Chod and zig rigs solve the situations where a bait on the bottom will not work. A chod rig lifts a pop-up clear of silt and weed, while a zig rig takes the bait up to carp cruising in mid-water. Short and long chod rigs are available here.
A chod rig is a short, stiff rig that slides on the leader. When the lead sinks into soft silt or weed, the rig rides up over it and the pop-up stays in view. It is also a safe choice when casting to an unknown bottom.
A short 5 to 6 cm chod suits light weed and thin silt, while a longer 8 cm version copes with deeper weed.
A zig rig comes into its own in spring and on warm days when carp are up in the water. Start at around half the depth and move the bait up or down until the bites start. Fish showing on the surface often tell you the right depth.