One of the most difficult things we carp anglers face is being able to cast our rigs accurately onto a tight area such as a gravel bar, a hole in the weed or any other submerged feature after catching a fish. Under normal circumstances, such as that first cast after locating the feature with a marker float, or after feeding the area with a spod, it’s really simple. But when you’ve just landed a carp and want to get your rig back out there – that’s when we sometimes struggle!
Life would be so simple if we could cast our rigs out, clip the mainline around the reel’s line clip and we could easily cast the exact distance. But we all know, that’s asking for trouble. Anglers should never fish for large carp with the line wrapped around the clip – when they want to power off, we need to be able to give them line off the reel.
So, apart from reaching for the marker float again, casting that out, then making multiple casts with your rig rod to get the exact distance, clipping up the line and making yet another cast with the baited rod to hit the same spot again, is there another, easier way that makes far less disturbance?
The simplest way is to use ACE Range-It Marker Elastic. This brightly coloured elastic allows you to mark the mainline at a certain distance so when you fish with the line unclipped, you can play a fish or retrieve your rig safe in the knowledge that you can quite easily cast the same distance immediately afterwards. It’s so easy to use – simply follow the series of steps and photos above to see how it’s tied.
Once you’ve made your cast onto or tight to the feature that you are fishing against, tie the ACE Range It Marker Elastic around the mainline, just beyond the tip of your rod.
There are two reasons why it’s best to tie it there. The first is that it is well out of the way of your bite alarms – if it was tied close to the reel, it may be pulled through the alarm upon a screaming run and could cause damage. The second reason is that it can help bite indication too, especially when slack line fishing – you’ll see the brightly coloured elastic move before the alarms sound. And thirdly – the most important reason – is that you will hear the elastic. Let us explain…
When the elastic is in place, you can crank the rig or fish in and the elastic will wind in through the rod rings, onto the reel’s spool without hindrance. But when it comes to casting the rig out again, you will hear the knot pass through the rod rings as the line flies through. That’s the time when you should stop the cast quickly by feathering the line. Then quickly tighten up to the lead so that the marker elastic is position in the same place as before.
This technique can be used for spodding too. It’s such an easy method to use and one that can really help you hit the same spot upon every cast, even in the dark as you’ll be able to hear the elastic working for you.
Once you’ve finished the session, the knot unties easily, leaving you free to tackle the next venue at a different distance. ACE Range-It Marker Elastic can also be used to locate different distances on the same rod. That’s ideal if there are a number of different areas on a lake that might produce carp, and you fancy a change as there are fish showing over a known area that you’ve already cast towards. To do this use the two colours of marker elastic – orange and bright green – tied around the line in two different spots. Obviously listen carefully when casting to the longest-distance for the sound of the second elastic passing through the rod rings.