A ’rig’, also known as ‘end tackle’, is an arrangement of items joined together in such a unique way to be used for catching certain species of fish but sometimes they will work well for many other different species.
They can be assembled with one or more lines , hooks , sinkers , bobbers , swivels , lures , beads, and other fishing tackle to get the desired rig. The individual designs could be to present a float on the surface or others to sink to the bottom. Some rigs are designed for trolling and spinning . Rigs can be made up by the angler or in most cases now bought premade from shops or through the internet. There are multiple rigs available to try with constantly new innovations of design. Here are some old favourites.
X
TACKLE - RIGS
Helicopter
Leger - Link
Spinning
Floater - Controller
Free Roaming Bait
Waggler - On The Drop
Waggler - Laid On
Paternoster -Running
Paternoster - Feeder
Pole Float
Lift Method
Leger - Straight
Waggler - Straight
Waggler - Insert
Waggler - Bodied
Swim Feeder - Loop
Stick Float - Strung Out
Waggler - On The Drop

FLOATER - CONTROLLER

FREE ROAMING BAIT

HELICOPTER

LEGER, LINK

SPINNING

PATERNOSTER - FEEDER

PATERNOSTER - RUNNING

POLE FLOAT

LIFT METHOD

LEGER - STRAIGHT

Notes The controller gives you the means to cast light, buoyant hookbaits such as bread crust and Chum Mixer, and acts as a bite indicator. Alternatively, use a lighter version of the laid on waggler rig. Chum Mixer, and other buoyant baits can be flavoured and coloured if required.
Notes A live or dead bait is used in conjunction with a Jardine Snap Tackle. If the float is mounted as a slider it can easily be varied to suit different depths. Legered baits are also an excellent method, specially sea baits such as mackerel, herring and sardine.
LOCATION
LAKE / SLOW RIVER
SPECIES
Pike
ROD
Medium Pike
MAIN LINE
12lb
TRACE LINE
20lb
HOOK
8’s Trebles
METHOD
see Notes
Location
LAKE / PONDS
CANALS / DRAINS
Floater, Controller
Carp
Carp
Free roaming bait
Pike
Helicopter
Carp
Leger, Link
Tench / Zander
Lift Method
Tench
Paternoster, Running
Perch / Wels
Pole float
Carp
Bream / Gudgeon
Waggler, Insert
Carp / Roach / Rudd
Waggler, Laid on
Bream / Orfe / Roach
Waggler, On the Drop
Orfe / Rudd
Location - Rivers
FAST
MODERATE
SLOW
Leger, Link
Chub
Wels / Roach
Leger, Staight
Barbel
Paternoster, Feeder
Bream
Gudgeon
Pole float
Bleak
Spinner
Pike
Stick float, Strung out
Bleak
Dace
Chub
Swim Feeder, Loop
Barbel
Bleak
Dace / Mullet
Waggler, Bodied
Chub / Dace
Waggler, Laid on
Gudgeon
Carp
Waggler, Straight
Perch
Barbel / Mullet
LOCATION
POND / CANAL / DRAIN
SPECIES
Carp
ROD
Light Carp
MAIN LINE
12lb
TRACE LINE
8lb
HOOK
6’s
METHOD
see Notes
LOCATION
LAKE / SLOW RIVER
SPECIES
Pike
ROD
Medium Pike
MAIN LINE
12lb
TRACE LINE
20lb
HOOK
8’s Trebles
METHOD
see Notes
Notes Main bait should be boilies, with a scattering of boilies as feed. Alternative baits are sweetcorn and luncheon meat. Floater controller rig should also be considered where fish can be seen rising, using bread crust or Chum Mixer dog food biscuits as bait.
LOCATION
LAKE or
PONDS
RIVER, MODERATE
RIVER
SLOW
SPECIES
Tench
Zander
Chub
Wels
Roach
ROD
Medium Leger
Light Pike or Carp
Medium Quivertip
Medium Carp
Match, Waggler
MAIN LINE
6lb
10lb
4lb
15lb
3lb
TRACE LINE
5lb
8lb
3lb
12lb
2.5lb
HOOK
8’s
10’s Trebles
8’s
6’s
18’s
METHOD
see Notes
Dead bait
see Notes
Dead bait
Double caster
see Notes
Notes: Chub Chub will respond to methods and all sizes of bait. A bodied waggler is best in fast water, but a straight waggler can be used in slower currents. Best baits are caster and maggot, with one or two on the hook. A link leger is a good alternative method.
Notes: Roach Big roach are very partial to big baits such as lobworm and large pieces of bread flake, specially in fading light. Feed the swim with bread crumb groundbait laced with chopped worms. A waggler float is a good alternative.
Notes: Tench Lobworm, sweetcorn and bread flake are the best baits for early season, but maggot and caster and other particle baits come into their own as the season wears on. Fish with a long tail to begin with, then shorten up if bites are hard to hit. When fishing in carp waters try boilies.
Notes: Wels Wels catfish are almost exclusively bottom feeders, and with this rig a small deadbait can be presented firmly on the bottom. Alternative baits are pieces of fresh liver or squid. A link leger can also be used.
Notes: Zander Zander are poor fighters, pound for pound, compared to most other species, but fairly heavy tackle is necessary to deal with 'nuisance.' pike. A small deadbait mounted on Jardine Snap Tackle can be used with a link leger, but a small livebait on a free roaming rig is a good alternative.
LOCATION
RIVER, MODERATE
SPECIES
Barbel
ROD
Heavy Quiver
MAIN LINE
6lb
TRACE LINE
5lb
HOOK
6’s
METHOD
see Notes
Notes: Barbel Cubed luncheon meat, with smaller cubes for hand or catapult feeding. Alternatively, three or four grains of sweet corn with a dozen or so grains loose fed little and often. Sweetcorn can also be fed with a swim-feeder rig or bait dropper.
LOCATION
CANAL
SPECIES
Tench
ROD
Specimen Float
MAIN LINE
4lb
TRACE LINE
3lb
HOOK
14’s
METHOD
see Notes
Notes: Tench Fish a sweetcorn bait over a bed of hemp, using two grains in the hook. The bite indication will be the float rising out of the water. Strike immediately. Waggler, laid on, or a light swim-feeder set-up, are excellent alternative methods.
LOCATION
LAKE
LAKE
SPECIES
Perch
Wels
ROD
Medium Leger
Medium Carp
MAIN LINE
5lb
15lb
TRACE LINE
4lb
12lb
HOOK
4’s
6’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Bream Use open-end feeder and pack with slightly wetted ground- bait laced with hook-bait. Bream are mainly bottom feeders but when feeding confidently will rise off bottom to take bait as it sinks. Best baits for the feeder are maggot and caster, but redworm is an excellent hook-bait.
Notes: Gudgeon Use single maggot as hook-bait with maggot in feeder. The feeder should be a small one. The quivertip should be as sensitive as possible and the slightest movement of the tip struck at. Punched bread is a good alternative bait.
LOCATION
RIVER, SLOW
RIVER, SLOW
SPECIES
Bream
Gudgeon
ROD
Specimen Float
Light Quivertip
MAIN LINE
4lb
2lb
TRACE LINE
3lb
1lb
HOOK
14’s
22’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Perch Use a minnow or two large lobworms. Ground-bait is not usually used, but a few chopped worms in ground-bait can be tried. An alternative method is spinning with small spinners and spoons. Float methods such as ‘Straight Waggler’ or ‘Waggler - Laid On’ can also be tried.
Notes: Wels Wels catfish are almost exclusively bottom feeders, and with this rig a small dead-bait can be presented firmly on the bottom. Alternative baits are pieces of fresh liver or squid. A link leger can also be used.
LOCATION
SLOW RIVER
CANAL
SPECIES
Bleak
Bream
ROD
Pole
Pole
MAIN LINE
1lb
2lb
TRACE LINE
12oz
1lb
HOOK
24’s
18’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
LOCATION
POND
CANAL
SPECIES
Carp, Crucian
Gudgeon
ROD
Pole
Pole
MAIN LINE
3lb
1lb
TRACE LINE
2lb
12oz
HOOK
14’s
24’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Bleak When the going is really tough and bites at a premium, pole tactics, where the swim allows, is often the best option. The tiniest of bites will register on a pole float, and the angler has complete control of his tackle with a reel-less rod - a pole. Pinkies are the best bait, with Squatts an alternative.
Notes: Bream Loose feed pinkie and Squatts with single pinkie as hook- bait. One or more Squatts can be tried as hook-bait if fish are small. Occasionally feed a small ball of cloud ground bait followed by loose feed.
Notes: Carp, Crucian The pole method is best in swims that suit the most sensitive presentation. Bait and ground bait as for rod and Insert Waggler rig, except that pinkies can be used when the fish are small.
Notes: Gudgeon Use pinkie or bloodworm as main bait, feeding Squatts or Jokers little and often. Allow the bait to sink slowly but ensure it comes to rest on the bottom where Gudgeon mainly feed.
LOCATION
SLOW RIVER
SPECIES
Pike
ROD
Heavy Spinning
MAIN LINE
10lb
TRACE LINE
15lb
HOOK
Trebles
METHOD
see Notes
Notes: Pike Pike are not predators that chase their prey, but rather lay in ambush for them it is best, therefore, to retrieve the lure slowly, in a manner that simulates the actions of an injured fish. Surface lures are best in the warmer months while deep diving lures best in winter. Live and dead baits methods will also catch fish.

STICK FLOAT, STRUNG OUT

LOCATION
FAST RIVER
SLOW RIVER
MODERATE RIVER
SPECIES
Bleak
Chub
Dace
ROD
Stick Float
Stick Float
Stick Float
MAIN LINE
2lb
2.5lb
1.5lb
TRACE LINE
1lb
2lb
1lb
HOOK
20’s
20’s
20’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Bleak Typical strung out shotting pattern often known as 'shirt button' style, usually fished over-depth, with the float held back to cause the bait to rise off bottom. Use with maggot or pinkie maggot, loose feed with hook-bait samples little and often.
Notes: Dace As for Bodied Waggler but Stickfloats should be used at short range, otherwise use a straight Waggler. Watch for on-the-drop bites when the dace begin to feed confidently. Again, a block-end feeder can be a good alternative.
Notes: Chub Bronze maggot on the hook and loose fed little and often can be a deadly method on rivers where this bait is popular. Also try Waggler and Swim feeder methods with caster or white maggot as bait.

WAGGLER, LAID ON

SWIM FEEDER - LOOP

LOCATION
FAST RIVER
MODERATE RIVER
SPECIES
Barbel
Bleak
ROD
Heavy Feeder
Light Quivertip
MAIN LINE
6lb
2.5lb
TRACE LINE
5lb
1.5lb
HOOK
14’s
22’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
LOCATION
SLOW RIVER
SLOW RIVER
SPECIES
Dace
Mullet
ROD
Light Quivertip
Medium Quivertip
MAIN LINE
2.5lb
6lb
TRACE LINE
1.5lb
5lb
HOOK
20’s
10’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Barbel Single Caster, Gozzer or maggot as hook-bait with a 50/50 mix of caster/hempseed or maggot/hempseed for feeding on size 16 hook as an alternative. If using multiple baits increase hook size to 14’s. Try, straight-legered luncheon meat with heavier lines, i.e. 10lb main and 8lb hook-length where the Barbel grow big and the swim is weedy.
Notes: Bleak This is a relatively tangle-free rig and can be used with speed when fishing matches. Use with maggot or pinkies. The hook length should be varied from bins to 4ft or more to see what length attracts the most bites.
Notes: Dace Start with long hook length but be prepared to shorten it if bites are hard to hit. Paternoster swim-feeder can be a good alternative or try a link- legered bomb rig if it is suspected the splash of the feeder is frightening the fish.
Notes: Mullet A good alternative method is the loop open - end swim feeder, using crumb in the feeder and flake on the hook. Alternatively, a bunch of four or five maggot can be used on the hook, with crumb laced with maggots in the feeder.

WAGGLER - BODIED

LOCATION
FAST RIVER
FAST RIVER
SPECIES
Chub
Dace
ROD
Waggler Float
Waggler Float
MAIN LINE
2.5lb
2lb
TRACE LINE
2lb
1.5lb
HOOK
18’s
18’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Chub Chub will respond to methods and all sizes of bait. A Bodied Waggler is best in fast water, but a Straight Waggler can be used in slower currents. Best baits are caster and maggot, with one or two on the hook. A Link Leger is a good alternative method.
Notes: Dace Dace are fast-biting fish, therefore the float should be shotted well down. Caster or maggot are best baits, loose feeding these little and often at the head of the swim. Alternative method is Block-end Swim-feeder using same baits.

WAGGLER - INSERT

LOCATION
LAKE
POND CANAL
POND
SPECIES
Carp
Roach
Rudd
ROD
Match Waggler
Match Waggler
Match Waggler
MAIN LINE
3lb
2.5lb
2.5lb
TRACE LINE
2lb
2lb
2lb
HOOK
14’s
20’s
16’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Carp Crucian carp are very delicate, even peculiar, biters, so it is essential that the bottom shot is prevented from lying on the bottom to make the rig ultra-sensitive. Use caster, maggot, or sweetcorn as bait and loose feed hook-bait samples and an occasional ball of cloud ground- bait.
Notes: Roach Insert Waggler for maximum sensitivity, otherwise similar tactics as for Bodied Waggler, but try maggots in ponds and canals which generally produce smaller fish. A very light version of a swim-feeder rig can also be used.
Notes: Rudd Insert Waggler is best for maximum sensitivity, with caster as one of the most productive baits. Use the dark, floating casters on the hook to prolong the sinking rate of the hook-bait, with light-coloured, sinking casters for loose feed. A very light swim-feeder can be a good alternative.
LOCATION
LAKE
RIVER SLOW
RIVER MODERATE
SPECIES
Bream
Carp
Gudgeon
ROD
Waggler Float
Medium Carp
Match Stick Float
MAIN LINE
3lb
12lb
1.5lb
TRACE LINE
2.5lb
10lb
12oz
HOOK
16’s
6’s
22’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
see Notes
LOCATION
POND
POND CANAL
POND CANAL
SPECIES
Orfe
Perch
Roach
ROD
Match Waggler
Match Waggler
Match Waggler
MAIN LINE
2.5lb
2.5lb
2.5lb
TRACE LINE
2lb
2lb
2lb
HOOK
12’s
16’s
20’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Carp Fish the slacker areas and place bait over a bed of loose feed such as hempseed and hook-bait samples. Hook-baits can be boilies, sweetcorn or luncheon meat. Helicopter bolt rigs can be used as an alternative, and the swim fed with a stringer
Notes: Bream Fish over a carpet of ground-bait laced with hook-bait samples and squatts. If the bream begin to take bait as it sinks, move the bottom shot up the line towards the bulk shot to allow the bait to sink more slowly. Swim-feeder tactics also excellent on lowland lakes.
Notes: Gudgeon A very light action rod is necessary for such light lines and small hooks, which is why the Stickfloat rod has been recommended albeit with a waggler type float. The float should be shotted down to a mere 'dot' for sensitivity. Use single pinkie maggot on hook and feed with squatts.
Notes: Orfe Very often, following use of the 'on-the-drop' waggler method, the fish will follow the bread flake down and begin to feed on the bottom. Continue to feed little and often. An excellent alternative bait is Caster when the hook should then be 16's. Casters should also be loose fed little and often.
Notes: Perch Red maggots are usually the best bait for Perch with this method, but there are waters where casters are best. Quite often the Perch want bait off-bottom, so it pays to experiment with the depth at which you present the bait. Alternative methods are lighter versions of the other methods such as Straight Waggler.
Notes: Roach Insert Waggler for maximum sensitivity, otherwise similar tactics as for Bodied Waggler, but try maggots in ponds and canals which generally produce smaller fish. A very light version of a swim-feeder rig can also be used.

WAGGLER, ON THE DROP

LOCATION
LAKE
LAKE
SPECIES
Orfe
Rudd
ROD
Match Waggler
Match Waggler
MAIN LINE
3lb
3lb
TRACE LINE
2lb
2.5lb
HOOK
12’s
10’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Orfe Orfe generally feed on, or close to the surface, therefore, a slow-sinking piece of bread flake is often taken. Feed little and often with a cloud ground-bait to ensure there is a constant stream of crumbs falling through the swim. Swim-feeder and leger methods are an alternative.
Notes: Rudd Floating and slow-sinking baits are usually best for Rudd, but bottom baits often account for the bigger specimens. Use buoyant, or semi- buoyant baits such as bread crust or air-injected lobworms. Feed the swim with cloud ground-bait. An alternative method is swim-feeder.

WAGGLER, STRAIGHT

LOCATION
RIVER SLOW
RIVER SLOW
RIVER MODERATE
SPECIES
Barbel
Mullet
Perch
ROD
Specimen Float
Specimen Float
Match Waggler
MAIN LINE
5lb
5lb
3lb
TRACE LINE
4lb
4lb
2.5lb
HOOK
16’s
8’s
6’s
METHOD
see Notes
see Notes
see Notes
Notes: Barbel Two or three caster or maggot as bait with caster or maggot loose fed. Also feed hempseed with either bait. A stick-float is a good alternative when fishing close to your own bank. Lighter versions of the 'Loop' swim-feeder and straight leger can be used.
Notes: Perch A single lobworm or a lob tail are good baits. Feed little and often with chopped worms in ground-bait. Vary the depth the bait is fished, from a foot or so deep, to dragging the bottom, until you find the taking depth. Red maggots can be a good alternative to worm.
Notes: Mullet Use bread flake as main bait, with bread crumb as ground- bait. This should be mixed so that it sinks, but breaks up slowly to feed the swim. Bread can also be free-line on the surface.