How to improve your big fish presentations this winter
Stop looking back at your end-of-session catch card and thinking, ‘I could have caught more’ thanks to these big fish presentation tips
There’s a lot of debate about big fish rigs and whether or not a presentation can have ‘big fish’ pedigree. I believe that a rig can single out the larger fish, but it’s not just a case of using a big hook or stiff bit of material. Any rig can be catered to nail bigger fish if you follow a couple of really simple rules. Don’t forget, it’s not just about hooking large specimens, a big fish presentation should also have the capability to land a good fish in a demanding situation.
Picture above:
Resetting - As the now many underwater films and stills have shown us, it’s essential to have a rig that resets itself.
Give 'em some rope - Classic saying, but it’s very true, especially when targeting the brutes of the lake.
Rig length
I’ve seen anglers on the bank using Stiff Hinge Rigs that have a super short boom sections Yes, they look the part, but do they work effectively? When it comes to big carp, you need to give them enough room to hang themselves and a boom of a foot or so is usually sufficient.
In-line leads
When a fish picks up my hookbait I want it to come into contact with the lead straight away. Safety clips are great in certain situations, but I don’t think you can beat a large in-line lead. There’s very little movement in the presentation and it nails ‘em every time thanks to all that condensed weight.
Strong end game
I still can’t believe how many anglers I see on the bank targeting large carp using low-diameter hooklinks, light main line and small hooks. The way I see it, if I hook a large carp, I want to land it. That means using strong gear, so opt for 15lb main lines a tough, heavy-duty hooklinks.