48 Hrs Chasing an Autumn Carp at Hendre Lake

Its the time of year where we watch the leaves fall and the first frosts in the mornings begin. I have to admit this year we have seen some extreme weather conditions where i found myself fishing in heat that is just unbearable. This session turned out to be just as strange with winter conditions in the mornings ending up with summer conditions in the evenings. This is also the time of the year where we find the fish will begin to feed up ready for the winter and then as the colder temperatures come in they begin to slow down as their metabolisms adjust ready for the winter conditions.  I had decided on doing a 48 hour session down at our local water, Hendre Lake in St. mellons, Cardiff. The swim i chose is one i have fished often and had good captures from there so i was confident in getting a bite. As Autumn has just begun i decided i would use the spod and put a small bed of bait down to see the reaction of the carp and whether they would be up for it or if they had already begun to slow down. I would then fish high attract hook-baits  and/or Particle baits over the baited area to see if i could get a few bites. 

I had decided on my favourite whipped D presentation fishing a Balanced Wafter on a size 6 Curve or Size 4 Gripz Hook depending on 15 mm or 18 mm bait size. For fishing particles i was using slow sinking fake corn on a size 8 Pallarax Gripz hook set-up Blow Back style . Each bait was finely balanced to get it to sink slowly in the water using toppers or popups and then the hook-link threaded into a small stick made with Godmans PVA Mesh and the hook pulled inside the stick. Some rigs i also attached bags of 4 or 5 boilies and/or boilie chops but some were cast with only the sticks and hook-bait. This was all set at 14 rod lengths, a distance that i had been catching many fish from in the same swim. The first rod was cast towards the corner of the island and the second half way between the corner of the island and the corner of the point (a well known feature on the lake). This is also the area that i spodded out the bed of bait. Once i was happy with the position of the rods it was time to set the alarms and wait.  It wasn't long before indications of fish feeding began and the the rods jumped into life. unfortunately not the target species, a 6 lb bream had snaffled the hook bait. now considering i was fishing 18 mm hook baits it amazes me the size of bait these fish can get in their mouths. I continued with a few more bream before i had my first carp of the session which came late in the evening. A small common of around 9 lb. This was then followed by a small mirror at 6 lb 4 oz and then the first double came at first light weighing at 13 lb 2 oz. 

Due to it being late in the year i didn't want to over feed my swim so didn't really put much bait in after each bite as they were not coming thick and fast and a few hours in between bite told me they just weren't getting their heads down to feed properly. I did throw a few boilies around the swim to keep their interest but the rods remained quite on the second day. My friend and fellow admin for the club Dean Curtis came down for a few hours and helped me with a couple of photos of the captures, we were discussing something on the bank when he suddenly saw the first sign of a carp showing just off the back of the baited area in a position the locals know at the batman due to a shadow from the tree lines that's cast at night.  At the same time we both wondered if they were holding off the back of the food, so i brought a rod in and re-positioned it on top of the area the fish showed. 

Within 20 minuets of re-positioning the rod it tour off with a screamer of a run. Only a little stockie of 7 lb but a stunning little mirror. That was enough for me to change the potion of my rods for the remainder of the day with one in the batman area and one cast longer towards the back of the baited patch and this seemed to do the trick with another coming from the batman patch during late evening and another 4 coming from the back of the baited spot during the night. It turned out to be an enjoyable session landing 10 carp total despite it being freezing cold in the mornings and sun-baiting weather in the afternoon

Now that Autumn has begun and winter is on its way we will see some of the fish now putting on weight for the winter and their winter colours starting to show. This is the best time of year to catch some really stunning specimens and I for one can't wait for my next adventure...... Wet Nets & Tight Lines.

Club FAW Social - Hendre Lake June 2018

by Martyn Russ

The main thing I love about the social sessions is getting to meet other anglers , club members and friends on the bank. Have fun whilst fishing, have a chat and banter and help each other catch some stunning specimens. It was great to have so many members turn up just to say hi and some even fished the lake after their own trophies. This year we had once again chosen our local venue, Hendre Fishing lake in Cardiff, due to most of our members being local to the lake and also the quality of fishing the lake has to offer. Originally the lake was a drain dug to reclaim the land around the area for social housing and was stocked with a huge variety of species. Linked to the foreshore by the back waters and reams this lake always manages to throw up a surprise or two with new fish entering the water. Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, & Perch to impressive sizes plus a huge variety of carp species up to the 30 lb weights and above. This lake is classed among the carp anglers as one of the best “runs”waters in Wales.

 

The weather forecast for the social was sunny and hot, which although is great for a gathering, it isn't good for fishing as it makes it difficult as they tend not to want to feed when too hot. Despite the high temperatures forecast I kept a positive attitude towards my fishing and made my way down to the lake. Upon arrival I had a quick look around the water and couldn't see any signs of the fish. I questioned a few anglers and they all seemed to say the same thing and that was they were up in the water because of the sun and not in the mood. Due to no signs of the fish and no signs of action from the anglers I chose a peg on the railway bank that I had fished before and knew the layout of the swim well. It was the second swim from the centre reams walking towards the carp park. The area I had planned on fishing was a patch I knew about that was between 13 and 15 wraps out in front towards a tall tree on the horizon. Choosing this spot would mean it would be easy to identify during the dark hours and I would be able to get back on the spot.

 To start the session I decided on my usual trick of throwing out 2 high attract baits one a balanced bait on the bottom and one a pop up. This usually tells me if the fish were in the mood for feeding or not just by how long it takes to get that first take. To do this you must use a bait you have complete confidence in knowing its not a case of “IF” they will want the bait but more a matter of “WHEN” they will eat it and how quick. In the mean time whilst waiting for the first take I set about preparing everything for the 4 day session ahead of me. I made up my spod mix which was a mixture of sweetcorn, hemp, Pellets and Boilies in 15 and 20 mm sizes. I then added tuna and  mixture of my own secret ingredient liquid additive. I then left this to soak in for several hours before attempting to use it. The reason I do this is because the lake is made up of deep silt and un-soaked baits can sometimes take on the smell and taste of the silt around it and this can put the fish off eating. They don't usually mind but can mean the difference between getting the take off a fussy feeder or blanking on a session at times. Once the spod mix was completed I set about making up some small sticks and stringers ready for my session and to be able to bait up quickly and get the rods back out on the spot after each fish as fast as I can and make the most out of the feeding spells.

 

Unfortunate the first take didn't come until around 12.30 after lunch with s small common around 11-12 lb in size. This told me that they really were not in the mood for feeding due to the heat and I would have to think about catching these fish. At first i though Zigs and surface baits were the way to go but they were not interesting and despite trying as hard as possible at both methods for a few hours nothing came. Many anglers on the lake were all trying the same things but no bites developed. It was at this point I realised that due to the heat they were lethargically hanging in the layers and the only way to get the bites would be to draw them down onto the bait. I do this by using high oily baits or glugged baits cast over a baited area. The first job was to create the baited patch so it was a case of grab the spod rod and start spodding out the mixture. I started of by placing 10 spods per rod out on the bottom and then cast the rods on top of the area. The hook-baits were all soaked in high attract glugg (Korda Goo) and had a stringer and PVA Stick on every rig cast out. This was to ensure there was a few freebies around each trap set drawing the fish onto the hook-bait, Each rod was clipped up at the exact same distance as the spod and every cast I made sure they were re-clipped each time. Accuracy in this kind of fishing would be very important as if you cast off the baited area the bites start to dry up. It wasn't long after I set out my traps ready for the first night when they dropped down and began to feed on the spot and the runs began to develop. I continued to get a run every 40 – 60 mins during the night right through till the early hours on the first night and was well pleased with the action.  

I then noticed as the morning came in and the day began to heat up the bites would slow up and it became more difficult to get them to take the bait, I again tried Zigs and surface baits with no results but every time I put a glugged bait on the bottom the rod would usually rip off after an hour or so and the bites were just steadily appearing from the baited area during the day. Due to this I continued to top up the baited area after every bite and a bit extra every 6 hours to ensure there was always food there for them to eat. As the second night drew in so did the action become more frantic resulting in several double takes and some lovely specimens being landed. Again it continued into the early hours and the lack of sleep was starting to get to me. Just as before as the day heated up the bites slowed down but this time I didn't bother reaching for the zigs or floater rod, instead I decide to continue placing glugged singles over the top of the food spot during the daytime and this seemed to be the key as the carp kept following them down and every couple of hours It resulted in a fish or two.

By the end of the 3rd day and night was approaching I had started to feel so tired from the lack of sleep due to all the action through the night it was starting to effect my fishing. That with the serious heat due to the heatwave we were having wasn't doing me any good. So I decided to pull the rods out for a couple of hours early evening before the action would really take off and get some rest. I did manage a couple of hours but it wasn't long before the angler took over again and I just had to get the rods back in the water as I felt I was missing out on bites. By continuing to feed regular and use high attract baits during the day time I was catching steadily for the entire session but it was around Tuesday when the temperatures became unbearable and I could see that the carp were starting to suffer during the fight so unfortunately it was time to call it a day and cut the trip short. I was also suffering from the heat so I really didn't mind and I had a really enjoyable session catching well over 20 + double figure carp (I actually lost count but approx 27 plus 6 big bream) .I really do like the longer session as you can really work at building your swim and catching the fish. I  am now looking forwards to my next adventure....

 

Wet nets & Tight lines 

First Long session 2018 June - Hendre Lake, Cardiff.

It doesn't matter how many times you have been fishing or how many years you have been doing it, you always get the nerves and excitement the day before your planned fishing trip. I always say "the day you don't get that excitement is the day to stop or give up"; but whilst it still makes me feel like a child i will continue to do the sport i love so much. Once again i had decided on doing my first long session around my birthday as a treat to myself and I also chose the local venue that i had joined for the season. Hendre Lake in Cardiff, Wales is a relatively old lake originally dug to drain the marsh lands around the area to make way for housing. Stocked with a variety of species including carp to over 30 lb, Pike to over 15 lb, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Tench, Perch and the occasional Chub, visiting from the back streams, Hendre Lake makes for a great course fishing venue and also a good water for new anglers to come along and learn the sport. Hendre is also classed among the carp anglers as one of the best "Runs" waters in Wales, This means you can drop by and be sure to get a bend in the rod.

The weather had forecast cloud cover with the odd shower and a possible storm in the evenings on the weekend with he sun coming later in the week. This looked promising for a few fish and made my excitement even more intense. I spent the evening preparing bait and getting everything ready for my trip. I am a firm believer in preparation equals success. The more i could do at home before the trip the more time i would have my rods in the water catching fish instead of messing about on the bank. As first light came and the sound of dawn breaking i couldn't contain my excitement and was dressed and ready to go hours too early. When my lift arrived i hurried to get all the gear packed into the van and off i went to the lake. After spending ages trying to put the wheels on my barrow, difficult at the best of times, I managed to get all my gear loaded up and ready to go. I decided to take a quick walk around the lake to see if there were signs of any fish. There didn't seem to be anything showing or any signs giving them away in their hiding spots , I talked to other anglers and they all said they were finding it hard and bites  have been few and far between with very little coming out. 

Upon arrival and at the star of the day i had noticed how clammy the weather had become and even though there was some cloud cover it seemed to be a lot hotter than what was forecast. this, along with the news that the lake was fishing hard, wasn't a very god sign to start a session on. I chose to ignore this and just look for the best swim i could get that would command the most water in front of me. I decided on my first swim on the railway bank on the left side of the lake if you stood in the car park. The swim i had chosen was the second from the middle outlet as there was already an angler on the very end swim. I proceeded to set up my rods and get my swim organised. Knowing that there was little sign of the carp and nothing showing or coming out i had decided on putting out 2 high attract baits that i have total confidence in so i could see what they were up to and if they were in the mood for a feed. I placed one rod on a wafter bottom bait at 14 rod length straight out in front of me and then the other on a running chod rig using a solar candyfloss pink pop up. The rods remained quiet for most of the day and this gave me time to get things ready such as my spod mix and sticks with stringers. The first fish didn't come till around Lunch time and was on the bottom bait wafter which showed me that they were dropping down in the water and were willing to feed.  

 

I then proceeded to spod out a bed of bait at the 14 rod length mark using a mixture of particles, Pallatrax Maggot and Blood-worm crush and Pallatrax Gammarus Shrimps all mixed in with a selection of Solar candyfloss and mainline IB boilies in whole and halves. I then re-cast both rods on the mark and sat and waited. As the evening came in and the temperature dropped the fish came on the feed and i started to catch.  This continued with a couple more fish into the evening and then after spodding out more bait over the top i set my rods ready for the night and settled down. I was then again woken at 2.30 in the morning with a one toner screaming run which resulted in a lovely 18 lb 10 oz common that didn't half put up a fight. I also managed to loose a fish at 4 am in the morning whilst half asleep trying to play the fish and stop it running into the reeds beside me i made a school boy error of forgetting my landing net and as i bent down to grab it , it saw its opportunity and dove straight through the reed bed tangling me up and managed to remove the hook from it mouth and plant it straight into the reed stem. How they do this is beyond my understanding but they seem to manage it every time. 

The next day was much the same with the weather changing for the worst and suddenly becoming sunny , bright and very hot. This turned the fish off and they didn't seem to want to feed. I was trying Zigs, Surface baits, Wafters, Pop ups, Naturals and even maggots and still nothing. I did manage to pick a few bites up from the feeding spot as the odd carp was dropping down for a feed every couple of hours and i was picking them off one by one steadily. A couple of the other anglers were trying surface fishing with not much happening until the evening when it cooled down and then they started to catch off the top. I was about to follow suit and switch over to surface baits when the rods started to get action again and the bites began once more. So instead of following suit i continued to spod more bait over the top after each bite and continued to catch carp very hour or 2. It was then, the second night, when all hell broke loose and the carp decided to come in mob handed and feed on the baited area. My rods were non stop most of the night with several runs and fish caught including loosing 2 hard fighting fish and a complete tangle with the angler in the next swim.  We think he had forgotten to turn his alarm back on after setting his rod as he didn't know he had a fish on. When i had one of the bites i was playing it and after seeing it about 20 feet out it dove down and suddenly became 3 times heavier, as i pulled the fish back to the surface to see what was going on i saw 2 fish surface together and they were all tangled. I managed to get them in and finish landing the second fish by hand-lining the fish in and finding it attached to the guys rod in the next swim. 

The following 2 days were much the same as the others,, cool in mornings, roasting hot during the day and through lunch with the action picking up in the evening and the nights. As i had now managed to get my swim going and the fish were constantly feeding i didn't really want to change swims but as there is a max 72 hour rule on the lake i had to move so instead of going for a wander around the lake i decided to just jump one swim up and ended up on the 1st swim on the centre outlet that commands the most water in the lake. I then spodded out more bait extending the baited patch from the swim next door into mine and then concentrating the bulk of the feed in front of me.  I placed my rods back on the mark and continued to catch and get plenty of action. Again most of it was during the evenings, nights and early mornings due to the weather being so hot. So much for overcast and a few showers. One of my friends then came down the lake to fish so i explained what i had done and where i had been feeding so he decided to join me and placed his rods on the spot where i was fishing before the move and that evening, with very little bait going in, he resulted in landing 5 fish during the night and 3 in the morning. 

The fishing trip had turned out to be a great success and i managed a total of 32 carp with 19 of the being in double figures with 24 lb 2 oz being the biggest of the session. The rigs that were doing the business were the Solar Candyfloss bottom baits on a blow back rig done with a Pallatrax size 6 Gripz hook on Pallatrax Steam-link in 25 lb with an inch stripped back subtle section at the hook end. The other rig that was just as good was the whipped D Rig with a balanced bait or Mainline IB wafter done with a Size 4 Gripz hook and again the Pallatrax Steam-link in 25 lb this time straight through to give a stiffer rig presentation. The chod rig was a standard running naked chod with a 1 inch hook-link fishing a pink candyfloss pop up. 

What an amazing session despite it being hard fishing when it was so hot, I still managed to convince them into having a feed and got plenty of fish on the bank. I can't wait for my next adventure now....

Wet Nets & Tight Lines

Start of Season Session at Peterstone Lakes 2018

by Martyn Russ

With the first bit of real sun advertised since the horrible winter we have just been through I would have been mad not to get out and do some fishing. We had tried a short session the week before up at Pentwyn lake but the weather was still too cold for them and I could see the fish swimming around sluggishly as if they were half asleep and not interested in food. We ended up leaving that venue with a blank. As soon as I saw the weather change and they started to advertise were were about to get a heat wave I knew this would be the prefect opportunity to get a bite and a bend in the rods.

 

We all decided on fishing the same lake upon arrival as we could see fish topping and showing on the surface.

 

Brian Lloyd had set up at the half way mark up the lake and myself and Stephen Quinn set up at the top of the Pencil Lake near the islands.

 .  Brian was fishing the pole using Pallatrax Meat beast baits and maggot and blood-worm crush ground bait mix. This seemed to do the trick as it wasn't long before he was into his first fish of the session shortly followed by a lovely barbel. 

I had decided to have one rod fishing a Pallatrax Crave popup on a Size 6 Wide Gape GRIPZ hook and a maggot and blood-worm crush stick on the hook-link  and Strawberry corn on the other rod. As expected it was the corn that gave me my first bit of action as I fished it tight to the island bank over a bed of crushed boiles mixed in with the maggot and blood-worm crush ground bait. 

 The fishing wasn't as easy as I thought it could be with the sun coming out and the temperature suddenly jumping from 14 degrees up to 23. As the sun warmed the water I watched the carp come up in the layers and start showing on the surface so I did try and tempt them with surface baits but they was having none of it. I tried switching to zigs but still nothing so eventually I switched back to bottom baits and sat and waited for the bites. 

Stephan Quinn, who was set up to the left of me facing the large island also managed to get some action and managed to land a small 4 to 5 lb common carp. this is the first fish of the season for our Stephen and its signals the end of a run of blank sessions that has been driving him insane. 

So well done Stephen we should be seeing a lot more captures from him. The fishing wasn't easy at all despite the lovely weather and the fish showing all over the lake. They still wasn't in the mood for feeding and no matter what we tried all we could do was manage a bite or two every hour or so, at least we was catching.

On THE Bank Fishing Guide - Setting Up your Rods for beginners.

Carp and Specimen fishing has changed over the last 20-30 years and technology has started to effect the equipment we are using. Modern rods are lighter and stronger than ever before, tackle is more refined and modernised, and fishing in general has become so popular it is now becoming a fashion. To be a specialist angler has changed over the years. It used to mean that you was an angler that targeted the larger of each species and went after those special fish using equipment and techniques that the hobby angler would never hear about. This has changed and the modern angler now has access to all the top end professional equipment and baits that only the "specialists" would use, what does this mean? 

It means that EVERY angler now has the chance of catching a fish of a lifetime, a  massive carp or catfish, Sturgeon or Salmon that you could only dream about years ago. The modern technology has put specimen angling in the hands of the hobbyist and more and more anglers are turning to "Specimen Fishing" as opposed to normal coarse or match angling. In one respect this is great as it means we can now all go out and catch monster fish but what does it mean for the future of fishing. More and more anglers are choosing to start off specimen fishing instead of learning to catch the smaller species first. This isn't a bad thing but it does mean they will miss out on many of the fundamentals of fishing and some of the basics we take for granted.

One of the biggest mistakes i see today on the bank is people with their rods all set up wrong. You can see they had the basic ideas of the set up but haven't followed it correctly and are either fishing with set ups that just wont work or a set up that is dangerous for the fish and could end up with fish being tethered in snags as they cannot get rid of the tackle in the case of a breakage. It is vital that an angler knows how to set up his rods correctly and safely. this is so much more important in the world of specimen anglers as using strong robust equipment means the fish can end up with gear that they just cannot get rid of no matter how hard they try.

When setting up our rods we have 2 main types of systems :

​

(1)  A Running Rig System 

This type of set-up means that once the bait is picked up and the fish has hooked itself it is able to move away with the rig unhindered by any tackle giving screaming runs. This will require the angler to strike into the fish to set the hook.

(2) A Fixed Rig System

This type of set-up is probably the more popular of options and is based around the traditional "bolt rig". This means when the carp picks up the bait and hook its then met with resistance from the rig and weight. This makes the hook pulls into the mouth and takes hold resulting in the fish spooking from the weight and causing the bolt effect as it charges off. Using the weight to set the hook means very little is done by the angler to get the hook hold and the angler is relying on the bait and the rig to do all the work. You can then "strike" to set the hook if wanted but not really needed with a bolt rig. Taking up the slack until the rod has a gentle bend is enough to ensure the hook is in tight. 

Important Note: FIXED RIGS / BOLT RIGS ARE NOT COMPLETELY FIXED & SHOULD BE MADE FISH SAFE

When using bolt rigs or fixed rig systems we have to make sure that these systems can be removed from the fish if the rig or line breaks. We do  not want fish towing long lengths of leaders or lines with lead weights attached to them. This is dangerous for the carp and annoying for the angler. "Even a Fixed rig set up cannot be completely fixed in modern fishing". Many fisheries insist on lead coming off or hook-link coming free and have now banned all completely fixed rigs from being used. If the line breaks or the fish snaps the line during the fight the lead must be able to be ejected with ease at all times ensuring the fish doesn't tow leads around and the same goes with tubing and leaders. It's so important to make sure that when you set up your rods you make sure they are completely fish safe.  Companies have spent years and money investing in products to make our lives easier when it comes to fish care and fish safety when fishing.  Using the correct products in the correct way is vital when setting up your gear. Using it incorrectly can result in a dangerous rig so always double check your set-up.

THE NAKED CHOD SET-UP

This is probably the simplest rig to set-up on any rod. It basically incorporates a short hook link with a buoyant bait fishing with the hook-link running up and down the line with your weight at the very end of your line. This is best used when you are not sure what you are fishing over or fishing over debris or weed. it ensures your hook-link and bait is presented perfectly 100% every time. 

(1) Mainline or Tapered Mainline (usually around 10 lb to 20 lb)

(2)Flexi Ring Swivel weighted with Tungsten Putty, This allows the hook-link to run freely up and down the line to ensure it lays over any debris on the lake bed presenting your bait perfectly.

(3) Hook and Bait. A Chod rig is normally fished with a very buoyant pop up bait around 1/2 inch up to 3 inch depending if fishing over weed.

(4) Stop Bead. this helps the hook-link hit the weight of the lead when picked up so it pricks the hook into the fishes mouth for a good hold.

(5) Safety Bead. Again to help the hook-link hit the weight quicker but also stops the hook-link travelling too far up the line making the rig unusable or giving no bite indication. Its also there so in the case of a breakage the hook-link can pass over the bead and drop the lead.

(6) The Lead Weight. This helps us to cast the bait to the selected area, Helps to pull the hook into the mouth of the fish and helps to hold the rig in place whilst fishing. (Small leads are used in weedy / deep silt conditions)

* There are different variations of the "CHOD Rig" 

a running chod can be fished on a leader as well as naked line. 

You can also fish the Chod Rig Fixed by trapping the hook-link between two stop beads. 

To fish it fixed it helps to know the depth of weed it would be sat over.

TIP: Don't attach PVA Sticks to this type of rig as it straightens the hook-link and stops the rig working how it should. 

BENEFITS USING A CHOD RIG:

 Easy to use and fish safe, Can be fished over any type of lake.venue bottom. Always perfect presentation. Can be cast around the lake chasing showing fish.

PROBLEMS: 

Can't attach extra free baits for attraction and fish only buoyant baits. 

​Can be a pain having to change the hook-link after every fish caught as it destroys the small Chod Hook-links during the fight.

THE LEAD CLIP SAFETY SYSTEM

The lead clip is probably the most used bolt rig system on the market. The lead safety clip is designed as a bolt rig and that the fish feels the weight when it picks up the bait so that the hook takes hold in the mouth. The lead clip can also be adjusted to create a running rig system and more advanced set-ups but the basic set up is the one we use the most. If the carp dives into week or snags the lead is designed to pull off if it catches on anything ensuring the lead drops and the fish is still able to be landed. 

* There are many variations of the "Bolt Rig" / "Lead Clip Safety System" some with leaders and some using anti tangle tubing or plain mainline but are all based around the same design with the lead coming off in the case of a snag or breakage.

TIP: Don't push the tail rubber of the lead clip on too far and always wet it with water before pushing it on  to secure the lead on the cast.

BENEFITS USING A BOLT RIG:

 Easy to use and fish safe, Can change weights when required, can adapt for all types of presentations.

PROBLEMS:

 Have to watch for tangles when casting soft braid hook-links, Can loose a lot of weights if fished in deep silt.

THE HELICOPTER (HELI) SYSTEM

The Heli System is usually set up in a similar way to the naked chod set-up but instead of  a naked line we would use a leader (lead free) or Tungsten Anti-Tangle tubing or standard anti tangle tubing. Instead of the hook-link travelling up and down the line it is kept just above the lead and rotated around the line on the cast just like a helicopter. You can adjust the distance the hook-link is allowed to travel up the line using the rubber beads in the case of deep weed or deep silt ensuring the hook-link never gets dragged in with the weight and is always presented on the top. This the BEST set-up if you have to cast long distances or like fishing at long range as this set-up stops the hook-link having any chance of tangling during the cast. Just the same as the chod rig system you must ensure that in the case of a line snapping or breakage during the fight that the lead can drop off, or the leader pull free or the line pull out of the tubing ensuring that only the hook is left in the fishes mouth and its not trailing the entire rig and lead around with it. When using leaders this is probably THE safest system for using leaders you can get as the hook-link will always be able to pull off the leader due to the heli set-up.

* There are many variations of the "Helicopter" / "Heli System" some with leaders and some using anti tangle tubing or plain mainline but are all based around the same design with the hook-link able to come off in the case of a snag or breakage.

TIP: If fishing deep weed or silt use a second bead to close the gap so the hook-link doesn't have to travel too far before it feels the weight of the lead. This will help in quicker bite registration and help to hook the fish quicker.

BENEFITS USING A HELI RIG:

 Can be fished at distance with ease and no tangles, easy to set-up,

Fish safe and ensures you presentation even in deep weed.

PROBLEMS:

 Difficult to attach PVA Bags or Stringers as the "Heli" doesn't cast the same. 

THE INLINE SET-UP

Another set-up based on the fixed rig system is the inline lead set-up. This method is preferred by ,many carp anglers as they believe the lead works better on the system as its inline meaning the lead is always picked up from its heaviest point. this gives quick and good hook holds.​ Some believe that the lead clip system can twist and turn before the full weight of the lead is felt giving a chance for the fish to rid themselves of the hook and that the inline system gives a much better hook hold. I think its really down to personal preference and what type of venue you are fishing as if fishing over deep silt on a soft bottom an inline can pull the hook-link into the silt and would be better off using a clip in this case. Again when setting up an inline system you have to ensure that the lead can come free in the case of a breakage or snap and that the hook-link can come free from the rig. This means the system is safe and the carp/ fish can get rid of the rig if in snags or tangles.​ In-lines are also able to be fished inside PVA Bags with ease and you can get away with using large weights and short hook-links resulting in some great hook holds.

            

* There are many variations of the "INLINE LEAD" Set-up some with leaders and some using anti tangle tubing or plain mainline but are all based around the same design with the Line travelling through the lead and the hook-link attaching to the other side of the lead and able to come free in the case of a snag or breakage.

TIP: If fishing deep weed or silt it is difficult to use this set-up unless fishing inside of a PVA bag as the lead will drag the hook-link down into the weed / deep silt. If fished in a PVA it tends to make a small pile and the hook-link sits on top giving good presentation.

BENEFITS USING AN INLINE RIG:

 Can be fished at distance with ease and no tangles when set-up correctly, easy to set-up,

Can be fished with heavy weights and small hook-links in PVA bags a very good "quick bite" method.

PROBLEMS:

 Difficult to cast soft braided hook-links with out the aid of something to stop tangles ie. PVA Nugget, PVA Stick etc.