Korda Choddy Hooks

How well is it built?

Everything about the Choddy's shape is built around stiff hooklinks rather than supple braids. The wide gape leaves plenty of room between the point and the shank, which matters on a stiff rig because the hook needs space to find a hold as it flips.

The dull, anti-glare finish is a smart touch for this kind of hook. On a chod rig, the hook and pop-up sit up off the bottom in plain view rather than lying in silt or weed, so a hook that doesn't catch the light helps the whole presentation look less obvious.

It isn't a fussy hook, and that's the point of it. A chod or hinge hook needs to be strong enough to land a carp on a stiff link and simple enough to tie quickly, and the Choddy should do both. For a dedicated stiff-rig pattern, I think the build is very good.

Sharpness

How sharp is a beaked point? The tip on the Choddy turns in slightly towards the shank, and while a beak can be a fraction slower to prick than a straight point, it should be less prone to catching on debris or blunting as the rig settles on a weedy or silty lake bed.

That suits a chod rig well. The hook and pop-up sit above the lead and any debris, so the point is held clear of the bottom, and once it does meet a carp's lip, the beak should be keen enough to catch hold as the stiff link turns the hook.

I'd still check it after every fish and after any cast that lands hard on gravel or mussels, because a stiff rig needs a sticky-sharp point to work. For me, the 8.5 is fair for a point that's built around the job it does.

Hooking & Hold

The out-turned eye and wide gape do the work before the fight starts. On a chod rig, the hooklink is a short length of stiff material, and the out-turned eye lets the hook pivot so the point faces down as the carp tilts away with the bait.

A hinged stiff rig works the same way, with a stiff boom and a short hinged section holding the pop-up just off the bottom.

The beaked point then takes over. Once it's in, the inward curve of the beak resists movement as a carp shakes its head or kites through weed, which helps create a secure hook hold right up to the net.

It's a specialist, so I wouldn't pick it for a hair-rigged bottom bait, where a curve shank like the Korda Basix Kurv Shank makes more sense. For chods and hinges, though, the 8.5 is well earned.

Is it good value for money?

Is it good value? For a specialist hook, I think so. It's mid-priced for a pack of 10, and because it's designed specifically for chod and hinged stiff rigs, you aren't paying for an all-rounder and then compromising it to suit a stiff link.

The out-turned eye makes it less versatile than a curve shank, but that's true of any dedicated chod hook, and most carp anglers only need a pack or two for the times they fish pop-ups over weed or debris.

If you also fish for the biggest carp on demanding venues, the Nash Twister X is a heavier-wire hook for strong hair rigs.

Overall, I'd recommend the Choddy to carp anglers who fish chod rigs over weed, silt and debris, or hinged stiff rigs over cleaner spots, and want a hook designed for exactly those presentations.

If you mainly fish bottom baits, a curve shank or wide gape pattern will suit you better.