***CARP FISHING TV*** Underwater Answers 3 - Zig Rigs

In this episode of Underwater Answers Rob Hughes is joined by Harry Charrington on the banks of Thorpe Lea in Surrey to take an in-depth look at zig rigs and how they look and work underwater. It certainly makes for some interesting viewing and you really can't help learning a thing or two from Rob's findings.
Fox Fishing TV is home to a huge collection of carp fishing videos. With clips and films ranging from, The Challenge with Mark Pitchers and Chilly’s Vlog to all the very latest product videos and Free Carp Fishing DVD’s at Fox Fishing TV we have carp-related content covered. Fox International is one of the world’s biggest carp fishing tackle manufacturers, supplying well over 3000 products to carp anglers who require quality fishing tackle that is up to our exceptionally high standards. Items such as bivvies, bedchairs, rods, reels, luggage, right the way through to end tackle like hooks, hooklinks and swivels. We hope you enjoy our videos and if you do please like, share and comment.

[@MrSnypz1]

"If you stick it in the right place they come really really quickly" - Rob Hughes -2018.

[@RobHughesTV]

and I stand by that!!

[@gymmad86]

😂😂

[@Lutonman2010]

😀 priceless

[@essexangler6486]

😁😜

[@davidshaw442]

@@RobHughesTV what's the best hook size rob?thanks David

[@LordBransty]

When Rob used to be on Tight Lines, I always recorded the show and kept it permanently. I learned more from him than all the other experts put together. His suggestions landed me my PB - twice! On days when other anglers weren't catching! Here he goes again, amazing us pedestrians. Well done Rob! Keep it going fellow northern lad!

[@shoddyangler1454]

Well thought out, articulate production with clear thinking. Thanks 🙏

[@dereksmith3103]

Great insight into zig fishing, love these underwater vids

[@matthewtanner9823]

One thing I noticed was the light reflecting off the line and it reminded me of my flyfishing days. You could never get a take from trout with a line that hadn't been treated with anything. I used to rub normal bankside mud onto the line when fishing a dry fly and it was amazing the difference that made. Very often takes came instantly. So yes the reflection of light on the line puts fish off but sometimes you can be lucky and the line or zig won't spin around and flash putting the fish off.

[@stevesasify]

I would like see how the bobbin would react if the zig was fished on a running lead, as an adjustable is.

[@axilla1495]

I used an adjustable zig on a1 pits I was pulling the line in random movements on from an inch all the way to a foot and I caught so moving the zig does work guys. Great video btw.

[@robertdawson2743]

Can't believe how many carp are in mid water. Definitely giving a zig a go this season.

[@gavinburt3750]

This is one of the best videos you can watch re fishing. Will look to take some of these tips onto the rivers when the Barbel season starts.

[@Sonikks]

I'm not sure how effective these will be for Barbel as they're deck eating fish. You may get trout or grayling though but it's better to use flies or stick float in my opinion.

[@GH-if5xw]

I’m a Rainbow trout fisherman in BC Canada, the most deadly fly is A black buzzer, with dark green being next. Not unusual to catch and release 20 to 30 rainbows during a hatch. These are totally wild rainbows on high country lakes 4,000 ft elevation, lakes are pretty clear, until summer when The algae sits in the top three feet.

[@justluvfishinguk]

Wow buddy got to the part where your caught that corker of a barbell .. buzzing stunning fish mark .. right I’ll carry on watching .. cheers Chris

[@flopshotking]

A great watch I must say think Mark pitchers would be proud of that comment. 👍👍👍

[@RobHughesTV]

I'm learning.... :)

[@johngough566]

Thanks for the effort put into this 👍 Great informative video that will definitely improve my zig fishing and catch rate 🎣🐟

[@MarkCarp]

good stuff, specially on visibility, bit of an eye opener that, thanks guys👍

[@owtletcarpfishing3479]

wow watched this video before i had no faith in zigs. after i then fished at weekend i have complete faith and will be using them alot more in my fishing

[@davepreston4226]

Always a good watch, time to replace all foam to black!

[@andrewrichards3520]

So its where Carp fishing meets fly fishing, meets an element of sea fishing, mimicking water insects, and have a slightly moving bait, with carp tackle.

[@bpflyfish]

Fantastic video boys loads of information to digest makes me want to get out there & give it a go. cheers lads 👍🏻

[@geoffrivett]

Great video, lots of info to chew over, I will definitely try zigs more thanks to this film, cheers Rob and Harry!

[@SciD1]

Fantastic video! Really interesting and revealing.

[@njo6973]

Thank you guys. I've been waiting a long time for an underwater video of zigs. Now for floater fishing please😉

[@RobHughesTV]

It's on the list. I've got a feature in next months Carp Feed about it.

[@njo6973]

Rob Hughes TV thanks mate. I'll look forward to that too👍

[@SamandBenFishing]

Food for thought there, cheers boys

[@t3angling575]

I am a US Carp Angler, just starting using zigs here. Have been told don't bother, not enough fish in a small pond type of setting to use zigs, you'll just be wasting your time. I can see their point, but I am stubborn enough to give it a go anyways. After watching damn near every zig video I can, I can say, after my first zig session, I forgot most of what I had watched - LOL!! I have some off time coming up and am dedicating those fishing days as zig days. Fishing an old gravel pit with depths from 3 ft to 36 ft. It is wild water here, not stocked ponds. So I understand it will take longer, and I have to have a method of drawing fish in to the zig bait. I am fishing the zig aligners in black on black, black foam on red and yellow aligner, also using a tadpole bug (all back). Any tips or thoughts on using zigs effectively here in unstocked, wild water lakes from 3 - 103,000 surface acre lakes? Great video. Learned a ton, and this video answered 9 out of my top 10 questions.

[@shaunlloyd7487]

Adjustable zigs are the way if you have the depth to play I can't get enuff of them and this video confirms y i think thanks lads 🏅

[@mattp2494]

I've learnt more watching this than I've learnt watching hours of other vids 👌🏾

[@dylanthedyslexicvillain4294]

Matt P definitely me too

[@imdaprophet]

Because you was watching prnhub

[@AdamDoesStuff]

This really makes me want to target some carp, which is a fish I’ve never caught!

[@dannyhayward2392]

You dont know what you're missing brother

[@polishlad8873]

Thank you! Nice lesson!

[@ryanwestgarth1835]

Thank you Rob and Harry for a very informative video. A lot of food for thought there. I always thought black zigs stood out the best. I would be interested in seeing how well they show up in low light levels. I always use spring arms for zig fishing and hit every bleep. Not always a fish but that could just be down to my alarms.

[@tuxedot7949]

Awesome vid Mr Hughes 😊 what about zigs at night ! Can we get you out there at night please? Different moons and light in the sky must play a part too

[@daveshaw5293]

@@tuxedot7949 yes and black foam pal

[@ssstee6133]

Wow, i learned a lot from this video, thanks guy's!!

[@rimotivri]

underwater topics are awsome. Cool.

[@timfoulsham8095]

Brilliant insight. Just started carp fishing. Tried the zigs first time. Only one the lake who had action. Black and white worked for me. 6 ft in 8 ft of water. Don't know why though

[@paulglynn8015]

Next time when testing the zigs under water use the adjustable zig float And see if they give a quicker response on the alarms

[@MrCarpking71]

Loved this. Very good info that I'll 100% use in my own fishing. Thanks fox👍👍

[@rosslester69]

Great Work by Blob Hughes as usual Blobby Blobby Blobby

[@Kb11466]

In coloured water on a bright day, Yellow was easily the best colour for me yesterday. 1 foot under the surface, spodding a cloudy mix will liquidised sweetcorn. As a rule I will now always do one yellow and one black then swap onto whichever one seems to catch, hoping I can find a correlation of using bright colours in more coloured water and black in clear water

[@mattyj624]

Really interesting watch that 👌👏

[@joescarpadventures]

Excellent, insightful, and educational piece on zigging! Kudos!

[@theoneeyedmilkman1517]

I found it interesting how much the hook could be moved without sounding the alarm . I always have my line right tight and I will continue to do so

[@MrDerrickTrotter]

What's that music around 14 minutes fox?? Great video BTW these underwaters are making life better at understanding bits n bobs, giving a better perspective!

[@WERONEfishing]

luv vid enjoyed watching the carp swim around rob

[@CyberKidXtra]

12:36 - That's what she said lads... Wheyy

[@MrTomek7442]

You boys are f.... amazing Love your videos so f.... educational Bank of knowledge

[@RobHughesTV]

Thank you X X

[@MrKokemachine]

Very interesting results! Thanks for making this video.

[@bigleon88]

You should test some multi coloured foam call it full spectrum zig aligner

[@AllisterTaylor]

very interesting underwater shots

[@mrbtboydify]

Really great vid lads. Will zigs work all year round, in all conditions.

[@vipernight2]

you guys said about movement and standing there just tugging your line and funny enough a friend of mine done that to me on one of my rods to wake me up just pulling the line back and fort and as he was doing that the rod went.we fort that was just a fluke but we done it again and it worked again it did not work every time but it does show that some fish will go for a take if there is some movement

[@Rob-zq8sy]

While watching I was wondering about imparting some movement into the zig, they obviously assume its some aquatic insect so why not move it like a fly fisherman does?

[@gee3883]

They will definitely respond to movement as they eat small fish and crustaceans. A piece of black foam would be like a beetle or bug sitting mid water and a half drowning/sinking bug would be moving ! Zigs are the new black/boilies

[@carpertomscratchcards]

great vid boys learned lots

[@Jerec]

27:39 I wish my regular lake was this stocked.

[@jerrardprins1942]

I would like to see if adjustable zigs give a better bite indication than zigs on a fixed lead system. Since the fish dont need to move the lead first before giving indication i would assume as soon as the fish pulls on the hookbait the line immediately pulls all the way through to the reel instantly giving bite idication.

[@MrColjo42]

Great film thanks I would be interested to see if a heavy running lead would increase bite indication .

[@fox_international]

Colin Jones one for next time for sure!

[@chucky1golf]

Half ounze lead running get screamers just remember to keep your baitrunner tighter to set hook

[@tidyfishing]

Great vid, would of loved to have seen a fish taking a zig on an underwater camera, I always wounded do they actually realise they’re hooked before they hit the lead ?

[@thatcjb1488]

I would like to see what a cloudy sloppy spod mix looks like from under to see how a zig is enhanced

[@Rob-zq8sy]

Interesting guys, think you should have tried a running lead on the indicator test.

[@jlk7107]

Cracking video guys, nice fishing!🎣

[@royclose946]

Black foam all day long 👍🎣🎣🎣

[@GaryB_OutandAbout]

Nice video, plenty of info. Black foam/aligner for me too! I’ve only ever used an adjustable zig, as I’m not confident (or am I lazy) in finding the correct depth with changing hook link lengths. I will try making various zig lengths next time, however with an adjustable, what would you say minimum length to the float should be? I’m often only doing 2ft.. and thinking the float could spook fish, being that short? But then I guess that’s down to how confident, fish are feeding.

[@yordisanders9859]

I was wondering if a Tungsten Anti-tangle sleeve would improve your hooking potential instead of a normal one, the extra inches from a normal anti tangle sleeve however would only be important if you zig in really shallow waters. I was also wondering what adding additives to the hookbait or foam is about. Ernesto Kamminga says the secret to zig fishing is to fish it without any additives because the fish could use his senses to predetermine if he wants the bait or not, while not having anything on it would be forced to take it into its mouth to check what it is, I find this really interesting, rather then giving the fish the option, which could be positive if the carp likes the smell of the bait or a hookbait with no smell at all in an attempt to activate the predatorian instincts of the fish. It's like serving the fish a 5 star meal and hope its to its liking or provocing the basic hunting instinct of the carp.

[@chucky1golf]

3 zigs out different colours to see what's stands out, please, next time lads. Good info there, maybe why shorter zigs catch more.

[@davidshaw442]

Very helpful and informative from hugesey but what's the best hook size ??👍

[@notaclue638]

On a low stock, small, weedy venue are zigs still worth a go or should I stick with my pop ups?

[@RobHughesTV]

definietely still worth a go, especially if there is a hatch on

[@KevRoulson]

Thanks 👍👍👍👏👏👏👏

[@SKCarpfishing]

Thank for the information,

[@leerussell3847]

Was this at chilham mill, great vlog guys

[@numbnutz7832]

Thorpe Lea. Can hear the M25 in the background.

[@godfrey626]

that was very good about zigs i am just starting can you do one with float zig with float please john nottingham thanks

[@RobHughesTV]

it's on the "to do" list

[@chrisandsamlivingthedream]

Awesome...

[@AlSarajFishingSports]

Super carp fishing bro

[@azaz...]

i didn't understand about the bobbins, which one reacted the best?

[@princessunicorn1773]

Mega content 🙌

[@jamesmacca4146]

Didn’t think zig’s were aloud at Thorpe Lee fishies??

[@stigflambard9799]

How many times do you hear fishing tackle manufacturers use the word "Devastating" ? LOL

[@azucenablanco3156]

Nice, like..;!!

[@kevinwoolner954]

You didn’t mention using pop up boilies on zigs

[@geoff1653]

Great insight to zigs. Do you find though that most of your catches tend to be closer to the surface or in midwater.

[@RobHughesTV]

really does depend. Most of the fish I caught in this one were about half depth, but it was quite shallow. I always follow the rule of thirds

[@bm-fq7gm]

As a matchman,boring old brown pellets catch 90per cent of our carp with yellow and white catching when the carp are not really feeding,is it because it's at the right level or is it the colour?

[@RobHughesTV]

Probably because that's what most people use. Try something different and watch eveyrone follow

[@bm-fq7gm]

Rob Hughes TV ,to true your video is an eye opener, great idea's, keeps us thinking.

[@eminemisdogshit4626]

A grip weight on a fixed rig enables a hook up everytime

[@azaz...]

you mean an in line lead?

[@eminemisdogshit4626]

@@azaz... No 3 way swivel, griplead clipped to swivel, 30lb nylon too hook

[@chevyreid1360]

Hi guys... brilliant video.. i been a fan of zigs for while and my two biggest fish currently are both on zigs. Fav has always been yellow and black. I would like to know, on bite indication, i as a norm always put on a backlead right below my rod tip... for landing fish and bird life. Would this help with the indication?

[@RobHughesTV]

Probably make it worse, unless th eback lead is suspended off the bottom in which case it will act like a springer arm and help hooking

[@somersetreefer1168]

Are these pets? I so much as fart on my local and they scatter miles! You-diving, waving arms around in water holding the rig and there are multiple fish happily swimming with you🤣

[@skylargrey5814]

Hey Does anybody know the name of the song? "Please Help!! :)

[@Urbanvik1ng]

Use a zig on a flat bottom feeder simple, no tangles

[@danieltunstall1]

Also, would a very short zig of a bout a foot work over bait on the bottom. Often seeing carp in the margin and on underwater films the Carp move over a baited area before maybe feeding. Surely a 8inch to 1ft zigs would be right in their face if the fish are there

[@RobHughesTV]

Absolutely. A 1ft zig in winter is deadly, and also over weed in summer.

[@andreim841]

I'm kinda digging the music, any ideea what's the song's name?

[@danielschofield320]

Imo the best time to use zigs is high pressure doesn't matter if There's a chop get on the wind as ,on gas your on it and the pressure is high you will catch on a zig high pressure they are up low pressure they are down it so simple we have known this since the 70s

[@azaz...]

i had three screamers today but none of them hooked , can you give me some advice on the them please? thanks

[@supernoodles908]

What are you using as your hook link?

[@MrDINODINO74]

... probably your fish are blind or suffer from amnesia , if they are don't seeing the hook . I was fishing with a zig close to the pontoon and I can tell you that everytime they approach the rig they turned emidetly even around the hook was a plenty of fishing pellets. The only time I cache a couple of them was when I moved the bait and he didn't analyse it. 3 fish in 2 days one floating bite is not a good business.

[@TommyDeCleenCarpAngler]

intresting stuff ... but what about deep water?? I fish in depths of 25 and more (40 feed) I have never used a zig, but I know I should give it a go. but in these depths?? ... carp show over the spots I fish, but dont get bites as they dont feed down there at the time ... so I zig would be the way forward, but again I cant get my head around using them as its so deep!! any help info would be great .... Thanks Tommy

[@fox_international]

Tommy De Cleen Carp Angler they will definitely work Tommy. An adjustable zig is what you need. Then you can play about with the depth till you find one that works.

[@TommyDeCleenCarpAngler]

@@fox_international thanks, will just have to get my mind on using a zig as I have never used one before, in the 30+ years carp angling. maybe thats why I am blanking so much on the big pit this year .. will defo give a fear go ... thanks

[@chocstar.007]

26:03 Mark pitchers next challenge?

[@TheNebenormaliai]

what is the song at 27:40?? really fits this great video :))

[@gee3883]

I really enjoy these vids quite interesting. It's just a shame Fox seem to be selling so much poor quality equipment now. I'v bought a lot of Fox stuff over the years but some recent purchases fall into the category of ( expensive shit ) It's the same with lots of crap made these days and that's a shame as it ends up getting binned in landfill. I am looking at other brands now. Come on Fox sort it out !

[@initman01]

Hello, Whats the name of the song on 28 minutes please. Thanks.

[@initman01]

Still wondering.

[@skylargrey5814]

Hey, have you found the song yet? :)

[@danieltunstall1]

Easy enough doing it on hggh stock waters but what about low stock lakes, where theres less carp and not much showing, but they're not on the bottom. Deep water zigs is another, a lake I fish goes to 30ft but the fish like the depth but sit up in it. Also murky water, a lot of lakes I fish have it, what colour zigs for that occasion. How to go about finding what depth the Carp are moving at?

[@fox_international]

Daniel Tunstall Hi there, obviously this was filmed on a high stock venue but the findings are still the same. If the fish are up in the water or there is a fly hatch then zigs, especially black ones are the way to go. Unfortunately with the nature of underwater filming we can’t film in coloured lakes so couldn’t give you a definitive answer. But keep in mind what Rob said about the colour wheel, if you want your hookbait to stand out you need to choose a colour on the opposite side of the spectrum.

[@fox_international]

Hopefully at some point we will be able to visit a deep lake for you, it’s hard to answer every possible question at one venue.

[@danieltunstall1]

Fox International Carp Fishing yeah I understand that, i was more suggesting for future films. I understand you can't cover all bases at one lake. The film is amazing as are all hughseys underwater pieces. And they leave you sleepless at night overthinking 😂

[@danielschofield320]

And red dose stand out up until around 5 6 foot

[@milesgasson9479]

Lol how come black unflavoured works in the dark

[@RealTBear]

I prefer to us a fly rod with a strike indicator and a sinking bait out fishes zigs

[@chucky1golf]

Need a decent backcast or wind to roll cast thou.

[@JonnyJ357]

Had nothing but heartache with these zigs foul hook after foul hook

[@lawrencelancaster]

how would white fair in the same test ?

[@RobHughesTV]

be interesting to test it but I like white in winter best

[@rainerhacker4175]

Kann man so einen tollen Film mit den Erklärungen auch mal in Deutsch einstellen.

[@Backs4more]

And people still insist red is invisible underwater! Red line anyone? 🤭

[@Carpconnor]

Are zig rigs like, pop ups on the bottom?

[@billoddy1645]

Its like kordas one but on a budeget 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@supernoodles908]

And less about the product placement