Rig guide · Intermediate

Ronnie Rig: How to Tie and Fish It

The ronnie rig, often called the spinner rig, presents a buoyant pop-up just above the hook on a small ring or spinner swivel, so the hook spins freely and turns aggressively on the take. It sits low to the lake bed, looks natural, and has become the default pop-up rig on pressured UK waters.

Published by the GilledIt editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-07-07 · Part of the carp rig library

1. 1

   Mount the hook on the swivel

   Open the crook of a spinner swivel (or the split link on a quality ring swivel) and slide on the hook by its eye, so the hook can rotate freely through a full circle.

2. 2

   Lock the hook with a kicker

   Slide a rubber kicker or a short length of shrink tubing over the hook eye and the top of the swivel. This holds the hook at an aggressive angle while still letting it spin, which is what makes the rig hook so well.

3. 3

   Add the hook bead and pop-up mount

   Slide a hook bead onto the shank and trap a micro ring swivel or bait screw against it, positioned roughly opposite the barb. This is where the pop-up sits.

4. 4

   Tie the boom

   Attach a 4 to 6 inch boom of stiff coated braid or fluorocarbon to the bottom eye of the swivel. A stiff boom kicks the rig away from the lead and helps it reset if a fish moves it without being hooked.

5. 5

   Mount and balance the pop-up

   Attach a pop-up with bait floss or a bait screw, then trim it down until it only just lifts the hook section. The hook should sink slowly under the weight of the metalwork with the pop-up sitting neatly on top.

6. 6

   Test it in the margin

   Lower the finished rig into the edge and watch it settle. It should sit hook down with the pop-up riding just above, and flip cleanly when you draw it across your palm. If it sits over slowly or spins lazily, re-trim the bait or check the swivel quality.

Ronnie Rig: common questions

What is the difference between a ronnie rig and a chod rig?

The chod rig is a longer, stiff pop-up rig that sits on top of weed, silt or debris. The ronnie rig is a short, low presented pop-up rig with a free spinning hook held on a ring swivel. Use a chod when the bottom is rubbish; use a ronnie when the bottom is clean and the carp are pressured.

What size pop-up should I use on a ronnie rig?

Small enough that the metalwork only just sinks it. Most anglers match a compact pop-up to the hook size and trim it down until the rig sinks slowly, hook first. If the pop-up is too buoyant the rig sits at odd angles; too heavy and it loses the low pop-up presentation entirely.

Do I need a special spinner swivel for a ronnie rig?

Purpose made spinner swivels make the rig quicker to tie, but a quality standard ring swivel works too. What matters is that the hook rotates completely freely and that the swivel is well made. Cheap ring swivels are a known weak point on this rig, so buy from established brands.

Is the ronnie rig the same as the 360 rig?

They share the same idea of a hook spinning freely on a swivel. The ronnie is generally seen as the tidier, safer evolution, because the kicker and hook bead keep everything locked in place, whereas the original 360 style left more exposed metalwork. Some fisheries restrict 360 style rigs, so check the rules.

What boom material is best for a ronnie rig?

Stiff coated braid and stiff fluorocarbon are both popular, usually around 4 to 6 inches. The boom needs enough stiffness to push the hook section away from the lead and avoid tangles; a supple boom undoes much of what the rig is designed to do.