IF THE SPOT IS CLEAN AND I KNOW IT IS GRAVEL OR SMOOTH SILT, THEN I WOULD USE WHAT I CALL THE NOODLE RIG.

With this rig, it is all about the kicker that makes it different. I use it in conjunction with a balanced bait; something like a Krill wafter is perfect. I want the bait nice and light, so that it can react in the same way as the freebies. I have watched fish feed

in the edge a lot over the years and this is the rig that I have finished up with after lots of tweaking, that I feel the fish find hardest to deal with. I use the long, curved kicker with the bent shape on the bottom and the hook holds are nearly always bang on.

MAKE YOUR OWN NOODLE RIG
WITH SCOTT LLOYD

It allows the hook to turn and catch hold of the tough bit of mouth, rather than the fleshy outer. The little bit of putty on the stripped back bit flips the hook and turns, allowing it to catch hold perfectly.

A 20mm kicker will hook them 20mm back, which is what you want. It has been my go to rig for fishing on the bottom for a while now and has been the one that has helped me catch most of my bigger fish too.

It allows the hook to turn and catch hold of the tough bit of mouth, rather than the fleshy outer. The little bit of putty on the stripped back bit flips the hook and turns, allowing it to catch hold perfectly.

A 20mm kicker will hook them 20mm back, which is what you want. It has been my go to rig for fishing on the bottom for a while now and has been the one that has helped me catch most of my bigger fish too.

The hook pattern is a Curved Point, which is a beaked-point hook and I use them in a size 5 or 6. They are super sharp and strong, which is everything you want in a hook and this pattern allows the rig to sit perfectly. I like a coated braid as the hook link, as it helps kick the rig away when I cast it out, and should it get moved about, it will fall back down to how it should be. I have done numerous tests in the edge,

where I waft the water around and the rig will always be fishing, which is so important.Where I strip the coating on the braid, I also mould a small roll of putty around it. This helps pull the hook point down when the rig has been picked up. If you lay the rig on the floor and pick the bait up, the hook point will point down and sit in the right position to grab hold of the mouth.

KEEP THEM STORED LIKE THIS TO KEEP THAT CURVE

I DON’T OVERCOMPLICATE THINGS, I GENERALLY HAVE A FEW RIGS THAT SUIT A NUMBER OF SITUATIONS AND I AM CONFIDENT IN THEM.

Bait is something that confuses lot of a people, in terms of what to use, when to put it out and how much. It isn’t a rule, more something that can be achieved through experience and

trial & error. I have said a lot about this bait in the past and it really is one of those game changers you can add to your fishing. For the main fishing season, so April to November, I use Krill boilies.

Carp do and will recognise not only what is attractive to them, but also what is good for them too. There is a reason why baits like The Krill have become popular and stayed that way for a number of years. Chasing a new flavour won’t ever help gain your confidence. Stick to something that you are either confident in, or a bait that you know catches loads of fish consistently.

Carp do and will recognise not only what is attractive to them, but also what is good for them too. There is a reason why baits like The Krill have become popular and stayed that way for a number of years.Chasing a new flavour won’t ever help gain your confidence. Stick to something that you are either confident in, or a bait that you know catches loads of fish consistently.

I always carry liquids with me too, as there are times when I want to ramp the attraction of the bait up and apply minimal feed. There may also be times where I feel that washing out my baits will help me catch a wary pack of fish, it all depends on the situation. I also like to carry some particles with me too, especially in the summer months. Baits like maples, tigers, hemp and parti-mix are all great for bulk feeding or hook bait options. In the colder months, I tend to use more sweetcorn, maggots and I switch from The Krill to Manilla.

I always carry liquids with me too, as there are times when I want to ramp the attraction of the bait up and apply minimal feed. There may also be times where I feel that washing out my baits will help me catch a wary pack of fish, it all depends on the situation.

I also like to carry some particles with me too, especially in the summer months. Baits like maples, tigers, hemp and parti-mix are all great for bulk feeding or hook bait options. In the colder months, I tend to use more sweetcorn, maggots and I switch from The Krill to Manilla.

Manilla is a different bait, full of milks and low fat ingredients, allowing the fish to digest it much better in the colder water.

It is also light in colour when in the water, which is a big thing in the colder months. I think fish feed a lot on sight when their metabolism is low and this, combined with corn is a real winner. The Noodle rig is

something that has caught me the majority of my bigger fish. I have watched Tench finding it hard to deal with this rig, as well as carp of all sizes, which tells me that the bigger, often more clumsy carp find it really hard to deal with.

It is also light in colour when in the water, which is a big thing in the colder months. I think fish feed a lot on sight when their metabolism is low and this, combined with corn is a real winner. The Noodle rig is

something that has caught me the majority of my bigger fish. I have watched Tench finding it hard to deal with this rig, as well as carp of all sizes, which tells me that the bigger, often more clumsy carp find it really hard to deal with.

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