ASK THE EXPERTS
This month's winning question:
Dear Panel,
Can you guys recommend a rig to fish a bottom bait over heavy silt?
I’ve been thinking of using the Chod Rig but I’m unsure of its safety qualities. I usually fish with a safety lead clip because the safety aspects of this setup are plain to see. Please help.
Dominic Woods,
Hampshire.
Hi Dominic,
I’ve spent years fishing silty meres and estate lakes, so have plenty of experience of fishing over heavy thick silt. I have used a variety of presentations over the years to combat the problems associated with fishing in the stuff, from short Silt Rigs, which are now coined as Chod Rigs, to plain, simple, long hooklinks on a lead clip. The old Silt Rigs have been around for ever and were being used back in the ’80s by anglers trying to find an alternative way of presenting a bait on top of the silt without the hooklink and bait being pulled in by the weight of the lead (it’s basically just an adaptation of a Paternoster). They work a treat and the northern lads have been capitalising on the effectiveness of the setup for years now, but it is only recently, through the exploits of Terry and Nige, that it has found widespread recognition.
With the right components a Silt Rig can be just as safe as any other rig.
Check the ring swivel can pop off the bead without too much force.
In my opinion, it is one of the best presentations for fishing over silt and bottom debris, but as you mentioned, there are some dubious concerns about the safety. However, if you take the time to set it up correctly, with the right components, then it can be just as safe as any other rig. The thickness of the silicone tube, type of rubber bead, size of ring swivel, and connection at the leadcore end are all crucial to the safety. If you are in any doubt, then set up one, take hold of the lead in one hand and the hook in the other, and pull. If the bead pops off easily enough and the ring swivel can pass easily over the leadcore knot, then it is as safe as you can make it. Everyone fishes it with a pop-up these days, but it was originally designed to be used as a bottom bait rig. The direction of the force from the cast and resistance of the water means that the little hooklink will always fly back to the pre-destined point where you have set the back bead, the lead buries into the silt, giving extra weight and resistance to the rig, helping set the hook and the little link and hookbait will lie on top of the silt.
A little PVA bag will help cushion the descent of your rig onto silt; combined with a long hooklink and a small lead, you can present hookbaits onto deep silt.
Foaming up is another excellent way of dealing with silt. The hookbait will be held clear until the foam dissolves and it will then settle gently.
The other option available is to use a long hooklink and as small a lead as you can get away with. For short/medium range this works perfectly, but the added problems that are encountered when fishing at range often make the rig impractical. The necessary length of link heightens the potential for tangles, and the required lead size means that it will bury into the silt more than a lighter lead. However, for ranges of up to about 80yds where you can get away with a 2oz lead, the rig is perfectly adequate. Adding a stringer, small PVA bag and/or a dissolving foam nugget to help cushion the impact all helps to keep the hookbait clear of the silt.
A Silt Rig setup for a bottom bait. The top stop is set a few feet up the leadcore allowing the short 3ins hooklink and bottom bait to rest on top of the silt.
There is one issue that I must mention. I’ve caught lots of fish over the years on rigs where, in hindsight, the entire rig must have been buried in the silt. Carp are more than happy to feed in silt and will feed up to the gills in the stuff. When fishing over bait which more than likely will have dropped through the soupy top layer out of sight, why present your hookbait at a different level in the silt? Why not present it where the rest of the food is, right in there? I have a friend who has caught stacks of big fish from a really silty venue on in-line leads and 3ins hooklinks; totally contrary to popular thought, but it works brilliantly for him. I personally try to fish silty spots that are as smooth and firm as I can find and present my hookbait nicely on top, usually with a Helicopter/Silt Rig-type of arrangement, as I feel it gives me the best, and most consistent approach.
Gaz
