Why the Chod Rig Is a Must-Have for Every Carp Angler
When you're facing tricky lakebeds covered in weed, silt, or debris, there’s one rig that stands out for its consistency, presentation, and ability to tempt even the wariest of carp – the chod rig. Loved by seasoned anglers and increasingly adopted by newcomers, the chod rig is a proven weapon in any carp fishing arsenal. Here's why it should be part of yours.
What Makes the Chod Rig So Effective?
The genius of the chod rig lies in its ability to present a bait perfectly above the lakebed, regardless of how messy or weedy the bottom is. This is achieved thanks to its helicopter-style presentation, where the hooklink spins and adjusts around the leadcore or leader. The result? The rig always finds the right spot to settle, suspending your bait just above the debris – right in the carp’s line of sight.
This setup is ideal for:
Weedy waters
Silky or muddy bottoms
Gravel spots with debris
Unknown terrain where precision matters
You don’t need to worry about finding a clean spot – the chod rig works with the terrain, not against it.
When to Use a Chod Rig?
While chod rigs can be effective all year round, they truly shine in:
Spring, when carp are active near the surface and exploring shallows
Late Summer, when weed growth is at its peak
Autumn, when debris from decaying vegetation covers the lakebed
It’s especially powerful when fishing single pop-up hookbaits, where minimal disturbance is key. If you need a fast, stealthy approach to a showing fish, a chod rig is your go-to.
What Baits Work Best?
The chod rig is designed for pop-ups – highly buoyant baits that remain lifted and visible above debris.
Recommended choices include:
Fluoro pop-ups (bright colors attract attention)
Wafters with cork inserts (for precise buoyancy)
Balanced baits that sit just above the swivel
Popular flavors like pineapple, krill, and spicy squid work great, especially when matched to seasonal preferences or prebaiting campaigns.
How to Tie a Chod Rig – Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a simple guide to tying your own chod rig and finishing it on a leader.
Tying the Hook Section
Cut 4 inches of stiff hooklink material (e.g. chod filament or fluorocarbon).
Attach your chod hook using a knotless knot, leaving a short tag.Slide a Mini Hook Ring Swivel onto the tag end and form a small D-loop by securing the tag back to the shank with a blob of melted mono or a tiny overhand knot.
On the other end, attach a Size 11 Flexi Ring Swivel using a 2-turn blood knot.
Trim and blob the tag end with a lighter to secure.Gently work the hooklink between your thumb and forefinger to create a smooth curve – this shape is key to the chod rig’s hooking efficiency.
Attach your chosen pop-up bait to the Mini Hook Ring Swivel, and add a small piece of tungsten putty over the Flexi Ring Swivel to counterbalance the buoyancy of the bait.
Your hook section is now ready!
Finishing the Chod Rig on a Leader
Cut 3–4ft of your preferred leader material (leadcore, fluorocarbon, or tungsten leader).
Thread on 1cm of leader silicone, then a 5mm tungsten leader bead.Pass your chod hook section onto the leader between the two beads.
Slide on the buffer section from a Heli Buffer Bead Kit, and splice the leader to the fixed wire loop of the main bead.
Finally, slide the buffer bead down over the wire loop for protection and attach your lead of choice.
This setup ensures maximum performance when fishing over weed, silt, or unknown substrates. Combine it with a brightly colored pop-up and you’re ready to ambush any passing carp with deadly efficiency.
Ready-Made Chod Rigs – Save Time, Stay Ready
If you find it difficult to tie your own chod rigs or just want to save time, the ready-made chod rigs are ideal. It's always smart to have a chod ready to go. If you spot a carp, you can immediately target it and cast a chod in that direction.
Available in hook size 4, 6 and 8.You can buy them here: Ready-Made Chod Rigs
