Luke Stevenson - Chod Fishing

Throughout a lot of my angling, and especially when I’m targeting big carp, I often revert to what, at least for me, is the most consistent way to catch big carp, and that is with either a Chod or Hinge Rig fished over spreads of boilie. Tried and tested, accounting for big carp catches since the 90s, they can be a forgotten tactic these days, particularly with the younger generation, given the rise in popularity of newer rigs such as the Spinner, but I’ve always stuck to my guns and trusted what has always worked for me. If it isn’t broken, why change something you have the utmost confidence in? For me, the more anglers follow trends, and the more they lead themselves down the route of what everyone else is doing, the more effective my own angling becomes, as carp can soon wise up to certain tactics. 

Effectively fishing with the Chod Rig relies on a variety of factors, and the substrate you’re going to present on has to suit the set-up. It’s a very discreet way of angling, and I know I can present on pretty much anything that’s in front of me, without worrying about fishing to a clip or a certain area which may have a spot. Let the carp do the talking and fish to what you see. It’s a way of fishing that’s very much angler vs carp, and it’s pretty simple when you look at its technicalities. In essence, I’m not looking for a polished spot or clean area of gravel to present on, I’m looking for a half-decent drop amongst any activity I may have spotted, and I want to go in as quietly as possible. To make it simpler, I’ll break down each aspect and explain them in detail.

Chods vs Hinges
This year, I’ve been focusing my attention on a venue that is very weedy, and as the carp are amongst the thicker weed, in my opinion, a Chod Rig is the best option. I would use a Hinge on a hooklink for areas which aren’t choked with weed, spots that would allow a 10-inch hook link to settle flush on the lakebed. But in many situations, the spots the carp choose to feed in are made up of broken weed and 'mess' on the spot, so with a chod, I know I'll be set up in the most effective way possible. When fishing to clean silty zones where I'm getting a prolonged, smooth pull back with the lead rod, and not picking up any debris on the lead, then I'll choose to fish a hinge, made from a 12-inch N Trap Soft link and 2-inch section of MouthTrap.

The Baiting Situation/Application
When feeling for drops, the aim is to judge presentation based on the drop. Then, with minimal effort, I bait around the area with boilies. It’s nothing new, and when you’re looking to establish a bait and an area which they are frequenting, I think washing out your boilies to give them that paler look is a great edge to have. The baits become very soft and super digestible. Simply empty your desired number of boilies into a bucket, pour a good helping of liquid over them, and then cover them with boiling water. They become washed-out in appearance, and will have become very heavy, and this allows them to be catapulted out, which is my favoured method of bait application. It’s the perfect approach for more intimate waters like the one I’m on now, as it allows me to fish up to around 60yds. Let the carp show you where they want to be, and then react with your angling. If I've found a zone the carp are feeding in, then I like to investigate the area with the plumbing rod, popping the float top where I've seen them, which is a much better way to bait with the catapult, meaning you can be a lot more accurate and ensure you're not dropping baits short. Where possible, I'll position myself side on to the float, meaning I can easily catapult a line of bait. Of course, I'll make sure any plumbing and baiting is done outside of the bite time, so I'll only do this when I know the fish have moved away from the zone. Getting the baiting and rigs out in advance of bite time, will mean the traps are set for when the fish move back into feed.

Keeping Mobile
I’ve never been an angler to take a lot of gear, as I simply feel that I don’t need to, given the style of angling I prefer. If I’m being reactive, I’m going to be flicking out one of two rigs, and when it comes to looking for opportunities, I can be on the barrow or walking with the rods and the rucksack in an instant. I can remain comfortable with what I have, but also ensure that my focus is on the location. My rucksack holds everything I need for a few days’ angling, whilst a lightweight brolly and bed see me through the hours of darkness when the time comes to set-up. A small lead pouch with the smaller sizes I prefer will be tucked in the rucksack, along with a very small pouch with all the terminal bits I need, should I have to whip up another Chod.

Setting Up The Naked Chod
My preferred way of fishing Naked Chods is with a 12lb Kontour fluorocarbon main line. The line concealment is as good as it possibly can be, and there remains very little stretch, which obviously helps when feeling for drops. I then have a naked buffer bead on the line, with a running Chod down to a short Kable leadcore leader, with a slim Heli-Safe to ensure that the lead is discarded on the take. One thing I do slightly differently with my own set-up is use a short leader on the end. I like to fish them this way to stop the Chod going near the lead system on the drop. It means that there’s always around 12-inches of line that allows the Chod to settle on, wherever it lands. The bead between the fluorocarbon and the leader then acts as a buffer, whilst also covering the knot which attaches both line and leader together. This then slides down when I’m playing a carp, and the leadcore acts as a solid piece of material to withstand the pressure of the fight as I don't want my swivel rubbing against the mainline, so the leadcore cushions this.

On the business end, I’ll use a super-sharp Kamakura Choddy hook to give me the best possibility of converting a pick-up into a bite, along with a 14mm pop-up, which I often roll myself, or get them from my mate Mark at Korda baits. I like to use a match the hatch hookbait where I can, something I feel is slightly less obvious when fishing for those tricky old bigguns.

Each little aspect or percentage contributes to form the bigger picture. By having full confidence in your bait and tactics, you can channel the majority of your efforts into things like location, watching the water and looking for those feedings signs. A lot of lakes come alive at first light, and I’ll often take a short stroll down the bank with the receiver—as long as it’s not snaggy—to check areas and look for any new opportunities. Consistency is key. If you can get into this routine, whilst you may feel drained at times due to lack of sleep, I guarantee that you’ll spot far more than if you just scroll on your phone when you wake up, or choose to lie in. 

There’s no doubt that other rigs will catch you fish in the same situation as that described above, but for me, it’s all about confidence. A confident angler is a dangerous one. If you can get in that mindset with your angling, I have no doubt that results will follow.