When you're just starting out in fishing, it can be difficult to keep up with all the new information on beginner carp rigs. There are a lot of different options and fishing terms that may seem confusing at first glance - but don't worry! The Angling Direct team are here to share their favourite carp fishing rigs as well as a selection of easy-to-follow beginner carp rigs for you to try!
Simply put, carp rigs are basically a series of fishing terminal tackle and a choice of fishing bait attached to the fishing line that allows you to catch carp by hooking them. All carp rigs should include:
Choice of Fishing Bait: Usually a hookbait such as a boilie or a pellet to attract the fish.
Fishing Hook: To attach the fish to your line and help reel them in.
Hook Length: Can be a coated braid or monofilament and is the thinner, lower breaking strain piece of line used tied to the hook and then attached to a stronger, thicker mainline.
Swivel: Consists of two metal circles that are connected by a ball or barrel-shaped pivoting joint and is used as a join between mainline and rig.
Lead system: To safely attach a weight to your mainline.
Lead: To add weight to your rig and to aid in setting the hook into the carp’s mouth when they take the bait.
Leader: To provide your main fishing line with protection against damage or breaking and to improve bait presentation.
Using the right carp fishing rig for not only the species you target but your choice of bait, venue and the season can be deadly in terms of fishing success! Carp anglers love a variety of carp rigs as each one provides good hook holds, minimizing the chance that carp spits your bait back out, which suits certain baits more than others.
Now that you have your equipment, we're going to show you how to tie 10 of the most popular carp rigs that you can use in different carp fishing scenarios.
Ideal for use in Spring, the Chod Rig has been a favourite for many anglers for many years. In the AD Quickbite video below, we show you how to tie the chod section and also how to fish it safely naked style on the line. This is a great and popular way to fish the chod rig as a lot of venues ban the use of leadcore.
For the products used in this video, click here.
A great rig for the beginning of spring, as the waters start to warm, the Adjustable Zig is a highly effective way of fishing for carp throughout the water column within your swim. This rig makes life so much easier, especially on deeper lakes. In the AD Quickbite video below, Phil Spinks runs you through how to set up and use an adjustable zig rig.
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying an Adjustable Zig Rig, here.
The Slip D Rig is a super effective, versatile rig that can be used with a variety of baits such as Pop Ups, Wafters or Bottom Baits, with the simple addition of bait putty. In the AD Quickbite video below, we show you just how simple it is to tie!
AD Quickbite - How To Tie a Slip D Rig Video
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Slip D Rig, here.
A very effective carp catching rig, the Ronnie Rig has taken the carp fishing world by storm in the last couple of years. This rig has become one of the best rigs for catching carp as it is essentially a low lying pop up rig. With the ronnie rig, the bait sits up just off the lake bed maintaining its aggressive hooking position at all times.
How To Tie A Ronnie/Spinner Rig - Carp Fishing Quickbite Video
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Ronnie Rig, here.
A simple wafter rig can be tied using the knotless knot hair rig as presented in the video below.
How To Tie A Simple Wafter Rig – Carp Fishing Quickbite Video
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Wafter Rig, here.
A go-to rig for singling out bigger carp, the correct way to tie the Stiff Hinge Rig can be viewed in the video below.
AD QuickBite – How To Tie The Hinge Stiff Rig For Carp Video
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Stiff Hinge Rig, here.
This rig is perfect for a snow man type bait and is a popular carp fishing rig for anglers up and down the country. The blowback rig can be fished with bottom baits or pop-ups and has fooled some of the wariest carp. View how to tie the blowback carp rig in the video below.
How To Tie A Blowback Rig – Carp Fishing Quickbite Video
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Blow Back Rig, here.
Also a great rig for coarse and roach fishing, the heli rig is highly effective. This carp rig has become a favourite amongst many anglers who like to keep a feeder rig handy, as part of their arsenal. View how to tie the helicopter fishing rig in the video below.
How To Tie A Roach Heli Rig - Coarse Fishing Quickbite Video
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Heli Rig, here.
The Hair Rig is simple to tie and super versatile. With a few minor changes during the creation process, it can be adapted to suit all kinds of hook baits! In the simple and easy to follow AD Quickbite video below, we show you how to tie it in 3 different ways.
AD Quickbite - 3 Simple Carp Rigs Video
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Hair Rig, here.
A deadly rig on commercials up and down the country, a Float Ledger rig can be tied following the steps in our Quickbite video below.
How To Tie The Float Ledger Rig - Coarse Fishing Quickbite Video
For the products used in this video, click here.
You can also view our step-by-step tutorial guide for tying a Ledger Rig, here.
Phil Spinks - “My favourite rig would be the slip D rig for carp”
Read and watch the how-to video for tying the Slip D rig above.
Amanda Hook - “My favourite is the most simple one – The hair rig! Usually a short hair rig with a small 12mm wafter inside a PVA bag.”
Read and watch the how-to video of the Hair Rig above.
Chris Ansel - “My go to rig is probably the hinge stiff rig”
Read and watch how to tie the Hinge Stiff Rig above.
Stephen Crowe - “My favourite carp fishing rig is the IQ D-rig.”
The IQ D-rig may not be in our top 10 listed rigs in this guide but you can watch the video below for how to tie this amazing rig.
For more How-to Guides, click here, or to follow more rig tying videos, follow ADTV on Youtube.
Related Fishing Rig Videos:
Knotless Knot Hair Rig (Simple Carp Rig)
Related Blogs:
Your Guide to Chod Fishing & Chod Rigs
How To Set Up A Running Rig For Carp – Carp Fishing Quickbite
How To Tie A Simple Surface Fishing Rig – Carp Fishing Quickbite