Why you should use super curved Chod Rigs!
How to tie an aggressive Chod Rig - Jim Shelley stylee - in just six simple steps
So it seems every man and his dog have been engulfed into ‘Chodmania’ with it being a very popular rig presentation. Fishing it differently to the norm with a super aggressive curve and a loop knot tied to the swivel may seem alien to many, but it’s a ploy that can be super effective – and this is how you curve this devastating adaptation!
Shopping list
- Some stiff hooklink material – we’d recommend either ESP’s stiff bristle filament or Korda’s mouthtrap which is very easy to work with.
- Chod style hooks. If you like beaked points, then go for Korda’s Choddy hooks whereas if you prefer a straight point, then opt for either ESP’s Stiff Riggers or Atomic Tackle’s Chodda hook.
- Like we mention in the step-by-step, opt for a larger rig ring over a smaller one – this will allow for more movement.
Solar’s Ball Bearing Swivels rotate so smoothly, it just makes them the perfect choice to go with this set-up.
001 Take a length of your Chod Rig material and hook and connect the hook using a Six-Turn Knotless Knot, leaving a short tag to form your ‘D’. Now take a large size rig ring and thread it onto the tag, passing it through the eye of the hook and blob with a lighter. The big rig ring allows lots of movement for your bait.
002 Next take a size 11 Ring Swivel (although Solar’s Ball Bearing Swivels are better as they rotate much smoother) and pass it onto the other end of the hooklink and tie a small Overhand Loop Knot and pull down tight. Now take your thumb and forefinger and rub the hooklink material to warm it up.
003 With one hand, hold the knot (loop) that attaches your swivel and the other the whipping on the hook and slowly but gently flex the hooklink material into a curve. You want to start curving one end of the rig first – if you try doing the whole thing in one go it’ll kink and won’t sit straight and neat.
004 Start the curve gradually and slowly flex it into a more aggressive angle. This will take time so don’t rush it because like we’ve just mentioned, you will kink the Mouthtrap material.
005 As you rub the rig, keep checking to make sure the curve is straight and not kicking the hook out at an aggressive angle. The hooklink material needs to be curved straight.
006 Once your curve is aggressive and straight, tie on your chosen super buoyant pop-up. Make sure you not only check the sharpness of your hook after every cast but you also check the curve of your Chod.