Tie The Perfect Chod Rig!

How to tie the perfect Chod rig for tackling weedy and silty venues!

Chods can be a devasting tactic if used in the right situation, being able to present over most substrates, they enable you to catch carp on spots you would never dream of putting a standard rig. 

Components you will need:

• Chod filament – This stiff bristle material holds its shape giving you the perfect curve that is required when using Chods.
• Chod hooks – These have an out turned eye unlike normal hook patterns, this is to accommodate the extremely stiff Chod filament.
• Size 11 Ring swivel – This is what your Chod will be tied onto to enable it to spin and rotate freely
• Hook ring swivel – This is where you bait will be mounted.
• Bait floss – We use this to incorporate the blob method.
• Lighter 
• Scissors

Tying the Chod

Step 1: Cut off around 6inches of Chod filament 

Step 2: Tie a simple 7 turn knotless knot to your Chod hook but don’t trim off your tag end. 

Step 3: Take your hook ring swivel and slide it onto the tag end coming off the back of the hook, place the tag through the back of the eye once more and you will notice it forms a D. Have this reasonably small and neat, just so the swivel has enough room to move freely. Cut off around 5mm from the hook eye and carefully blob with a lighter, ensuring you don’t damage the hook link. 

Step 4: Decide how long you want the chod rig, normally 2-3inches is a good starting point. Tie the remaining tag end to your Size 11 Ring Swivel using a two turn blood knot. Moisten the knot before you pull it down tight, then trim off the tag leaving again around 5mm and blob carefully with a lighter. 

Step 5: Cut off around 5inches of bait floss and thread through the Hook Ring Swivel, Take out a NS1+ pop up, these are extra buoyant and designed for Chod/Hinge rigs, Thread it onto the bait floss, pulling it over the hook ring swivel so its sitting on the barrel. Pull the tag ends out the bait and cut them off leaving around 10mm. Blob the remaining tags down with a lighter and press flat onto the bait.

Step 6: Lastly you want to apply a nice curve into the rig with your finger and thumb, this will then hold its shape when cast out into the lake. Your rig is now ready to be put onto a helicopter set up. 

Chods are helpful in a multitude of situations, whether that be casting at showing fish/fizzers & not knowing what’s on the lakebed, or if you’re fishing over a big spread of boilies. They can be a real winner and often pick out bigger fish due to the rig being popped up off the bottom that bit further. It’s a rig that’s well worth having in your armoury and it will put you extra fish on the bank, especially when an opportunity presents itself where other rigs wouldn’t stand a chance of being presented.