The chod rig is a
fishing rig
A rig is an arrangement of items used for fishing. It can be assembled of one or more lines, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, swivels, lures, beads, and other fishing tackle. A rig might be held by a rod, by hand, or attached to a boat or pier. Some ...
for
carp fishing
Carp is a common name for various species of freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae that are native to Eurasia and sought after by some recreational fishermen. Certain carp species have been introduced, with mixed results, to various other ...
, generally regarded as having three main advantages: the way in which it allows a
bait to be displayed over soft mud,
weed
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...
or debris; and the way its distinct shape allows the chosen bait (usually a buoyant substance) to be attached. The latter benefit is also generally utilised in the chod rig's immediate ancestor, the stiff-hinged rig. It revolves around a rig consisting of a rigid or stiff link, an aggressively angled hook point and the ability to spring 360 degrees around the axis of the hook. The third benefit is it makes carp fishing almost impossibly easy requiring little skill or effort for large rewards. The only requirement is to soak the baits for long enough until a carp finds it.
The chod rig is widely used and developed by large fishing manufacturers. Industry headliners such as Jim Shelley and Terry Hearn use the chod rig to great effect. Known carp such as
Benson Benson may refer to:
Animals
*Benson (fish), largest common carp caught in Britain
Places Geography
Canada
*Rural Municipality of Benson No. 35, Saskatchewan; rural municipality
*Benson, Saskatchewan; hamlet
United Kingdom
* Benson, Oxfordshire ...
and
Heather the Leather
Heather the Leather (1960 – 1 June 2010) was a 50-year-old scaleless (also known as leather) carp, described as "Britain's most famous fish" before Benson superseded them. Heather was an old and large carp, weighing and despite incorrect all ...
have been captured by the chod rig.
The two key features of the chod combine to make it very difficult for a
carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. While carp is consumed in many parts of the world, they are generally considered an invasive species in parts of ...
to avoid the hook or physically dislodge it after being snared. The hook holds that the chod delivers are generally very strong and secure, causing less damage to the fish's mouth. Not only do very few
fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...
fall off with this set-up, but they suffer minimal damage.
Sources
* http://www.korda.co.uk/rigz/?id=10
* http://www.carp-fishing.org/Carp-Rigs/Chod-Rig-Carp-Fishing.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120626131431/http://www.essex-fishing.co.uk/
How to create and use the chod rig to catch fishTying the chod right made simpleHow to tie a chod rigThe Carp Rig Guide for BeginnersThe Chod Rig: How To Use It Correctly
{{fishing tackle
Fishing techniques and methods