Zig & Surface Fishing Tuition

Zig & Surface Fishing Tuition

Learn to Catch Carp in the Upper Layers

Carp don’t always feed on the bottom. During the right conditions, they can spend much of their time cruising on the surface or sitting at different depths in the upper layers of the water.

Zig rigs and floater fishing allow you to target these fish rather than waiting for them to visit a bait on the lakebed. Both methods can be extremely exciting and effective, but knowing where to place your hookbait, how to feed and when to change your approach can make a huge difference.

I offer friendly, practical one-to-one tuition at suitable fishing venues across West Sussex. Every session is tailored to your current ability and the areas you would most like to improve.

What You’ll Learn

During your session, we can cover:

Zig Rig Fishing

• Understanding how and why zig rigs work

• Finding the depth of the water

• Choosing the correct depth for your zig

• Setting up safe and effective zig rigs

• Choosing suitable hooks, hooklinks and foam/hookbaits

• Selecting hookbait colours and sizes

• Casting long hooklinks safely and accurately

• Reducing tangles

• Feeding over zig rigs

• Recognising liners and indications

• Changing depths until you locate the fish

• Playing and landing carp safely on zig tackle

Surface and Floater Fishing

• Finding and observing cruising carp

• Recognising suitable weather and conditions

• Choosing productive areas of the lake

• Introducing floating bait gradually

• Building the carp’s confidence before casting

• Preparing and using dog biscuits and other floating baits

• Choosing suitable hookbaits

• Free-lining and using controller floats

• Setting up safe and effective surface rigs

• Choosing the right line, hooks and terminal tackle

• Casting beyond the fish and drawing the hookbait into position

• Avoiding spooking feeding carp

• Watching the hookbait and recognising takes

• Dealing responsibly with birdlife

• Playing, landing and caring for carp safely

Everything will be explained clearly and demonstrated on the bank. You’ll learn why each decision matters and how to adapt your approach during your own fishing.

Who Is This Session For?

Zig and surface fishing tuition is suitable for:

• Beginners wanting to learn a new way of catching carp

• Anglers who have never used zig rigs

• Anglers who struggle to catch carp from the surface

• Anyone unsure how to feed floating baits effectively

• Anglers wanting to improve their watercraft and observation

• Carp anglers wanting to become more confident fishing in the upper layers

• Visitors to the area who need equipment provided

You don’t need any previous experience with zig or surface fishing. The session will be relaxed, practical and tailored to your current ability.

Session Options

Day Session — £200

10:00am–4:00pm

Six hours of friendly, practical one-to-one tuition focused on zig rigs, surface fishing or a combination of both, depending on the conditions and your goals.

Full-Day Session — £250

8:00am–5:00pm

A complete day on the bank with more time to locate the fish, build their confidence with floating bait and experiment with different zig depths, presentations and feeding approaches as the conditions change.

A Note About Conditions

Surface fishing depends heavily on the weather, water temperature and the behaviour of the carp. It isn’t possible to guarantee that fish will be feeding from the surface on a particular day.

If the conditions aren’t suitable for floater fishing, we can concentrate more heavily on zig rigs and other ways of targeting carp in the upper layers. Where appropriate, we can also discuss arranging the session for a day with more suitable conditions.

What’s Included?

• One-to-one tuition with Ben—better known as Boilie Ben

• Tuition from an Angling Trust qualified coach

• Help setting up safe and effective zig and surface rigs

• Practical demonstrations of feeding and presentation

• Guidance on locating and observing carp

• Help selecting the correct zig depth

• Advice on floating baits and hookbait preparation

• Casting and accuracy coaching

• Guidance throughout the session

• Equipment provided if required

• Advice you can continue using during your own fishing

A suitable venue will be agreed before your session. Any separate fishery day-ticket charges will be clearly explained before you book. All tactics and equipment will be used in accordance with the rules of the venue.

Book Your Zig & Surface Fishing Tuition

If you would like to learn how to catch carp on zig rigs or from the surface, get in touch to arrange a session.

I’ll help select a suitable venue and tailor the tuition to your experience, equipment and goals.

CONTACT BEN