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Helicopter Rig
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runneil

Posts: 1934

#7 10 Jun 2026 at 8.23pm

In reply to Post #1
I've pretty much used helicopter rigs solely for the last 6 years or so , I've lost very few fish to hook pulls, I use the Korda heli safe and always drop the lead, the hook holds I get are very good using either a ronnie rig or a stiff hinge . I've also had good success with bottom baits .

It seems to me that anglers either favour a heli set up or a lead clip and adapt to what you need to.

You haven't explained why you are considering using a Helicopter rig, if its due to a weedy or choddy bottom and you want to be able to adjust the length of leader to the rig then that's an excellent reason to try it , if its just that you fancy it and are fishing a clean flat bottom I'd stick with the lead clip!

Andy__C

Posts: 1853

#6 8 Jun 2026 at 11.01am

In reply to Post #4
Same as this.

I hadn't needed to use a helicopter for a good few years but a few weeks ago ended on a part of a lake in France that had a few foot of silt and needed a good cast with a decent weight (4oz) to reach the fish. Helicopter seemed most appropriate to not be burying rigs too deep into the black stuff.

Ended up with 37 carp, very few dropped, mostly decent hookholds on german rig/wafters.

Its all about the conditions/lake bed you are fishing and trying to get the best out of the situation.

silverfish

Posts: 2589

#5 8 Jun 2026 at 10.30am

In reply to Post #2
I guess if you don't dump the lead, you are not in direct contact with the fish because the lead is pulling down, thus creating an angle between your line and hooklink. Also, there's more chance of the lead getting snagged in weed if it is not dropped. I'm sure you will get some people who say that dumping the lead is critical with helicopter rigs and definitely improves catch rates. I'm not in a position to say either way really, but I never dropped the lead all of those years ago, and likewise my son didn't either more recently.

same here, not fishing a weedy water, long distance or with short hooklinks so don't see a need to drop the lead. Got a bucket full of leads but not dropping one every time a snotty hooks itself.

In regards to set-up choice- horses for courses, always regarded the heli as a silt or distance set up and lastly a 'safe' leadcore rig.
The lake I'm fishing is a bit silty, done better with a hell using heavier leads and 3-4" between lead & bottom bead than hoping to consistently lay a 1-1.5oz on the top with a lead clip.

I'd question rigs in regards to regularly dropping fish, poor hookholds is isn't necessarily the lead arrangement.
But there you go, the guys need something to write about if they don't convert every run into a fish in the net.

RKB

Posts: 1690

#4 8 Jun 2026 at 7.49am

I'll use a helicopter rig wherever I feel it is warranted and certainly don't feel that my catch rate has suffered. My set up of choice is a drop off inline but not always viable. Being adaptable will catch you more fish in the long run.

ip100

Posts: 12458

#3 7 Jun 2026 at 10.41am

In reply to Post #1
I personally found I lost a lot of fish using it and quickly reverted back to using leadclips. Using exactly the same rigs my hooked to landed ratio went up massively. The only time I'll use them now is if using a heavy leader is needed as imo helis are the only safe way of using leaders

OatcakeFred

Posts: 1449

#2 7 Jun 2026 at 10.39am

In reply to Post #1
Hi Jake

I also don't have much recent experience with them either, though I did use them a lot when they first came out 30+ years ago. And without many issues really. My son has used them more recently, and again, not had any issues. I wonder if the articles you are reading are old? Before dropping the lead on the take became fashionable? There are devices now (in the UK, not sure about the US) that you can use that help to drop the lead on the take with helicopter rigs. Korda definitely do one, fox also (maybe?).

I guess if you don't dump the lead, you are not in direct contact with the fish because the lead is pulling down, thus creating an angle between your line and hooklink. Also, there's more chance of the lead getting snagged in weed if it is not dropped. I'm sure you will get some people who say that dumping the lead is critical with helicopter rigs and definitely improves catch rates. I'm not in a position to say either way really, but I never dropped the lead all of those years ago, and likewise my son didn't either more recently.

karper

Posts: 137

#1 7 Jun 2026 at 6.31am

I have not used the helicopter rig much in my 30 years of carp fishing due to a few articles I read in magazines like CarpWorld, Total-Carp, etc. The articles talked about the rig causing poor hook holds and increased the chances of dropping fish during the fight. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with the rig, is there any truth in these articles?


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