Most anglers lose fish before they even cast out. Here are 3 rig mistakes I see constantly on the bank:

1. Hair too long on a blow-back rig

If your hair hangs past the bend of the hook, the carp can eject the bait before the hook turns. Keep it tight — bait should sit just below the shank.

2. Using the wrong hooklink material for the lakebed

Fluoro over silt is a disaster. It sits on top and sticks out like a sore thumb. Match your hooklink to the bottom: braid for silt, fluoro for gravel.

3. Not checking your hook point every cast

Dragging a blunt hook across gravel for 3 casts before checking it? That's fish lost. I check mine every single time. Takes 2 seconds.

Small details make massive differences in carp fishing. If you want more stuff like this — rig guides, lake intel, bait breakdowns — The Carp Shed is where I share everything I know.

Tight lines. 🎣