The 10 Best Carp Rigs of 2026: Reviewed
- By Andy Grenfell
- |
- 29 April 2022
Tying your own carp fishing rigs is a satisfying way to catch carp.
But, not everyone can tie them effectively, such as those who suffer from poor eyesight or issues with holding small items such as hooks and other rig components. Ten years ago, we would have recommended tying your rigs, but these days, the available ready-tied rigs are as good or even better than many anglers can tie themselves.
There is no stigma in using ready tied rigs. Fishing is a hobby and is meant to be enjoyable. Use whatever products work for you and enable you to enjoy your time on the bank.
Companies such as Korda, Nash Tackle, Fox, and Gardner are leading the way with their ready-tied carp rigs.
We have listed 10 of the very best for you to check out. Carp fishing in the winter? Check our guide to winter carp rigs here
1. KORDA — READY TIED SPINNER RIGS
BEST FOR ANGLERS WHO FISH SPINNER RIGS OR WHO WANT TO TRY!
Most anglers will have heard of the spinner rig as it has been featured prominently on many Korda videos and is a favourite of a lot of their sponsored anglers, but if you don’t have the time or confidence to tie your own, then this ready-tied version is the perfect solution.
This Spinner Hook version is the only rig in the ready-tied range available in size 5. This hook pattern was designed purposely for use with the Spinner Rig. The 55-degree eye angle follows the direction of a kicker which enables the hook to sit perfectly when used with a buoyant hook bait. Furthermore, the long, curved shank opens the gape of the hook when mounted on the Spinner Swivel offering the very best hooking potential.
These Spinner rigs across the range are constructed in the same way as any of our top anglers would do it and feature a 5.5” Boom hook link with either a Krank, Kurv Shank, or Spinner hook attached via one of our Spinner Swivels which has been crimped on to provide a very strong connection.
At the other end is a crimped loop which can be attached to any of our quick-change style systems. The rig can be used multiple times simply by changing the hook, which is very easy to do. There is a choice of size 4 or 6 hooks (with size 5 available in the pinner Hook version), in barbed or barbless and each packet contains one rig.
PROS
- Reusable — Simply store them back in a rig box and they are ready to go again.
- Versatile hook options — Barbed and barbless with two different sizes to choose from
- Used by the Pros! - Many of the Korda sponsored angler team use these for their fishing, Tom Dove included!
CONS
- Hook Points — Check the hook points before re-using the rigs again.
2. KORDA - DF READY TIED CARP RIGS
BEST FOR SMALL CARP
The Korda DF Ready Tied Rigs are a traditional blowback rig and perfect for a variety of angling situations. Ideally suited to bottom baits or wafters, the DF Ready Tied Rigs are great for those who are new to the sport or those who don’t fish that often.
Where does the DF in the name come from? Danny Fairbrass!
Let’s face it; the head of Korda catches more than his fair share of fish of all sizes — home and abroad. As of right now, you can get one step closer by using the DF-ready tied rig range, which is available from all Korda stockists.
These rigs have been tied to the exacting standards that Danny insists on from tried and tested components. The hair length, loop size, and amount of coating stripped back are exactly as DF himself would use, allowing you to take a giant leap towards carping success!
So, what exactly is the DF rig? Well, it’s the rig that Danny has refined over the past decade, tweaking it and substituting new components as better technology has become available. It’s a versatile rig that can be used for straight boilie fishing or with plastic corn over the top of spodded particles. It’s a great hooker that lends itself perfectly to use with critically balanced presentations, standard bottom baits or pop-ups alike (with the addition of a split shot, Sinker, or Dark Matter putty, of course).
It features an all-time classic hook, the formidable Korda Wide Gape, with its secure beak and robust forging, coupled with the best-coated braid out there, N-Trap Soft. Of course, the shrink tube is our finest Safe Zone stuff, and the rig rings are Korda through and through. Buy a few of these rigs, and it’ll be as if you had Danny with you on the bank, tying your rigs for you!
There can be no higher recommendation than that, can there?
PROS
- Designed by the best — These rigs are straight out of the boss’s tackle box at Korda!
- Options — Breaking strain, hook size, and hook type are all taken into account.
CONS
- Specific Application — Not ideal for pop up baits.
3. JRC CONTACT SNOWMAN RIGS
BEST WHEN SUPER RELIABLE WAFTER RIGS ARE REQUIRED!
The finished JRC Contact Rigs are made from original JRC Contact rigging components, including hooks, and are assembled to be 100% effective and functional. In the assortment, you will find many different types of mountings, which you just unpack, attach to the fishing line and you can immediately start fishing.
Coming in a variety of hook sizes, these rigs are perfect for wafter and snowman presentations, great for tricking those pressured carp!
PROS
- Variety - Good options of hook sizes and both barbed and barbless options.
- Super Strong - Constructed using the very best rig components.
- Great Value - At under £3 per rig, they are great value for money.
CONS
- One length of hair only — You can get around this with extendable bait stops however!
4. GARDNER — RONNIE RIG KIT — BARBED ALL SIZES
BEST FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE THEIR RIGS BUT ARE UNSURE WHAT COMPONENTS THEY NEED.
The Gardner Ronnie Rig Kit is a great idea! It allows anglers who prefer to construct their rigs to do so without worrying about choosing the correct components.
Everything you will need to build a Ronnie Rig is included, and there is even 1 x ready-made rig for you to look at to ensure you are getting it right!
Gardner Tackle is at the forefront of angling innovation, and they have done it again with the Ronnie Rig Kits.
PROS
- Satisfaction — You can build your rigs and feel satisfied with your efforts, especially when you catch your first carp on one!
- Flexibility - Building your own allows you to alter the length of the rig compared to ones that are pre-tied.
CONS
- Quality — Until you get it right, you may find yourself wasting some of the components.
5. NASH — CHOD RIG
BEST FOR POP UP FISHING
This chod rig by Nash is perfect for those who struggle to tie a chod rig. Let’s face it — it is not easy! Fear not, though. Nash Tackle has created its own to get you fishing in no time.
Chod Rigs have fallen by the wayside thanks to the Ronnie Rig, but a Chod Rig can be just as effective when tied correctly. The trouble is, if you get it wrong, it could very well work against you.
The Nash Chod Rigs are made using the very best materials, including the Nash Pinpoint Chod Twister hooks. All of the components are the same that are used by the lads at Nash Tackle.
PROS
- Excellent components — You can be sure these rigs are as good as any you can tie yourself.
- Super sharp — The Nash Pinpoint Chod Twister hooks are razor sharp!
- Very well made — These rigs are so well made, we couldn’t tell the difference!
CONS
- Must be set up correctly — The Chod Rig must be set up correctly on your leader for it to work effectively.
6. KORDA — BASIX HAIR RIGS WIDE GAPE
BEST FOR BEGINNER ANGLERS
Korda’s Basix Hair Rigs are the best choice for those new to the sport or even those who don’t want to tie their rigs. As the name suggests, these rigs are no-frills yet remain as effective as any other rig, just for less money!
The BASIX Ready Tied Hair Rigs are ready to use straight out of the packet, all you need to do is add either a bottom bait or wafter, and you’re good to go!
These rigs are tied using the camo green coloured BASIX Coated Hooklink material, with a small section stripped back by the BASIX Wide Gape hook to allow movement and increase hooking potential.
They have supple hair with a piece of silicone to hold it in place on the shank and help prevent tangles, and the length of that hair has been optimised for hookbait sizes that suit the size of hook you have selected.
PROS
- Great Price — Cheap but without sacrificing quality.
- Beginners - Great for beginners or those who don’t fish much.
- Quality - They may be “Basix” by name, but they will catch you a bucket load of carp!
CONS
- Options — They come in one length, so they may not suit all scenarios you might face when on the bank.
7. CARP SPIRIT — HINGED STIFF RIGS
BEST FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE TO TIE STIFF HOOK LINKS
The Carp Spirit brand offers these exceptionally well-tied, stiff rigs for people looking to purchase rigs on a budget! This neat little piece of kit is a rig favoured by many big fish anglers, made famous by Terry Hearn in his first book ‘In Pursuit of the Largest’.
The hinged stiff rig can be notoriously difficult to tie, but the clever people at Carp Spirit have taken care of it all! Constructed using the best materials available, these ready-made rigs are only meant for use with super buoyant pop-up hookbaits.
Make sure you do your research and planning before using them, and ensure you set them up correctly and SAFELY.
PROS
- Price — These are a great price.
- Stiff Hinge — The stiff design prevents tangles and provides great hook bait presentation.
- Super sharp — Guaranteed to catch hold, every single time!
CONS
- Experience — This item is suitable for experienced anglers who understand their mechanics and how the rig works.
8. KORDA — MULTI READY TIED RIG
BEST FOR BOTH POP UP AND WAFTER FISHING
The Korda’s Multi Ready Tied Rig is perfect for anglers who want to be able to change hooks quickly if need be. The Multi Rig was made famous by Jonny Mac, who wrote about its effectiveness a lot. Remarkably simple to use, the Multi Rig is still a firm favourite with TFT staff.
The Multi Rig is a superbly versatile rig, which allows the hook to be changed in a flash. They are most often used as pop-up rigs but can be used with bottom baits too!
Our versions, which have been pre-tied to save you time, is constructed from Kamo-coated braid. The effective banded camo pattern helps it blend in over all sorts of lake beds.
Danny has been using this setup for a few years now. The rigs that we've produced for you are exact replicas of his version of this presentation.
We've tied these rigs up with the superb Krank Choddy pattern, which boasts a wide gape and sweeping shank for optimum hooking and landing.
PROS
- Fast hook changing — The multi-rig lets you change hooks in a flash.
- Versatile — You can use these as pop-up rigs or bottom baits.
CONS
- Lack of specialisation — This option lacks the specialisation offered by other rigs reviewed here.
- Difficult to use — Tying hook baits on can be tricky.
9. CARP SPIRIT — BLOW BACK RIGS
BEST FOR A RANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Another versatile item, Carp Spirit’s blow-back rigs are perfect for pop-ups and bottom bait!
The Carp Spirit Blow Back Rig is constructed using a Camo Core hooklink and a Razor Point LS (Long Shank) Hook. The Long Shank pattern is perfect for the micro ring to slide along when the fish tries to eject the bait leaving the hook point clear and increasing the chances of finding a hold. A Carp Spirit Kicker line aligner is also added to the rig to aid the rapid turning of the hook point.
This versatile rig is perfect for use with both bottom baits and pop-ups. Expertly hand-tied, using Carp Spirit components throughout, a quick change size 8 swivel is used with a mini anti-tangle sleeve for added neatness.
PROS
- Diversification — With this rig, you have the best option to tackle both pop-ups and bottom bait.
- Well made - Carp Spirit’s rigs are really well made!
CONS
- Rigs are one length and only come with a standard hair attachment for the hookbait.
10. PB PRODUCTS — RONNIE RIG
BEST FOR HEAVYWEIGHTS
This handy pop-up rig is one of the most underrated products reviewed here as far as being a singularly focused rig with a specific style. It is a fantastic product with two hook sizes, 4 and 6, and is the product choice of many famed anglers such as Kev Hewitt.
PB Products are enjoying a bit of a resurgence of late, and their ready-tied rig range has been mega-popular. Constructed using the finest materials and components and coupled with a sticky sharp hook, these Ronnie Rigs come with either a stiff or soft boom, giving the angler greater flexibility in their approach.
PROS
- Battle-tested — Used by some of the UK’s best day ticket anglers, responsible for catching LOTS of carp.
- Reliable - We tested these to the point of destruction, and they were VERY durable.
CONS
- Limited size options — Like a handful of other products, this item only comes in two hook sizes, 4 and 6.
Conclusion
While there is a range of carp rigs for you to choose from, we hope this list has highlighted a few of the options available to those who are happy to use ready tied rigs.
This list is just one of many resources we offer to help carp anglers. Whether you’re a beginner ready to take your first steps into this hobby or a seasoned champion, you’ll find everything you need at Total Fishing Tackle. We’d love to hear how we helped you figure out which of the rigs best suits your particular needs and style!
Shop rigs, rods, bivvies, apparel, and more at Total Fishing Tackle!
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