Nothing is more soul-destroying than reeling in, only to discover that what you thought was a perfectly
placed placed rig, in fact, a tangled mess. If you had fish actively showing in the area and your bobbins remained motionless, it only added insult to injury. Thankfully, this week we’ve compiled a host of tips to ensure that you never suffer from this grim situation again...
Hooklink choice
Creating a tangle-proof rig often starts with your choice of hooklink material. There’s no doubt that some materials are more prone to getting in a bird’s nest than others. Uncoated braid is a classic for tangles when used incorrectly. If you’ve ever had to unpick a knotted piece of braid you’ll know just how fiddly the material is.
At the other end of the spectrum, you have fluorocarbon, the stiffness of which makes tangles rare and
increases the rig’s re-setting properties. Of course, there are times when braid is the best option, which is when one or more of these other tips will come in handy.
ENSURE YOU'RE USING THE BEST CARP FISHING LINES TO HELP PREVENT TANGLES WHEN CASTING.
Roll your sleeves up
Adding an anti-tangle sleeve to your rig does exactly what it says on the tin, yet it’s surprising how many anglers overlook this essential rig component. Thread the sleeve down the hooklink before tying on your swivel, then simply push it up over the swivel eye. The stiffness of the sleeve forces the rig away from the lead on the cast. The same occurs underwater too, should your rig be picked up and spat out something carp are notoriously good at!
If you don’t have any sleeves, the same effect can be achieved with a large loop of doubled-over material to attach your hooklink to the swivel. This creates a stiff boom to push the rig away from the lead.
LOTS OF THE BEST FISHING GADGETS MAKE OUR LIVES AS CARP ANGLERS MUCH EASIER.
Cut down on clutter
You’ll often hear anglers the benefits of balanced tackle, this is the case for carp rigs too. Oversized swivels, large hooks and monster blobs of putty can all make a rig more prone to tangles. Try to keep your rig as streamlined as possible – it will help you cast further and more accurately. To help keep your chosen hooklink material as straight as can be, steam it over a kettle before casting out.
AREN'T SURE WHAT CARP RIG TO USE? CHECK OUT OUR EXPERT ARTICLE THAT EXPLAINS THE BEST RIGS AND HOW TO USE THEM.
Length matters
Longer rigs can certainly fool bigger carp, because essentially it gives them more rope to hang themselves with. The longer a rig is, however, the greater the chance it has of tangling. If you’re using tubing, or a leader behind the lead, always ensure that this is significantly longer than your hooklink to avoid the rig wrapping around the top of it.
NEW TO CARP FISHING AND AREN'T SURE WHERE TO START? OUR BEGINNERS GUIDE IS THE PERFECT ARTICLE FOR YOU!
A balancing act
When it comes to selecting a hookbait, using a balanced bait can significantly improve the anti-tangle properties of your set-up. A semi-buoyant bait, such as a wafter or a snowman set-up, will ensure the hook end falls slowly behind the lead on its descent through the water and stays separate on the bottom.
BOILIES ARE A FANTASTIC BAIT FOR CATCHING CARP, CHECK OUT OUR BUYER'S GUIDE TO SOME OF THE BEST.
Use a helicopter
Some lead systems have better anti-tangle properties than others. A helicopter rig, where the hooklink rotates on the line above the lead, is one of the least likely to get snarled up. As with all set-ups, make sure to feather the cast as the rig hits the water, or hit the line clip. This will ensure the rig and lead stay separate on impact.
THE BEST CARP REELS WILL PREVENT LINE TWIST AND HELP CASTING, OUR BUYER'S GUIDECONTAINS SOME SUPERB CHOICES.
It's all in the cast
How you cast is vital when it comes to avoiding tangles. The action needs to be smooth, and avoid any sudden jerky actions. Once the cast is released, watching the rig in flight will also help spot if something’s gone wrong. The final piece of the puzzle comes just as the rig is about to hit the water by hitting the clip correctly or feathering the cast. This stop of the rig in flight will throw the hook away from the lead and straighten out the set-up just as it’s about to hit the water.
To further add to this, simply lift the rod and feel the lead down on a tight line to encourage the rig to fall slowly and aid separation. This is also useful to help you feel what type of lakebed you have landed on.
USING ONE OF THE BEST CARP RODS WILL HELP YOU CAST FURTHER AND MORE ACCURATELY.
Make the most of PVA
Threading a PVA stick down your hooklink delivers extra attraction around the hookbait and reduces tangles. If you’re using short, soft braided rigs, then enclosing them in solid PVA bags makes them completely tangle-proof, while the best zig rig anglers opt for foam nuggets around the hook to stop the hook catching on the mainline on the cast or as it falls through the water. If you want longer hairs on your rigs, tying them in place with PVA tape will prevent tangles.
IF YOU REGULARLY FISH LONGER SESSIONS, YOU NEED TO BE USING ONE OF THE BEST FISHING BIVVIES!
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