How To Tie The KD Rig

One of the simplest rigs to tie. The KD rig is constructed with minimal components, yet tied in a way that increased the aggressiveness of the hooks angle. The perfect rig for balanced hookbaits!

The KD Rig is famous for its aggressive hooking potential and unique hook-turning mechanics, making it one of the most effective ways to present a balanced bait. If you want to master this deadly presentation, our step-by-step guide on 'How to tie a KD Rig' breaks down exactly how to tie it for maximum performance.

You will need:

Kurv Shank Hook

20lb N-Trap Semi Stiff

Dark Matter Anti-Tangle Sleeve

Strippa Tool

Fine Baiting Needle

Split Shot

Razorblade Scissors

Hair Stops

How to tie a KD Rig - step-by-step guide

The KD rig is often used balanced hookbaits like wafters and pop-ups, and is really designed for baits with some buoyancy. The hair of the KD rig exits near the eye of the hook, creating a pivot point that allows the hook point to hang down ready to catch hold when the bait is sucked in - in this guide you will learn exactly how to tie that adapted knotless knot, to get the perfect KD rig.

Step 1

Cut 12 inches of N-Trap Semi-Stiff from the spool

Cut off around 12 inches of N-Trap Semi-Stiff coated braid from the spool – or more if you are planning to fish a longer hooklink than is standard for the KD Rig.

The KD Rig might not be a fashionable rig these days but it is still incredibly effective, with the way the bait hovers above the hook, which sits flat on the lakebed and is less obtrusive to wary carp

Step 2

Use a Strippa Tool to remove the last 3-4 inches of coating

Remove the coating from the last 3-4 inches, using a Strippa Tool, and tie a small overhand loop knot in the end of the exposed braid, to form your hair loop – make sure the loop on your hair rig is big enough that a Hair Stop will fit through it.

Take your coated braid, strip 3-4 inches using a Strippa Tool - this exposed section helps the rig mechanics

Step 3

Tie a hair loop and mount your hook bait on it as usual - this rig is designed for buoyant baits

Thread your chosen hook bait onto a Braided Hair Needle mounting it on the hair as normal. The KD rig is designed for use with buoyant baits (rather than standard bottom baits) that then sink slowly and sit against the bottom – it can be used with wafters or pop-up (if using a pop-up the counter-balance weight is attached to the hair directly below the bait).

The KD Rig works with any balanced bait, including plastic corn, as long as it sinks slowly and the hook sits on the deck

Step 4

Thread on a Kurv Shank hook and position the hook bait so it sits just below the bend

Thread the other end of your hook link through the eye of a Kurv Shank hook from back to front – a size 6 or something suitable for your bait size if using an unusually large or small hook bait – and position the hook bait so it sits just below the bend of the hook with the braid running along the hook shank.

A curved shank pattern of hook, like the Korda Kurv Shank, is ideal for the KD Rig and will improve your catch rates

Step 5

Tie the special adapted version of the knotless knot, whipping underneath the hair for a more aggressive angle

Tie the adapted version of the simple knotless knot that this rig was designed to be used with. When whipping the braid around the shank of the hook, make two turns, then pull the hair to the side and whip a further five turns without trapping the hair underneath. This version of the knotless knot ensures the hook sits at a much more aggressive angle as the hair exits very close to the hook eye and the hook point hangs aggressively and can easily take hold in the bottom lip.

The KD Rig uses an adapted knotless knot, where the hair exits much further up the shank of the hook, near the eye

Step 6

The short supple section of braid above the eye gives the rig enough movement to work properly

Finish tying the knot as usual, putting the end of hook link back through the eye of the hook, from back to front, and pull it to tighten. You should be left with a short section of the supple braided inner between the eye of the hook and where the coating starts on your hook link. This gives the rig enough movement to find a hook hold in the bottom lip, whilst the coated section helps to prevent tangles.

If using the KD Rig with a balanced bait like a wafter or a bottom bait with cork inserted, the rig will sink on its own, but if using a pop-up, pinch a split shot onto the hair directly below it

Step 7

Add a split shot where the coated section starts, this helps the hook turn - with a pop-up add the shot directly below the bait on the hair

Add a split shot. If using a wafter this is pinched onto the braid – tight enough not to come off but not so tight it damages the braid – just where the coating ends, and the purpose is not to counter balance the hook bait, (the weight of the hook needs to be enough to sink that slowly) but to help make the hook turn and take a hold in the mouth of the carp. If using a pop-up, the shot needs to be on the hair directly below it, so that the bait is pretty much touching the lake bed. You can trim down your hook bait to get it to sink just how you want it to – rig putty won’t have enough to stick to and grip on and may slide on the cast.

Even when you aren't using a pop-up, still add a shot or putty to the KD Rig as this has the advantage of making the hook turn and drop into the bottom lip

Step 8

Thread a Dark Matter Anti Tangle Sleeve onto the other end and tie a figure-of-eight loop knot to attach it QC style

Thread a Dark Matter Anti Tangle Sleeve onto the other end of your KD Rig, thin end first, then tie a figure-of-eight loop knot. Your hook link is now ready to use and can be attached to any QC (quick-change) type swivel, with the sleeve used to secure it in place and also help to kick the hook link away from your lead system, so it lays straight on the lakebed.