This particular rig interested me because I was looking for a variation of a pop up rig for use with a whittled down pop up or dumbell with the hookbait being presented really tight to the lake bed, maintaining the mechanical advantages of a pop up but still being a lot subtler to the crafty carp than a more blatant high pop up.
The rig really ticks all these boxes and also has the advantage of having an extremely low visibility boom section thanks to the fluorocarbon, with a good range of free movement for the hook and hookbait created by the supple braided section.
The finished rig allows the hook to hover just above any debris on the lakebed, sitting like a claw ready to catch hold the instant it is inhaled by an unsuspecting carp.
I’ve had great success with this rig on a variety of waters catching some extremely wary carp, some of which have gone long periods of time without gracing the bank. As far as hook holds go, provided the hook point is sharp (I always touch mine up with a Gardner Point Doctor) it is mega effective when tied correctly and generally gives a firm hold in the centre of the bottom lip.
Personally, I use it with both helicopter style and lead clip arrangements, with the final choice of lead arrangement completely dependant on the situation and terrain I’m positioning it in. As a rule of thumb I increase the supple section over choddy areas and shorten it over a clean lakebed, giving the impression that it is practically on the bottom and looking inconspicuous to any browsing carp.
I’m looking to achieve a subtle, low sitting pop up with the finishing touch being the addition of just enough Critical Mass Putty to ensure it sinks slowly. A Covert Hook Stop is positioned on the shank of the hook level with the barb, which helps the hook to act like a claw, increasing the rigs hooking properties.
Generally I like the finished rig to be around seven inches in length in most situations, unless I am fishing over a tightly baited area when I would reduce it to four or five inches. If I was fishing in deep silt then I would increase the length to around nine inches or so. Don’t forget to experiment with different shaped baits or even a stack of plastic.
One particular event that stands out in my mind is the capture of one of the three large ghost carp that reside in the famous Yateley Match Lake, which fell to my rods whilst using this rig. This one in particular was the prettiest of the bunch, a real corker. Having seen plenty of pressure over the years, Yateley carp can be tricky at the best of times. For a fortnight I raked and then baited two areas amongst a thick set of weed beds in a swim known as the Gate. I repeated the process every other day and it wasn’t long before the area was prime and I was confident fish were visiting the spots regularly. On the very first session I managed three bites and the pick of the bunch was the Big Ghostie weighing 29lbs 4oz. It was a little down in weight after spawning, but looked stunning all the same and was right royally nailed by the combi rig.