Carp rig for pop-ups
Chod rig: how to tie it for pop-ups over weed
The chod rig is a very short, stiff hook section with a pop-up that slides freely on the leader. It presents the bait cleanly even over weed, leaves and soft silt.
Guide sections: Learn to fish
When the chod rig fits
- Short weed and blanket weed The pop-up hovers just above the growth and the hook point stays clear. A normal hooklink would disappear into the weed.
- Soft silt and leaves The lead sinks in, the chod slides up the leader and sits on top of the silt. Set the top bead above the expected depth of silt.
- Unknown bottom When you do not know the lakebed or want to cast quickly at showing fish, the chod presents well on many bottoms.
- Not on clean gravel On hard, clean bottoms and in strong flow a bottom bait rig or hair rig works better.
How to build it
- Cut about 20 cm (8 in) of stiff chod material: mono or fluorocarbon 0.40 to 0.55 mm. Cut the end at an angle so it passes through the eye.
- Thread on a size 4 to 6 hook with an out-turned eye. Whip about six turns down the shank and pass the tag back through the eye.
- Use the tag to form a small D and put a micro ring swivel on it. The pop-up goes there later.
- Tie a ring swivel to the other end with a few turns. The finished length between swivel and hook is about 2 to 7 cm (1 to 3 in), then bend the section into a gentle curve.
- Attach the pop-up to the micro ring swivel with bait floss. Balance it with a little tungsten putty at the swivel until it sinks slowly.
- Tie or loop a leader of 80 to 100 cm (32 to 40 in) directly to the main line, not via a swivel. Lower stop about 30 cm (12 in) above the lead, top stop about 20 cm (8 in) above that, higher over deep silt.
- Clip on a light lead, about 57 to 70 g (2 to 2.5 oz). After the cast leave the line slack or only slightly tight.
Variants
- Naked chod No leader, straight on the main line, then only with line from about 0.40 mm. Tungsten putty pins the line to the bottom.
- Short or long chod Short chods for silt and low growth, longer ones up to about 10 cm (4 in) for taller weed. Longer means more missed bites, though.
- Leader systems with a safety bead Ready-made systems release the top bead under pull, so a fish that breaks off is not left tethered to the leader.
Quick questions
When do you use a chod rig instead of a hair rig?
When the bottom is soft, weedy or covered in leaves. On clean gravel and hard clay a bottom bait rig is the better choice.
How long should the chod section be?
Usually 2 to 7 cm (1 to 3 in) between swivel and hook. According to rig guides, longer sections lead to more missed bites and poorly placed hooks.
Is the chod rig safe for the fish?
Only if the top bead can slide off when the line breaks and the leader is tied directly to the main line. Use the lightest lead you can.
Next
Rules of thumb from practice, strengths as guide values, no products.
Sources (4)
In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.
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