Most carp anglers will have used a hinge rig at some point, but, with a little tweaking, the pop-up rig can work for smaller species too, as last season’s Drennan Cup runner up Stephen Gibbons proved in spectacular style with this 3lb 6oz rudd..
It was caught from a midlands pit and capped a great spell for him over the last few weeks, in which he’s landed multiple fish over the 3lb mark. Stephen scales down the rig from what a carper would use, going for a size 10 wide gape hook and a 6lb fluorocarbon hooklink.
Combatting the bream has been one of his biggest challenges on the water, so Stephen fishes the hinge with an aggressive curve to put them off, as well as to aid his chance of hooking a rudd. A 12mm Dynamite Baits Source pop-up was his successful hookbait, which he fishes over matching bottom baits. He feeds heavily and, if the bream move in, he moves spots.
Well done Stephen!