Tie The Snowman Ronnie Rig – Best Tactic For Bigger Carp?

Is there such a thing as a rig that catches bigger carp? Probably not exclusively. But there are rig, and in particular, hookbait, adjustments that can be made to make catching a bigger fish far more likely. And on a recent visit to Romania, Roo Abbott revisited an absolute classic…

"Is there such a thing as a rig that catches bigger carp?"

We have publicised for a while now how we believe the Ronnie Rig when tied with a Lock Hook and partnered with the Magic Wand, is the greatest carp rig of all time, the GOAT Rig. And in the latest episode of Fishing Maniac, it proved its worth once again, but only after several terminal tackle component and hookbait changes were made.

It was Roo Abbott, our regular European carp angling adventurer who started the trip on this presentation, with an interesting hookbait choice on two of his rods. Little did he know this decision alone would go on to catch him six 40s in the trip and 16 fish in total.

"Watch the full episode of Fishing Maniac Episode 3 to see this rig in action!"

The Snowman

A snowman hookbait is the combination of a heavy bottom bait with a smaller pop-up bait on top. This means the hook lies flat and the hookbait stands up, like a snowman. This was the exact presentation Roo chose to fish on his Lock Hook Ronnie Rigs, combining a Paella Cured Bottom Bait with a Pink 14mm Paella Fluoro Pop-up.

"A big hookbait with a small pile of loosefeed - it produced the goods!"

There's so much to like about this; not only is it a big mouthful for a fish to eat, therefore it stands to reason only a bigger mouth will suck it up. But then, once in the mouth of the fish, it's a lot for them to try and spit out; it just makes everything awkward for them, as you have a buoyant bait working alongside a heavy one too.

"Big mouthes require a bigger bait!"

The final obvious benefit is that a hookbait like this gives both match the hatch and hi-viz benefits. The big bottom bait blends in and smells identical to the freebies, whilst the pink topper gives them a target to focus on – a winner in spring when fish aren't feeding heavy.

"Just look how it sits, the hook is lying flat and hidden"

Big Fish Components

It wasn't just the hookbait that went up a level. Roo gave his hooklink and hook a serious upgrade too, with the aim of catching bigger carp. In truth, bigger hooks, stronger lines and European fishing go hand in hand, so it's something Roo has become very used to. His hooklink was a longer length of 50lb Ammo Braid, between 25-30cm. The length is important for several reasons: the first is that it gives the braid more room to naturally fall and settle over varied bottom substrates, and the second is it gives the carp more rope to hang themselves.

"Strong but supple, the 50lb Ammo Braid"

Moving onto the hook and Roo opted for a size 2 Lock, interestingly not the Heavyweight version either, showing his faith in the original pattern's strength. Put simply, use the biggest hook in your box that you can get away with. Bigger carp, bigger mouths, need more metal to catch hold.

"Bigger fish, bigger hooks!"

How To Tie The Snowman Ronnie Rig

1 – Strip off 35cm of 50lb Ammo Braid

2 – Using a Grinner Knot, tie this directly to a Vitabitz Spinner Ring Swivel

3 – Add a Vitabitz Anti Tangle Sleeve to the opposite end of the hooklink and tie a twisted figure of eight loop knot, for easy attachment to a q/c swivel

4 – Add the size 2 Lock Hook to the Spinner Swivel

5 – Slide a Dazzler Inturn over the hookpoint and slide round towards the eye

6 – Push the Dazzler Inturn down over the eye of the hook to hold it in place at the right angle

7 – Add a Vitabitz Micro Ring Swivel to the hook

8 – Push a Dazzler Long Distance Hookbead over the point of the hook

9 – Slide the Hookbead down to opposite the barb

10 – Pull some Get Flossed Bait Floss through the Micro Ring Swivel

11 – Using the Cool Tool Baiting Needle, mount a Paella Cured Hookbait onto the floss

12 – Followed by a 14mm Paella Pink Fluoro Pop-up

13 – Tie an overhand knot with the excess floss to secure the baits in place

14 – Cut the tag of floss

15 – Blob any remaining down with a lighter

16 – Finish the rig off by moulding some GOAT Tungsten Putty around the knot from the braid to the Spinner Swivel

Pimp Your Hookbaits

No matter what sized carp you're fishing for, one of the most important things is your hookbait. And whilst you can of course create a snowman with anything, we pride ourselves on the quality of our hookbait ranges. Each twisted and boosted to make them stand out over your loosefeed. Despite using the already specially Cured Paella Bottom Baits, Roo enhanced them even further on this session by soaking them in the Paella Gravy. You simply can't overload a bait with these quality ingredients.

"Roo keeps his hookbaits pumped by soaking them in Gravy"

A Magic Lead System

It wouldn't be an OMC rig article without mentioning it, would it? But there's a good reason we sing the Magic Wand's praises, and this trip proved it again – it works! Hooking more fish, but more importantly landing them thanks to that 'bungee' effect. We've seen it underwater many times, but once again in this film, Roo had to endure plenty of boat battles in which the line went slack. The Wand, especially when combined with the Lock, keeps that hook in. It's magic!

"It doesn't just hook you more, it lands you more!"

The Evidence

Starting the session with small wafters on two rods and snowman rigs on the other two, Roo soon made the switch to all snowman rigs when it was apparent they were the only things getting bites.

Was it the conditions? Was it the visual element being the deciding factor in spring? Or is it that big fish, averaging 30lb or more, want a big old bait. Either way, you can't say the snowman melted under pressure. What a session! If you're after a biggun, give the Snowman Ronnie Rig a try!

Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.