Rigipedia: every rig in Swimcraft

How much your rig matters in the demo. The right rig gives you a small nudge, not a big one. Everything about your rig together can change a fish's chance of biting by 4% at most, and usually by less. It's kept deliberately subtle so the fishing stays fair while we tune it, and we plan to make rig choice count for more in Early Access.

The descriptions are how each rig works on real water. The line marked In Swimcraft is what it does in the game today.

Float rigs

Waggler Pellet Waggler Stick Float Pole Float Controller

How they fish in Swimcraft

On a float, the part of your rig that counts is which float you pair with which bait. The line under each float below says how. Your hook, line and bait still matter as they always have.

Waggler

A float fixed to the line at its base only, locked in place with shot.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Float
In the game: Rigs tab, Float rig

The waggler is the everyday float for still and slow water. Because only the bottom is attached, you can sink the line between rod and float so wind and surface drift don't drag the bait off course.

Good for

Still and slow-moving water
Casting a good distance
Windy days, with the line sunk

Less good for

Fast rivers, where it drags the bait
Holding a bait back against the flow

In Swimcraft A slight edge with corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with boilies, pop-ups and wafters.

Pellet Waggler

A short, stubby waggler carrying a heavy load in its base.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Float
In the game: Rigs tab, Float rig

Made for fishing shallow on commercial lakes. It hits the water with a plop that sounds like free pellets landing, and fish that come up in the water to intercept falling pellets find the hook bait among them.

Good for

Carp and F1s feeding shallow in warm weather
Accurate, repeated casting to one spot

Less good for

Deep water
Cold days, when fish stay near the bottom

In Swimcraft A slight edge with corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with boilies, pop-ups and wafters.

Stick Float

A tapered float attached at both the top and the bottom.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Float
In the game: Rigs tab, Float rig

The classic river float for trotting. You let the current carry the float downstream while easing it back slightly, so the bait travels just ahead of it at a natural pace, with the shot spread evenly down the line.

Good for

Trotting steady-paced rivers
Showing a bait as naturally as possible

Less good for

Stillwaters and strong wind
Fishing at long range

In Swimcraft A slight edge with corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with boilies, pop-ups and wafters.

Pole Float

A small, finely balanced float fished directly under a pole tip.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Float
In the game: Rigs tab, Float rig

Pole floats are built for precision. With the float right under the tip you can hold the bait in exactly the same place, and the fine bristle shows the tiniest bite.

Good for

Close-range precision
Shy, delicate bites

Less good for

Anything beyond the reach of the pole
Big fish in tight spaces

In Swimcraft A slight edge with corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with boilies, pop-ups and wafters.

Controller

A weighted float that lies on the surface, used for fishing floating baits.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Float
In the game: Rigs tab, Float rig

The controller gives you casting weight and a visible marker when you want a bait on top. Carp that are cruising and taking floating food are the target, usually with a floating bait a short way from the float.

Good for

Carp feeding off the surface
Reaching surface fish at range

Less good for

Anything on or near the bottom
Days when fish aren't coming up

In Swimcraft A slight edge with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Feeder and ledger rigs

Cage Method Inline Maggot Running bomb Inline lead Flat pear

How they fish in Swimcraft

Three things count on a feeder or lead: the rig against your bait (under each rig below), the weight against the size of fish you're after, and your hooklength against the bottom.

Weight against fish size

Fish under 4lb: slight edge on 20g and 30g; slightly fewer bites on 60g, 80g and 3oz
Fish 4 to 10lb: slight edge on 45g and 2oz; slightly fewer bites on 3oz
Fish 10 to 20lb: slight edge on 60g and 80g
Fish 20lb and over: slight edge on 80g and 3oz

Hooklength against the bottom

Short, under 4 inches: slight edge over gravel, sand and clay; slightly fewer bites over silt / mud, rocks and weed
Medium, 4 to 8 inches: slight edge over sand; slightly fewer bites over rocks
Long, over 8 inches: slight edge over silt / mud, rocks and weed; slightly fewer bites over gravel, sand and clay

Weed and the bottom under it both count, so a long hooklink over weedy silt gets both edges.

Cage

An open mesh feeder, filled with groundbait.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Feeder or ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

The groundbait breaks out of the mesh quickly once it lands, putting a cloud of feed around the hook bait. Every cast adds a little more, so it builds a swim up fast.

Good for

Getting feed into a swim quickly
Roach, bream and skimmers on groundbait

Less good for

Keeping a tight, compact pile of bait
Big carp baits

In Swimcraft A slight edge with corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread. Other baits fish as normal.

Method

A flat frame feeder with bait moulded around it.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Feeder or ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

You press groundbait or micro pellets around the frame and push the hook bait into it. A fish feeding on the mould finds the hook bait and pricks itself against the feeder's weight.

Good for

Carp and bream on commercial lakes
Hooking fish reliably
Keeping bait tight to the hook

Less good for

Rivers with a strong flow
Cautious fish in cold water

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies, corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Inline

A feeder with the line running through its middle.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Feeder or ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

With the weight on the line itself, a taking fish meets resistance straight away, which sets the hook for you. It also tangles less than a feeder hanging off to one side.

Good for

Carp and boilie fishing
Self-hooking bites
Fewer tangles on the cast

Less good for

Shy fish that feel the weight
Small fish that nibble

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies and wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Maggot

A drilled plastic feeder filled with live maggots.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Feeder or ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

Maggots crawl out of the holes once the feeder is on the bottom, putting a small trail of live bait next to the hook. It is a winter and river favourite.

Good for

Cold water and rivers
Roach, chub, perch and bream on maggots

Less good for

Boilies and other carp baits
Feeding a big area

In Swimcraft A slight edge with hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread; slightly fewer bites with boilies, pop-ups and wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Running bomb

A plain lead on a swivel that slides freely along the line.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

Because the lead can slide, a fish can move off with the bait without feeling the weight. It is the simplest way to put a bait on the bottom and still see cautious bites.

Good for

Cautious fish
A simple, all-round bottom rig

Less good for

Hooking fish for you
Holding bottom in flow

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies, corn, pellets, hemp and tiger nuts, and natural baits like maggots, worms and bread. Other baits fish as normal.

Inline lead

A lead with the line running through its centre, fixed in place.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

This is the bolt rig. A fish picking up the bait feels the weight at once, bolts, and hooks itself. It also casts accurately because the weight sits in line.

Good for

Self-hooking carp
Accurate casting

Less good for

Delicate bites from small fish
Snaggy swims, unless it can release

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies, pop-ups and wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Flat pear

A lead with a flattened base that grips the bottom.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Feeder / ledger

A round lead rolls down a slope or gets pushed along by flow. The flat base stays where it lands, so the bait stays in the spot you cast to.

Good for

Sloping margins and shelves
Holding bottom in a current

Less good for

Casting as far as a streamlined lead
Very soft, silty bottoms

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies, pop-ups and wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Carp rigs

Hair rig Blowback Spinner rig Combi rig KD rig Chod rig Multi rig

How they fish in Swimcraft

Carp rigs have the most going on: the rig against your bait (under each rig below), the hooklink material and the hook you pair it with, and your hooklength against the bottom, which works the same way as on a feeder. Carp rigs have no weight setting, so weight doesn't count here.

Hooklink material: Coated braid and fluorocarbon give a slight edge on their own; stiff fluoro boom gives slightly fewer bites on its own. Some pairings with a hook pattern add a little more:

Coated braid: slight edge with Wide Gape and Long Shank hooks; slightly fewer bites with Chod Point hooks
Fluorocarbon: slight edge with Curved Shank and Long Shank hooks
Stiff fluoro boom: slight edge with Curved Shank and Chod Point hooks
Soft braid: slight edge with Wide Gape hooks; slightly fewer bites with Chod Point hooks
Mono: slight edge with Wide Gape hooks

Hair rig

The bait sits on a short length of line, the hair, below the hook.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

The hair rig changed carp fishing. With the bait off the hook, the hook point is free, so when a carp sucks the bait in the hook goes in with it and catches in the bottom lip.

Good for

Boilies and other bottom baits
A simple, reliable all-rounder

Less good for

Pop-ups
Weed and deep silt that hide the hook

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Blowback

A hair rig with a small ring that slides on the hook shank.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

When a carp tries to blow the bait back out, the ring lets the hook flip and turn so it catches instead of coming straight out with the bait.

Good for

Wary fish that eject baits
Bottom baits and wafters

Less good for

Pop-ups
Anglers who want a quick, simple tie

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies and wafters; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Spinner rig

A pop-up on a swivel above a curved hook, with a small weight holding it down.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

The hook can rotate freely on the swivel, so it finds a hold whichever way the carp turns. The pop-up sits just off the bottom where it is easy to see.

Good for

Pop-ups
Excellent hook holds
Clean, firm bottoms

Less good for

Heavy bottom baits
Dense weed

In Swimcraft A small edge with pop-ups; a slight edge with wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Combi rig

A stiff section of hooklink joined to a supple section near the hook.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

The stiff part pushes the hook away from the lead so it doesn't tangle, and the supple part lets the bait move naturally. It is a favourite for big, wary fish.

Good for

Big, wary fish
Bottom baits and wafters
Staying tangle-free at range

Less good for

Pop-ups
Quick tying

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies and wafters; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

KD rig

A hair that leaves the back of the hook shank rather than the bend.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

With a carefully balanced bait, the hair's position tips the hook point down towards the bottom. A carp sucking and blowing at the bait gets hooked more easily.

Good for

Wafters and balanced baits
Fish that feed cautiously

Less good for

Pop-ups
Heavy bottom baits

In Swimcraft A small edge with wafters; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Chod rig

A short, stiff hooklink with a pop-up, sliding on a leader above the lead.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

The hooklink can ride up the leader, so however far the lead sinks into silt or weed, the pop-up still sits above it. It is the rig to reach for when you don't know what the bottom is like.

Good for

Silt and light weed
Unknown bottoms
Pop-ups

Less good for

Bottom baits
Clean, hard bottoms

In Swimcraft A small edge with pop-ups; slightly fewer bites with boilies and wafters. Other baits fish as normal.

Multi rig

A hooklink with the hook held in a sliding loop.

Fishing: Coarse
Method: Carp ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Carp rigs

The loop lets you take a hook off and put a fresh one on in seconds, without retying the whole rig, so you can always fish a sharp hook.

Good for

Changing hooks quickly
Clean lakebeds

Less good for

Weedy swims
Deep silt that hides the hook

In Swimcraft A slight edge with boilies and wafters; slightly fewer bites with pop-ups. Other baits fish as normal.

Sea rigs

Pulley rig 2-hook paternoster Clipped-down Running ledger Wishbone

How they fish in Swimcraft

Nothing yet. In the demo every sea rig fishes the same, whatever bait, lead or ground. The descriptions below are how they work on a real beach, and the game will catch up.

Pulley rig

The lead hangs below a pulley bead, with the hook on a separate length above.

Fishing: Sea
Method: Sea ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Sea rigs, with a sea rod

When a fish takes, it pulls the lead up towards the bead and off the bottom, which helps it clear rocks and weed rather than snagging. It also clips down for a clean cast.

Good for

Rough ground
Bigger fish like cod, bass and conger

Less good for

Small fish
Presenting more than one bait

In Swimcraft No difference yet: every bait fishes the same on this rig in the demo.

2-hook paternoster

Two short hook lengths standing out from the line above the lead.

Fishing: Sea
Method: Sea ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Sea rigs, with a sea rod

Two baits fished at slightly different heights over clean ground give you twice the chance with smaller, mixed species.

Good for

Clean ground
Mixed catches of whiting, dabs and other small fish

Less good for

Rough ground, where two hooks means twice the snags
Very big baits

In Swimcraft No difference yet: every bait fishes the same on this rig in the demo.

Clipped-down

The hook bait clipped tight against the lead for casting.

Fishing: Sea
Method: Sea ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Sea rigs, with a sea rod

Clipping the bait to the lead makes the rig streamlined, so it flies further and the bait arrives intact. The clip releases when the rig hits the water.

Good for

Distance casting
Soft baits that fly apart on the cast

Less good for

Rough ground
Close-in fishing

In Swimcraft No difference yet: every bait fishes the same on this rig in the demo.

Running ledger

A lead that slides on the line, with a long trace below a stop.

Fishing: Sea
Method: Sea ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Sea rigs, with a sea rod

Like the coarse running bomb, a fish can pick up the bait and move off without feeling the weight. The long trace lets the bait move naturally in the tide.

Good for

Shy fish like bass and rays
Letting a bait move with the tide

Less good for

Long casts
Strong tides, which roll the lead

In Swimcraft No difference yet: every bait fishes the same on this rig in the demo.

Wishbone

One looped trace carrying two hooks side by side.

Fishing: Sea
Method: Sea ledger
In the game: Rigs tab, Sea rigs, with a sea rod

Both hooks sit together, so two baits make one bigger, more noticeable offering, and a fish taking either one is hooked.

Good for

Flatfish and rays
A bigger combined bait

Less good for

Long casts, where it can tangle
Rough ground

In Swimcraft No difference yet: every bait fishes the same on this rig in the demo.

Lures and fly fishing aren't in Swimcraft yet, so they aren't here yet either.