a recent COLD and WET zig fishing session with one of the velocity baits field testers.

One of the Scaly Prizes From a Recent Haul

I have been doing a bit of fishing recently but mainly for myself without writing a blog, it has been a bit slow on the fishing front as I’m trying to get into the swing of things with a new lake which I will be targeting this coming winter, also planning a late trip across to Italy for the world carp classics with a few  ex college mates which will be a good experience with some amazing people, also good to catch up with some good friends made last year as you may well have read from my “World Carp Classic 2012” blog written up next year.

This Time Last Year With a Good Friend of Mine

Zig fishing has got to be one of my most favoured methods out there at the moment, especially when going for bit hauls of fish, if you get  the rods clipped up and at the right distance every time and so many things that people may lack on when using zigs which I hope to cover here. I don’t want to be at all patronising at all just a few edges and things I do to get the best from a session when other people are catching nowhere near as many fish on pegs around you.

Zig Bugs, The Come Into There All in the Right Situations.

The Rig – the rig I use is very simple and has been recently adapted over the past few months for fishing zigs at range, allow me to divulge. Firstly on my reels I have 12lb Line which is ample, the low diameter means that the line comes off the spool and is a pleasure to cast, it’s between 0.33mm and 0.35mm. I firstly thread on a 15m length of Nash D-cam Rig Tubing then a Safety bolt bead with a swivel with a rather nifty clip on the end, I also use one of the small stoppers to pin the swivel in place in the safety bolt bead for hooking efficiency. Then I tie my zig with 12lb Nash Zig Flo – it is incredibly thin and so light its perfect, I then thread on a colour of choice Fox Zig Aligna and then tie on a really unsuspecting hoof for this approach.. a size 8 Nash Fang Twister, the reason I say “unsuspecting” is the reason it has an in turned eye which is really frowned upon, well not really if the zig aligners on correctly you’re not losing the gape and the straight point means it’s going to nail in the fishes mouth every time. I then tie a small double overhand loop in the end of the zig and thread on an anti-tangle sleeve which helps to avoid tangles on the cast, you may be thinking but with the clip it’s not going to go on the clip? But I steam the sleeve to melt it slightly and then push it on and it goes back on in the same fashion every time. This is the simple rig end, so far as lead size and shape it’s usually a 3oz/3.5oz tournament casting lead as these fly out even in a strong wind pushing into your face as I found out on a recent session. 

A Fish Caught on a Crafty Rig Being Featured Soon!

I have seen and take on board other anglers information when it comes to zigs which I can adapt into my own fishing, I use zigs where ever I am likely to go, a recent session on a reservoir on my club ticket taught me something about zigs is that some fish roar off with a zig and some it is a series of beeps, it is easy for the fish to eject a zig because if it happens to descend in the water, you’ll have an amount of slack between the hook end and the lead end. You are less likely to get liners on zigs as the fish in your area won’t come under contact with your line which I usually have it bowstring tight. 

A Lovely Mid Double Mirror, Absolute Pristine Fish.

 

It is all about getting the mix right and also the right application from a relevant spod mix. I use a whole host of things in a Sloppy Spod Mix. Velocity baits have just released a V-Cloud Powder which is an awesome additive; I can only just count on one hand other manufactures that may be chasing with slop material bait.

1.       Half fill a bucket of water

2.       Add in Condensed Milk, Rice Pudding and other Creamy Liquids

3.       Gradually add in ground bait for me its Brown Crumb its cheap and gets the job done4.       Add in 2/3 tubs of the Velocity Baits V-Cloud Powder

5.       Then add a dozen handfuls of particle, I always have an element of yellow either Corn or Maize, the other Maples, Peas, Beans etc. allow for a choice of black hook bait

6.       Thoroughly mix it so you have no lumps, really get into the corners of the bucket

7.       Leave it for 15-20 minutes to allow the water to soak into the mix and add more if  necessary

8.       Test the mix in the margins it should leave a cloud that hangs for a matter of minutes

9.       To apply, fill the button section of a Midi Spomb and you’re ready to go!

This Isn't The Mix But My Choice of Particles in a Sloppy
Mix.

Just some simple things I use in my spod mix to get the best from using zigs, I’m not the biggest of people, but hitting a clip on a spod rod or even a rigged up rod is no problem, I have a fairly balanced set up at the moment, a 4lb Nash H-Gun spod rod is perfect when coupled with a midi Spomb, it allows you to keep going without tiring yourself out as I have found with the bigger version of the Spomb.

Targeting a Small Reservoir Last Winter.

Keep a look out over the season we are currently in to see what array of tactics that I use, hope these simple things help and get you on your way to hauling on zigs either the rest of the Autumn or even the summer which will hopefully soon be upon us.

Good Luck

Ross