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Tacklewise, the key to success is strength, not finesse. Our carp are exceptionally large - and exceptionally strong. Many of them are long, muscle-packed fish, built for power. Up to 50% of them have yet to be caught, so fine-tuned English rigs are not necessary to trick them.

Kevin Nash uses 12 to 15-inch, 25lb Armourbraid hooklinks with size 4 barbless Fang hooks, using a knotless knot and a long hair, tied blow-back style, with two or three 20ml boilies.

The minimum breaking strain mainline we allow is 15lb. But please note that abrasion resistance is vital. Soft, superfine casting lines do not have the guts for fishing in France. The lines we recommend are Nash Bullet, Fox Soft Steel or Gardner GR60.

Beyond the line, lead core leaders such as Nash Limpits provide extra strength and abrasion resistance, as well as concealing the line in the vicinity of your rig.

The most important element of the rig, however, is, that the lead must be able to discharge if it snags.

The only way this can be achieved safely is if the hooklink is actually fixed into your lead clip, rather than just pushed into the spigot. If your hooklink is merely pushed into the spigot, a snagged carp can pull the hooklink out of the lead clip and carry on running.

This is a nightmare situation, as all you can do is play the carp back to the snagged lead, which will not release.

Fixing the hooklink into the lead clip transfers all the pressure to the lead, which, if snagged, pulls out of the clip and falls off. Without the weight of the lead, carp tend to rise to the surface and away from danger.

This may seem a small point, but we cannot emphasise how important it is. Getting it right could make the difference between landing the fish of a lifetime, or losing it - and possibly leaving it tethered.

Beyond the lead, keep it simple but strong. Use tough, abrasion resistant hooklinks, such as Nash 25lb Armourbraid or Quicksilver, with strong, size four or size two hooks.

Please note that micro-barbed hooks can be used but ONLY in conjuction with line tubing. For any set up which uses a leader of ANY kind including leadcore, barbless hooks must be used.

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