Rig Doctor · Carp

Analyse & perfect your rig before you cast

Snap a photo of your rig for instant advice on each bit, rig alternatives and the baits that suit it — or tell us what you've tied and get a checklist plus line and hook tips.

Rig, line and hook advice

Rig options

Hair rig on a lead clip — the all-rounder

Coated braid, 15–25cm, with a bit stripped by the hook. Covers most bottoms and most baits. Alternatives: a combi rig (stiff boom, supple section by the hook) for a bit more movement, or a running ledger for cagey fish on easy venues.

Korda N-Trap Soft

Line

A 12–15lb all-round mono covers it

Open water at normal range doesn't need anything fancy. A sinking mono keeps the line pinned down out of the way of fish.

Korda Carp Line Drennan Feeder & Method Mono

Line

Coated braid for combi-style rigs

Strip a bit of coating by the hook for movement and leave the rest stiff to kick it away from the lead.

Korda N-Trap Soft

Hook

Wide gape for bottom baits, wafters and PVA

A wide gape is the classic all-rounder for bottom baits and wafters. Size 6 for 15mm baits, size 4 for bigger ones.

Korda Kamakura Wide Gape Korda Krank

Your checklist

Can the lead come off if you get cracked off?
Whatever your setup, a fish must never end up towing a lead. Work out what happens to the lead if the mainline parts, and test it at home before you cast.
Angling Trust fish care
Is the hook point still sharp and not turned over?
Drag it lightly across your thumbnail. If it skids, change it or touch it up. Don’t try to reshape a badly damaged point.
OMC Tweakers Touch Me Up
Tail rubber only pushed on part way
Push the tail rubber on just enough to hold the lead on the cast so it can still come free.
Check the venue’s hook rules
Lots of UK waters have barbless or micro-barbed rules. Check before you tie up a load of rigs.
Store rigs so points stay sharp
Pins and a proper rig safe keep points off other kit.
Korda Rig Safe Combi

This checklist is built from what you told us. It doesn’t look at your rig and can’t say it’s “fish safe”. If in doubt, ask a bailiff or experienced mate to look at it on the bank.

Snap your rig, get instant advice

Take a close-up of your rig on a plain background. We'll break down each bit, suggest baits that suit it and point you at kit worth a look.

The nine rigs, drawn out

Diagrams, not photos — so you can match your setup to the right rig.

Diagram of a Hair rig on lead clip — Hair rig on lead clipAll-round carp rig on most bottoms; lead drops if the line breaks (tail rubber pushed on lightly).Try instead: Combi rig (stiff boom, supple section by the hook) for more movement; running ledger for cagey, pressured fish.

Diagram of a Ronnie / spinner rig — Ronnie / spinner rigPop-ups over clean or lightly silty bottoms; very aggressive hooking.Try instead: Chod rig if there's weed or deep silt; simple hair rig with a balanced pop-up on very clean spots.

Diagram of a Chod rig — Chod rigPop-ups over weed or heavy silt; rides up the leader so it sits on top of debris.Try instead: Helicopter rig with a short stiff hooklink does a similar job and casts a bit better; ronnie on clean spots.

Diagram of a Helicopter rig — Helicopter rigDistance casting and choddy/weedy spots; tangle-resistant.Try instead: Lead clip with a stiff boom if the bottom's clean; chod if the debris is deep.

Diagram of a Method feeder — Method feederCarp and bream on commercial lakes; bait packed round the feeder.Try instead: Hybrid feeder for a cleaner pile of pellets; bomb and pellet when fish are spooky of feeders.

Diagram of a Float rig (waggler/stick) — Float rig (waggler/stick)Coarse fish — tench, bream, roach, rudd, crucians.Try instead: Pellet waggler for carp up in the water; pole rig on commercials at short range.

Diagram of a Running ledger — Running ledgerSimple bottom rig for coarse fish and cautious carp.Try instead: Semi-fixed lead clip for better bolt effect on carp; feeder instead of a plain lead to put bait round the hook.

Diagram of a Wire trace (pike/predator) — Wire trace (pike/predator)Pike deadbaits and lures — wire is essential, pike bite through mono.Try instead: Float-fished deadbait for exploring a swim; single-hook trace for lure-style baits.

Diagram of a Zig rig — Zig rigCarp feeding mid-water in warm or pressured conditions.Try instead: Chod or pop-up rig if fish are only just off bottom; surface floater rig if they're right on top.

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Angler score

What our readers rate Hair rig on lead clip

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Keep going

My gear bag — keep track of the rig bits you’ve got and the ones you’re after.