Change Your Winter Carp Fishing With the Long Leg Rig | Mouloud Madoui
Mouloud Madoui (Algerian carp record holder) details a simple carp fishing rig that changed his fortunes when the temperatures began to fall and the fish were focused on natural baits...
Fishing as the weather starts to turn colder can be really hard and the bites become very shy. The fish are looking for easy meals that they can digest quickly, with Bloodworm being one of their favourites.
On the wild dam I've been fishing the past month, I noticed a lot of activity around an area of Bloodworm, with the fish seemingly looking to scour it totally clean.
In this scenario, I had to be careful with what Rig I was putting out, as anything out of the ordinary could look suspicious for the fish, that have now come to know the area like the back of their hands (or fins rather!).
To my mind, the Dazzler Range, particularly the Long Legs, imitate the Bloodworm perfectly. So my Rig would be focused around these, but still tied simple and strong, like all the Rigs I use in Algeria.
The carp here never seem to be bored of Sweetcorn either, so I see no harm in adding some to the Rig too, the fish normally respond to it very quickly.
Lets go back a step to the Long Legs though, they don't only attract the carp and somewhat disguise my Hook, but they also provide the last touch to the mechanics of my Rig. Combined with the Lock, they make my Rig perfect, with no worries of the carp spitting it out.
Of course, the next consideration with Rigs is the spot it is landing on. And for me, this is why I opted for the 35lb Blend Coated Braid. It is more visible than Fluorocarbon, but because the area is a mix of leftover weed, silt and rocks, the Braid actually blends in perfectly - living up to its name! Using a Coated version is pretty crucial too, as I can strip a section for that flexibility at the Hook end. This allows movement for the Hook and Long Legs to do their thing - flip, turn and nail them!
How To Tie My Long Leg Rig...
1 - Cut a 12 -14 inch length of 35lb Blend Coated Braid and strip a couple of inches of coating off. Then tie a traditional Knotless Knot.
2 - Trim the tag end of the knot that would normally be your hair as close as possible to the Hook. Then slide on a Vitabitz Micro Ring Swivel.
3 - Slide on a Long Distance Hookbead to around the bend of the Hook to hold the swivel in place.
4 - Slide the Long Legs Aligner down the Hooklink and over the eye of the Hook.
5 - Use the Get Flossed Bait Floss to attach your chosen Hookbait, I use a washed out Boilie and Fake Corn.
6 - Finish the Rig with a dollop of Blend Tungsten Putty. Not only does this provide balance, it also helps hooking mechanics.
7 - The Long Leg Rig is now complete!
To say this Rig worked would be an understatement. Some lovely mirrors landed in challenging conditions. So, if you’re in a pickle with carp feeding on Bloodworm, try giving your Rigs some LEGS!
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.
