Pole fishing, particularly when you're after F1s on commercial fisheries, is a fine art. The rig you select can be a game-changer in determining just how many bites you get and F1s you land. Sure, you can opt for off-the-shelf rigs, but why not tie your own as it gives you much more flexibility in the materials used, allowing you to create better rigs for specific scenarios.
In this article, I'm going to share the fundamentals of rig making. I'll guide you through creating my favourite F1 rigs – the ones I swear by. These are rigs that will have you ready to face any situation your chosen swim might throw at you, no matter the time of year or venue, so let's dive right in!
The F1 ‘mudline’ rig
Many well-known venues stocked with F1s are of the "snake lake" type, or may feature islands where you can easily reach the opposite bank with a pole. This area, referred to as a mudline, is shallow and will provide some cover for the fish, and the rig is crafted to maintain stability in this swim.
To create this rig, I recommend using a 5lb mainline and a 0.4g (4x14) round-bodied float with a short carbon or glass stem and a 2mm bristle. Typically, this rig is fished in water of depths of up to around 2 feet. In such shallow waters, you’re likely to encounter considerable turbulence from feeding fish, so the shotting pattern must be designed to ensure stability.
Use a bulk of five No 8 shots or stotz positioned right above the loop-to-loop connection, where you will attach a 4” (10cm) hook length to a 16 or 14 light wide gape hook. You can choose to fish with just a hook for soft pellets and maggots, or with a hair-rigged band for hard pellets.
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The F1 “deck” rig (positive/summer)
Using a deck rig on the far bank slope can be effective for catching F1s. While these fish are known to feed shallow at times, influenced by conditions and air pressure, they will also readily feed near the bottom.
Thus, this ‘deck’ rig can be utilised with a variety of hookbaits. Since F1s are gentle feeders, the choice of float is crucial; I recommend a slim-bodied float with a carbon stem in 0.4g (4x14) and featuring a 1.7mm bristle. This rig is positive, so use a 6lb (0.18mm) mainline.
The purpose of the rig is to get the bait down to where the fish are feeding, therefore a shotting pattern consisting of a bulk and one dropper shot or stotz, with five No 8's placed 6" (15cm) above the hooklength, and a single No 9 dropper positioned right at the loop-to-loop connection.
The hooklength should be 4" (10cm) of 4lb (0.13mm), attached to a light wide gape hook, sized 16 or 14. This can feature a hair-rigged band for hard pellets or be used without one for soft pellets, maggots, or casters.
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The F1 ‘Deck’ rig (negative/winter)
F1s are quite obliging in winter conditions, and a more refined deck rig will help you achieve bites even in the coldest weather. This rig is a refinement of the positive deck rig, so opt for a more delicate 0.4g (4x14) slim-bodied float featuring a carbon stem and a 1.5mm bristle, paired with a 5lb (0.15mm) main line.
The goal of this rig is to create a more natural presentation, which is generally superior when the fish are more wary and will watch the bait fall before deciding to take it or not.
For the shotting pattern, use a bulk shot along with two droppers, but ensure they are spaced further from the hooklength. Specifically, use 5 No 9 shots placed 12" (30 cm) from the loop-to-loop hooklength connection, with the first No 10 dropper positioned 6" (15 cm) below the bulk.
The final No 10 dropper should be at the loop-to-loop connection for the hooklength. The hooklength itself should be 4" of 3lb (0.11mm) line attached to an 18 fine wire hook, which is ideal for soft pellets, maggots or casters.
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The F1 ‘Shallow’ rig
F1's will eagerly feed shallow during the warmer months, and if you can entice them to compete, the sport can be exhilarating. A sturdy shallow rig can outperform many others when conditions are right, making it a valuable addition to your gear. Begin with a strong, stiff 6lb (0.18mm) mainline and choose a 0.2g (4x12), dibber-style float featuring a carbon stem and a visible tip.
This rig is designed to be slapped on the surface and mimic the sound of hard feed pellets hitting the water. To achieve this effect, position the shot in a bulk to represent the pellets as they land, while also placing it close to the hook bait to enhance the chances of hooking these crafty feeders. Use a bulk of four No 9 shots positioned right at the loop-to-loop connection for the hook length.
Finish the rig with a 4" 4lb (0.14mm) hook length, attached to a size 16 light wide gape hook and a hair rig band to hold a hard pellet hook bait. This setup can also be used with maggots, or casters with or without the hair-rigged band.
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