Bottom bait rig for carp

Hair rig: how to tie it for carp

On a hair rig the bait does not sit on the hook but on a short hair behind it. The hook stays free and takes hold as soon as the carp sucks in the bait.

The knots for it

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Diagram, not to scale

When the hair rig fits

Boilies, pellets and particles Sinking baits on the bottom are the classic use. Pop-ups have their own rigs such as the chod.
Self-hooking with a fixed lead When the carp sucks in the bait and moves off, the lead tightens the line and the hook takes hold on its own.
Firm, clean bottom On gravel, sand and hard clay the bait lies in plain view. Over soft silt choose a longer hooklink or a helicopter rig.
Sweetcorn and tiger nuts Particles can go on the hair too, including several grains or a boilie with artificial corn.

How to build it

Cut about 30 cm (12 in) of hooklink material, usually braid or coated braid. Tie a small loop of about 5 mm in the end.
Pull the bait onto the loop with a baiting needle and lock it with a boilie stop.
Set the hair length: about 1 cm gap between the bend of the hook and the bait, with big baits up to about one bait width.
Use a size 4 to 8 hook, matched to the bait. Thread the hooklink through the eye from the point side so the hair lies behind the shank.
Tie the knotless knot: 6 to 8 tight turns around shank and hair towards the bend, then pass the end back through the eye from the shank side.
Trim the hooklink to 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) between hook and swivel and tie on the swivel. Optionally slide shrink tube over the eye as a line aligner.
Fish it on a fixed lead or a safety clip: at least 60 g (about 2 oz), better 80 to 100 g (about 3 to 3.5 oz). Test: the hook turns point down with the bait on.

Variants

Line aligner A piece of shrink or silicone tube over the eye turns the hook down into the lip as the fish sucks in the bait.
Multi-bait hair Two small boilies or a boilie with artificial corn on a slightly longer hair.
Safety clip instead of inline The lead comes free from the fish at snags or if the line breaks. Inline hooks more directly but drags the whole rig along if the line breaks.

Quick questions

How long should the hair be on a hair rig?

As a guide about 1 cm between the bend of the hook and the bait, with big boilies up to about one bait width. If the hair is too short the hook cannot turn.

Which hook size for boilies?

Usually 4 to 6, for smaller baits also 8. Many anglers use hooks that are too big.

How heavy does the lead need to be for a self-hooking rig?

At least 60 g (about 2 oz), better 80 to 100 g (about 3 to 3.5 oz). Lighter leads do not tighten the line enough on the take for the self-hooking effect.

Rules of thumb from practice, strengths as guide values, no products.

Sources (4)

Last checked 2026-10-23. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Check the rules

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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