How to Catch Carp Using Tight Lines

Gary Hewes on how to catch carp in France using tight lines and shocker rigs.

Gary Hewes takes time out from his fishing holiday to explain how to catch carp in France using tight lines. He also demonstrates the shocker rig he used to catch 20 carp.

In the video Gary is fishing at the deep bowl end of the lake, which he says can be a successful tactic at Oakview Lake. Gary explains that he gets more takes fishing right on the edge of the bowl, rather than directly in the bowl itself.

Carp Fishing Shocker Rig

Using a shocker rig, Gary sets the bead around 9 inches away from the lead itself and the carp feels no resistance when it first picks up the bait. When the carp moves away, the lead hits the bead and sets the hook. It’s important to ensure the bead isn’t too tight, so the lead can still be ejected safely.

Carp Fishing Leads

Using this system, the important part is to remove the inner sleeve of the leads to minimise resistance.

Carp Fishing Hook Link

Using a short hook link of about 6 inches with coated braid stripped back to the split-shot which adds extra weight so that when the fish takes the bait it keeps the hook pointing down.

Carp Fishing Hook Bait

Gary explains that he is using a green ultra-violet corn with his boilie. The corn mimics Oakview lakes’ green glow-in-the-dark bugs that are present in August.

Carp Fishing With Tight Lines

Gary finds using back leads is a must keeping the lines tight to the lake bottom giving less chance for the fish to be spooked.

Carp Caught

Clearly Gary's method worked well for him with a total of 20 carp caught, including his new personal best carp of 42lb 3oz

All 20 carp Gary caught during his week on holiday were caught using shocker rigs and tight lines pinned straight down with back leads.