Carping Basics - The Helicopter Rig

by Steve Lightfoot

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North American Carp Angler

OK a bit more advanced and fiddley involving all manner of small rubber objects ( so definitley Euro ) is the Helicopter Rig. So called because the leader is attached to a swivel on the mainline causing the leader to rotate about the line on casting like helicopter blades.

Why bother? Well it's a good long range, anti-tangle set up. Again I'm not going to debate the merits and variations ( as usual there are slightly different ways to skin this cat ), rather illustrate how it's tied and leave the debate for another time.

This rig can be bought in ready to assemble kits and I would recommend these as they're usualy safer. However I don't think its so bizarre and specialised that it can't be made without the custom made components either.

The kit I'm using here is by Korda. Here are the components.

1. Rig tubing
2. Lead weight
3. Buffer bead
4. Rubber bead
5. Swivel bead ( a wide bore swivel will do the job as well )
6. Tail rubber
7. Leader ( stiff leaders work best - I've used coated braid here ) Apologies - the leader shouldn't have a swivel on it

Step 1

Thread your mainline through the tubing and push a tight fitting rubber bead over the tubing.

Step 2

Thread the tail rubber onto your leader and tie the leader to the swivel bead.

Step 3

Push the tail rubber onto the swivel bead and slide the swivel bead onto the tubing. Then thread your buffer bead onto the tubing.

Step 4

Tie the lead weight to the mainline and slide everything nice and tightly together. Job done :)