Carp Fishing Rigs · European Fishing ·

How To Create A Quick-Change Bottom Bait Combi Rig | David Rosemeier

Few things cause as much doubt among carp anglers as the monster topic of rigs. In this article, German big carp expert David Rosemeier introduces one of his favourite bottom bait rigs and explains how, why, and when to use it. He also includes a tying guide to help you save time and money setting it up...

A really sharp hook rarely lasts for more than one fish, right? Often, a hook dulls just from reeling in, especially if it hits a rock along the way, which means re-tying a new rig—annoying, right?

It frustrates me too, since it costs both time and money. Just because the hook gets damaged doesn’t mean the entire rig has to be replaced; the hooklink material could still be in great shape! That’s one of the reasons I’m a huge fan of rigs where the hook can be easily replaced. For fishing with pop-ups, my go-to is the classic Multi-Rig; for bottom baits, I prefer a Combi Rig.

THE BEST RIG FOR BOTTOM BAITS

For everything I fish on the bottom—like wafters, boilies, particles, or snowman baits—I find the Combi Rig works better. In this rig, part of the hooklink near the hook eye remains flexible. I’ve noticed that Combi's with a very short soft section perform especially well, particularly with 'The Lock' hooks. The bait presentation is better, the hook “falls” into the fish's mouth more naturally after the bait is taken, and it’s less likely to be thrown, so missed bites are rare.

HOW TO TIE AN EASY COMBI RIG

For the Combi Rig , I like to combine an extremely stiff material with a soft, non-fraying one. To keep things simple, I use pre-made Kickback Linkz for the stiff part of the rig, where I just need to attach the soft end later. Here’s the process step-by-step...

1 - Cut about 15cm of Ammo Braid in 25lb breaking strain.

2 - Form a loop through the hook eye, and thread one of the ends through the hook eye as well.

3 - Next tie a Snell Knot (this knot is commonly used in coarse fishing).

4 - For the rest, it’s quite simple: Tie a loop on the other end of the hook for the hook shank, slide a piece of Silicone Tubing onto the hair created, and position it on the hook shank. It now resembles a classic Blowback Rig.

5 - Now, just slide back the Dog Bone Ronnie Clip Sleeve on the Kickback Linkz, attach the soft end of the hooklink to the clip, and close the swivel with the sleeve.

TOP COMBI RIG TIPS

If you pre-tie multiple soft loop ends, you can switch them in seconds after a bite and get the rig back in the water quickly.
My absolute number 1 hook right now is the The Lock in size 4—super sharp, almost no missed bites, perfect for this rig. Especially on waters where losing fish is not an option, hooks with a wide gape are my top choice. Give it a try—you’ll be impressed!
This rig works well with particles, boilies and natural baits, so try a variety of hookbaits to keep the bites coming.
Whilst the Kickback helps this rig kick away from the lead and present nicely, as it is primarily a bottom bait presentation, it is best to fish this rig over a smooth and clean bottom.

So, there we go, if you're planning on casting a bottom bait out anytime soon, get Linkzed up and on this quick-change Combi Rig - the carp won't know what's hit them!

David Rosemeier Big Carp

Despite his young age, author David Rosemeier is already an integral part of the German fishing scene and has turned his hobby into his profession. David is passionate about the adventures he experiences on the bank and can always be found on the big waters in Germany and abroad.