Rig Guide

FREE
COLLECT
AND KEEP
SeaAngler
POCKET
RIG
GUIDE
A selection of shore
and boat classics to
improve your catches
MAKE THESE GREAT RIGS & CATCH MORE FISH

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
CONTENTS
TOOLS & COMPONENTS
6All the bits and pieces you need for rig making.
CLIPPED TO GO
10How to make your rigs aerodynamic.
LEARN THESE KNOTS
12Versions you need for tying components.
THE THREE-HOOK FLAPPER
14Basic shore rig for many species.
TRIPLE-HOOK CLIPPED RIG
16Adding clips for casting distance.
TIE A PENNELL PULLEY
18An ideal rig for rough ground.
THE THREE-HOOK LOOP
20How to have a long lower snood.
TIE A WISHBONE PENNELL
22 A variation on a popular theme.
2 GUIDE TO RIGS

THE UP AND OVER RIG
24 How to present one long hooklength.
READER OFFER
26Get a rig wallet with 10 shore or boat rigs.
UPTIDE RUNNING LEGER
28 The rig for casting from a boat.
TWO-HOOK PLAICE RIG
30 What you need for flatfish.
TWO-HOOK BREAM RIG
32 How the addition of a bead pays off.
TWO RIGS FOR ARTIFICIALS
34 Great versions for fishing with lures.
SIMPLE PATERNOSTER
36 An ideal rig for seeking ling.
TWO SIMPLE FLOAT RIGS
38 Styles for fishing for surface feeders.
ROTTEN BOTTOMS
40 Solve snagged rig problems.
WEEDLESS LRF RIGS
42 Easy styles for light rock fishing.
RIG STORAGE
44 Choose from winders or wallets.
46
GUIDE TO LEAD WEIGHTS
Easy reference to the many styles.
GUIDE TO RIGS 3

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
RIG MAKING,
Making your own rigs may
seem complicated, but it’s
easy when you know how.
One of the best ways to
get started is to buy some
ready-made versions and,
using matching or similar
components, make copies.
You can do this in the
comfort of your own home.
Having a supply of
various styles of rigs ready
to go enables you to be
prepared for your shore or
boat session. It means you
can adapt to situations by
changing a rig, or even to a
similar rig with smaller or
larger hooks.
Go on, get stuck in!
4 GUIDE TO RIGS

IT’S SO EASY
GUIDE TO RIGS 5

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TOOLS AND
COMPONENTS
Get to grips with a selection of items you need
for making a wide variety of shore and boat rigs
Rig making requires
a minimum amount
of tools, but seems to
involve an ever-increasing
number of components
as anglers come up with
new solutions to improve
the effciency of their rigs.
However, the standard
components remain line,
swivels, hooks, beads,
crimps and link clips.
SCISSORS
Ideal for cutting
line and bait.
CRIMPING TOOL
Use these to squeeze
metal crimps.
PLIERS
Handy for
gripping hooks.
CLIPPERS
Great for
trimming line.
6 GUIDE TO RIGS

KNOW YOUR
HOOK PATTERN
LIMERICK
Presents a crab
bait perfectly.
WIDE GAPE
Perfect for a
large cocktail.
VIKING
Bronze hook that
can hold a large bait.
ABERDEEN –
Ideal for worms
and sandeels.
SHORT-SHANK
ABERDEEN
Ideal for hooking
delicate baits.
THE BITS THAT COUNT...
THE BEND
Wide gape for carrying a large
cocktail, or smaller for slim baits.
THE EYE
This is where you
attach it to the snood.
THE POINT
Always check the point to
ensure it is sharp.
THE SHANK
The hook’s
backbone, where
a worm or sandeel
will be threaded.
GUIDE TO RIGS 7

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
BLING
Use sequins
and beads as
attractors.
IMP CLIP
Handy device for
use on distance
casting rigs.
SPRING
SRT device for
tensioning rigs.
LINE
Various for
rig body and
snoods.
SWIVELS
For holding
hook snoods.
8 GUIDE TO RIGS

IMPACT
SHIELD
Another great
device for
distance rigs.
POP-UP
Floating beads
can be added to
hooklengths.
CRIMPS
Use these to
fix position of
items on rig.
CLIPS
Used at top and
bottom of rig.
CASCADE
Type of swivel
for using on
clipped rigs.
GUIDE TO RIGS 9

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
CLIPPED TO GO!
Casting a beach rig long distances works better
when it is streamlined. Here are some of the best
bait clips for casting your bait out to sea
CLIP
DOWN
MATCH
SWIVEL
Available in
several guises,
this design
combines a
swivel and a
hook clip for
distance work.
Designed
purely to hold
hooks in place
for casting
rigs with
two or three
snoods, the
unique design
and shape
ensures that
each hook
is released
after a main
bottom hook
is sprung.
BREAKAWAY
IMPACT LEAD
This is a lead weight that
incorporates a release device.
It ensures a rig is extremely
compact and streamlined
when the hooks are pinned
tight, while the bomb shape
delivers a smooth, fast flight.
Designed to release the hook
on impact with water, this is
one of the most widely used
systems on Britain’s beaches.
BREAKAWAY
IMP
The IMP clips on to
many variations of
sinker. With a bit
of practice it is very
easy to use. The grey
device holds bait
directly behind the
sinker for protection
and balance. Once
it hits the water, it
releases every time.
10 GUIDE TO RIGS

GEMINI SPLASH
DOWN SOLO
This works in exactly
the same way as the
company’s Splash Down
sinker, and can be added to
virtually any lead weight.
Great for off-the-ground
casting, because the
hook is trapped inside
the device to prevent it
inadvertently falling off.
BREAKAWAY
IMPACT SHIELD
Still going strong after many
years of success, this device
really set the standard for
the way clip-and-release
systems for casting bait were
developed in sea angling.
It works well with multihook
rigs designed for casting
small delicate baits, or can be
used for casting larger baits
aimed at bigger species.
The foolproof release system
works every time, and the
‘mushroom’ shape protects
your bait during its flight.
GEMINI
GENIE CLIP
Often the simple
ideas are the best,
and this is one of
them. A lead link
with a combined
clip is perfect for rig
making, especially
with pulley rigs.
It holds a worm
bait neatly behind
the sinker, but
avoid a bulky bait
to prevent wobble
during casting.
These are strong
enough for power
casting styles.
GUIDE TO RIGS 11

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
LEARN THESE
POPULAR KNOTS
When you are connecting terminal tackle to rigs
or attaching a leader, you need these four choices
TIE A HALF-TUCKED BLOOD KNOT
1
TIE A STOP KNOT
1
1. Feed snood through hook eye.
2. Now begin to twist the snood.
2
Form a loop and twist five
times around the line.
2
3
3. Twist five times around itself.
4. Feed back through the first loop.
4
Moisten the line and gently
pull the loops together.
3
5
5. Then back through the main loop.
Pull fully tight and trim,
leaving neat tag ends.
12 GUIDE TO RIGS

HOW TO TIE A SHOCKLEADER KNOT
1
2
First make a figure-of-eight loop in
the shockleader line.
3
Feed mainline through figure-ofeight
and make a five-turn loop.
TIE THE FULL BLOOD KNOT
1
Moisten and tighten leader and
gently pull up the five-turn loop.
4
2
3
4
Moisten again and pull the two
loops together, then trim tag ends.
5
Trim neatly to leave a small and
tight shockleader knot.
5
1. For joining two lines of
equal diameter.
2. Twist one end five times
around itself.
3. Then bring back through
the main centre hole.
4. Repeat the process.
5. Now moisten and pull the
two lines together.
GUIDE TO RIGS 13

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
THE 3-HOOK
FLAPPER
Use this versatile rig for small and larger species,
but when distance casting is not a necessity
Flapping is a term used to
describe a rig where the hook
snoods are not clipped for
casting - they flap.
A simple paternoster design,
here with three hook snoods
connected to the rig body,
it can be made with two
snoods, or even as a single
hook rig with one long snood.
1 2
As a guide, the rig body
should be 60lb mono and
the snoods anything from
18-25lb. At the top of the
rig, use a size 1 swivel, which
can be joined to a clip on
a shockleader. The snood
swivels are size 3.
Beads and sequins with a
stop knot are optional.
3
Tie a Genie link on the
end of your rig body.
Slide on three lots of
crimps, beads, swivels.
Cut rig body to length
and tie swivel on end.
4
5
6
Set snood positions
and squeeze crimps.
Add snoods, sequins,
stop knots and hooks.
The three hook snoods
should not overlap.
14 GUIDE TO RIGS

SHORE OR BOAT
FIXING SNOOD
Swivel fixed with
beads and crimps.
RIG BODY
Match rig body to
leader strength.
TOP SWIVEL
Tie a size 1 swivel
at top of rig body.
HOOK SIZE
Use hooks from
size 4 to 2/0.
LEAD CLIP
A link clip holds
the lead weight.
BEADS AND CRIMPS
There are several ways to fix
the snood swivels in place on
the main rig body. You can use
beads either side and keep
them in place with either stop
knots or metal crimps. There
are even special all-in-one
crimp swivels available. If
using crimps, it is important
that you do not squeeze the
crimps too tightly, which can
damage your line.
OPTIONAL
A sequin bait stop
is fixed with an
adjustable stop knot.
GUIDE TO RIGS 15

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TRIPLE HOOK
CLIPPED RIG
If you’re looking to get distance,
go for a streamlined trace
SNOOD
Spring adds
the tension.
FITTING
Swivel fits
between
beads and
crimps.
OPTION
You can add
a sequin and
bait stop.
IMPACT
Hook is
released on
impact with
the water.
Gone are the days when shore
anglers used to pin their baited
hooks down with telephone
wire and bent bits of wire.
Modern technology, along
with clever innovation, has
seen rigs improve rapidly to
gain those extra few yards that
might make all the difference
and catch more fish.
Making a rig streamlined and
aerodynamic is what helps us
to present perfect baits long
distances from the beach.
Clipping hook snoods close to
the rig body ensures that there
is far less drag and wobble
during its flight after casting,
thus maintaining a straight and
true path.
Tackle giants Gemini and
Breakaway have paved the way
for how we prepare our casting
rigs by introducing gadgets
like Splash Down sinkers, SRT
Springs, Imps, Cascade Swivels
16 GUIDE TO RIGS

SHORE
1
2
3
The Cascade
Swivels sit between
beads and crimps.
4
Attach top hook to
Cascade, tighten
snood, nip crimps.
Add crimp, SRT,
bead, snood swivel
and tie on rig swivel.
5
Repeat with the
other snoods.
Store rig in a bag.
Add an Imp at the
bottom and insert
the lower hook.
“Clips
ensure
far less
drag and
wobble
during
the flight
of the rig”
and Impact Leads, with many
other brands out there too.
Here the rig body is made
with about 36-40in of 70lb
(0.75mm) mono line, with
the 12in snoods cut from 15lb
Amnesia. The connecting
swivel is 80lb breaking strain,
while the top snood swivel
is 45lb bs. The SRT spring is
used to tension the top snood
when clipped on the Cascade
or Match swivel on the second
snood. The second hook clips
to the lower Casade or Match
swivel, and the bottom hook
fits on the Imp clip or any other
impact release device.
GUIDE TO RIGS 17

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TIE A PENNELL
PULLEY RIG
Use this when fishing big baits over rough ground
SLIDING
Line slides
through
pulley bead.
LINE
Rig body is
70lb mono.
SNOOD
The snood
is 25lb line.
TUBING
Tubing holds
the top hook.
HOLDER
Imp clip
holds hook.
THE JOIN
Bead and swivel .
The Pennell pulley is probably
one of the most widely used
rigs around our shores –
particularly good when fishing
over mixed-to-rough ground
because as you reel in when
you hook a fish, the sinker lifts
high in the water, avoiding many
of the gear-grabbing snags.
Use this rig when seeking
bigger fish, such as cod, rays
and smoothhounds. Clip the
Pennell (or a single hook) on
a Breakaway Imp, or similar
release device, to cast bulkier
baits further out.
A piece of silicone tubing
holds the top hook in position.
The tubing fits over the top of
the hook eye so it sits tighter
against the snood. Offsetting
the hook point slightly gives a
better chance of trapping a fish.
Another neat attribute of this
rig is the fact that a fish can pick
18 GUIDE TO RIGS

SHORE OR BOAT
1
2
3
Slide tubing and top
hook on 24in snood,
and add lower hook.
4
Attach the Imp clip
to the end of the
70lb rig body.
5
Add a bead, pulley
and another bead to
the 30in rig body.
6
Attach a swivel to
the rig body and tie
on hooklength.
The rig should slide
easily through the
pulley device.
The lower hook fits
on to the Imp clip
ready for casting.
up the bait and run before
being stopped in its tracks by
the anchored sinker.
Large crab, fish and worm
baits and cocktails of these
are ideal for this rig when
fishing from beaches, piers,
rocks, promenades and
shingle banks. Boat anglers
use it too.
The two hooks should be of
a size to match the bait being
used. You can make this rig
with a single hook.
GUIDE TO RIGS 19

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TENSION
Crimp and SRT
with bead above.
RIG BODY
Use 70lb line
for the rig body.
CONNECTION
An 80lb swivel at top of the
rig connects to the leader.
CASCADE
Middle snood
has a Cascade.
FALLS OFF
Hook releases as
rig hits water.
RELEASE
Hook releases on
impact with sea.
HOOK HOLDER
Hook fits on Cascade
and holds the loop.
CLIP DOWN
Lower hook fits
on the Imp clip.
LONG LOOP
The long, lower
snood forms a loop.
20 GUIDE TO RIGS

Present multiple baits with one of the snoods
fishing on the seabed below the lead weight
Here’s an alternative to the
clipped rig style, where the
lower hook snood is longer,
allowing it to work below the
lead weight.
Because the lower snood
forms a loop when clipped,
it sits neatly close to the
middle hook, making it much
SHORE
THE 3-HOOK
LOOP RIG
easier to cast out, rather than
flapping about.
Multiple hook rigs are great
for presenting different baits
for attracting various species.
In this instance, the bottom
clip is an Imp, but you can
use an Impact Shield, Impact
Lead or similar device.
1 2
3
Detail of top of the rig
showing the SRT.
4
The middle snood
attaches to a Cascade.
5
The other snoods fit
on standard swivels.
6
Top hook clips into
Cascade on rig body.
Bottom snood has
Cascade to hold hook.
Bottom hook clips into
the Imp above sinker.
GUIDE TO RIGS 21

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TIE A PENNELL
WISHBONE RIG
An interesting twist on a popular style
The Pennell wishbone rig is
good for presenting both a
small and a much larger bait
together. Because the hooks
are clipped behind an Impact
Shield, it’s ideal for distance.
The Pennell and single hook
allow you to use a mix of baits.
Tensioned with the assistance
of an SRT spring, you can clip
it to keep it streamlined for
distance casting.
1
2 3
A 45lb swivel, holding
wishbone, has a short
piece of 70lb line to
swivel above spring.
Add a bead above each
45lb swivel to prevent
the knots jamming in
the main swivel.
Use a five-turn blood
knot to tie on the
swivels and to keep the
rig neat and tidy.
4
5 6
The running wishbone
is 25lb black Amnesia,
which makes it less
likely to tangle.
A hook from each
hooklength clips on
the Impact Shield,
ready for casting out.
Silicone tube holds top
hook of Pennell, while
the single hook has a
sequin and stop knot.
22 GUIDE TO RIGS

SHORE OR BOAT
SPRING-LOADED
The SRT spring has a
crimp underneath and
a bead above to give
tension when casting.
THE SPINE
The 30in of 70lb rig
body line has a swivel
at the top and a link
clip at the bottom.
CRIMP FIX
The Impact Shield
slides on the rig body
and is held in place by
a bead and crimp.
CONNECTION
A short length (approx
10in) of 70lb line ties on
to the swivel on rig body.
THE WISHBONE
10in of 25lb black
Amnesia line runs
through 45lb swivel and
joins to hooklengths.
STREAMLINED
A hook from each 20lb
snood (each up to 15in
long) connects to the
Impact Shield.
LEAD LINK
The grip weight connects
to the lead link at the
bottom of the rig.
GUIDE TO RIGS 23

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
HOW IT WORKS
The way the rig works
is a simple, but clever
way of having a long
hooklength on a
standard (say 3ft long)
rig body. The 30lb
snood ties to the lower
swivel and, for casting,
goes up and over the
Genie link. On impact
with the water, the
hook is released and
the snood drops off
the Genie link.
BODY LINE
The rig body is
70lb mono line.
SINKER
Lead weight fits
on to the Imp.
CONNECTION Link on the
leader joins on the Genie.
UP AND OVER
Long snood goes
over Genie link.
PENNELL
Top hook held by
piece of tubing.
THE SNOOD
Hook snood is
30lb mono line.
CLIPED DOWN
Lower hook fits
into the Imp clip.
RELEASE
Hook releases on
impact with sea.
24 GUIDE TO RIGS

THE UP AND
OVER RIG
Here’s a great variation on the single hook theme
to give a long hooklength on a standard rig body
This rig is a variation on
the theme of a single-hook
clipped-down rig.
In many paternoster rigs,
the hook snood is the same
length or shorter than the
main rig body, but here it is
much longer and goes up and
over the top clip.
1 2
It can be used with a single
hook or with two hooks set
in a Pennell, where one sits
behind the other on the snood
and is held in place by a piece
of silicone tubing. A Pennell
is a good way of presenting
larger baits with a hook at
each end.
3
SHORE
Genie link on top of
the 70lb rig body.
4
Snood and beads sit
at bottom of the rig.
5
An Imp clip is fitted at
the bottom of the rig.
6
Two hooks and tubing
for the Pennell set-up.
Thread tubing on the
snood and add hooks.
The lower hook of the
Pennell clips on Imp.
GUIDE TO RIGS 25

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
GET THIS
SUPERB RIG
OFFER FOR
JUST £15!
Get 10 quality shore or boat rigs
plus rig wallet and save £17!
Here’s your chance to take
advantage of a brilliant rig
offer. In association with
Fishing Megastore, Sea Angler
is giving you the choice of 10
Tronixpro shore or boat rigs,
plus a quality rig wallet.
Offer 1 is for shore fishing.
You get two rigs of each of the
following: two-hook flapper
with size 1 hooks, two-hooks
clipped with size 1 hooks,
three-hook flapper with size
1 hooks, threehooks
clipped
with size 1/0
and pulley with
size 5/0.
26 GUIDE TO RIGS

READER OFFER
Offer 2 is for boat anglers.
You get two each of the
Snowbiki rig, Teaser rig,
wishbone boat (size 1/0
hooks), uptide Pennell (size
6/0) and uptide rig (size 6/0).
Rounding off the deal is a
tough Tronixpro rig wallet to
keep your selection of rigs
stored safely and securely.
Normally this lot would cost
you about £32 in the shops,
but it can be yours today for
just £15 – saving you £17.
Ordering couldn’t be easier
as we’ve now created three
easy ways (right).
Simply give the helpful staff
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call, place your order using the
special shore or boat codes
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Rig selections may change
depending on available stock.
FOR MORE UNBEATABLE
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THREE EASY WAYS
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gac.fishing/001SARS (for offer
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3. BY POST TO: Glasgow
Angling Centre, Unit 1, 29
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*Please make cheques
payable to ‘Glasgow Angling
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GET IT
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Offer closes
May 31, 2018
GUIDE TO RIGS 27

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
RUNNING
LEGER
RIG FOR
UPTIDING
Xxxxxx
Ideal choice for shallow water
SINKER
Grip lead to hold
rig on the seabed.
WEIGHT CARRIER
Use a 4in tubi boom to
carry the lead weight.
BUFFER
Bead stops boom
jamming on clip.
28 GUIDE TO RIGS

BOAT
Uptiding is when you cast
your rig away from the boat
into shallow water. It requires
a grip weight on a sliding
boom and can be fished with
one or two hooks.
For large, sausage-like
worm baits, or as a cocktail
with squid, it is best to fish
these relatively soft baits on a
Pennell rig, one hook behind
the other on the snood.
The top hook is adjusted
to the size of each bait and
secured in place either with
DIRECTION OF TIDE
rig tubing or by wrapping the
hooklength three or four turns
around the hook shank to lock
it in place.
The hook pattern and size
should match your bait. Try
size 4/0 up to a 6/0 for large
baits. Your lead weight must
have grip wires, which trip
and release the sinker when
they are pulled hard. A 6oz
sinker is favourite – look at
the Breakaway, Gemini and
Namix leads, which cast well
and hold securely in fast tides.
LEADER
Casting
shockleader
connects to
mainline.
CONNECT
The hooklength
swivel connects
to a snap link.
TWO HOOKS
A Pennell rig
presents a hook
at both ends of
the bait.
THE TRACE
3-4ft long, 50lb
hooklength.
GUIDE TO RIGS 29

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TW0-HOOK
PLAICE RIG
A great choice when seeking inquisitive flatfish
SINKER
SELECTION
A watch lead allows
the rig to move slowly
across the seabed.
This rig is equally
effective when fishing on
the drift as it is at anchor.
The addition of a
second snood above
the main bait gives
extra visual and scent
attraction. To prevent it
tangling, this snood is
held off slightly from the
main snood with heat
shrink tubing.
You can add an
attractor spoon to the
main snood above the
beads if you wish.
A spoon picks up more
fish when the plaice are
thin on the ground.
STAND-OFF SNOOD
A piece of shrink tube
ensures the snood stands
off the main trace.
FINE-WIRE
HOOKS
Choose a sharp,
fine-wire hook
with a small eye
and micro barb.
30 GUIDE TO RIGS

BOAT
1
2
3
Thread a size 4 rolling
snap swivel and bead
on mainline or leader.
4
Now tie a size 5 swivel
to your mainline or
shockleader.
5
Tie a 24in length of
20lb fluorocarbon to
other end of swivel.
6
Thread crimp swivel on
hooklength and crimp
10in below swivel.
7
Tie a size 1/0 hook to
end of an 8in length of
20lb fluorocarbon.
8 9
Now thread on a
sequence of beads
above your hook.
Thread on a float stop
and a 2in length of
3mm heat shrink tube.
Float stop slides down
to trap the beads after
you have baited up.
Tie snood to the crimp
swivel. Slide tubing
over swivel knot.
VARY THE COLOUR
Make a selection of rigs
with various bead colour
combinations.
10
Secure shrink tube by
holding it over a boiling
kettle until it is tight.
GUIDE TO RIGS 31

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
CONNECTION
A size 5 rolling
swivel connects
rig to mainline.
STAND OFF
Shrink tubing
helps the snood
stand off the rig.
CRIMP SWIVEL
A crimp swivel
on the rig body
holds the snood.
ADD BLING
The addition of
a bead can give
you an edge.
HOOK SIZE
Each snood
carries a size
4 Chinu hook.
32 GUIDE TO RIGS

BOAT
TWO-HOOK
BREAM RIG
An alternative trace for targeting black bream
where a simple bead makes all the difference
There are few species
available to UK anglers that
fight harder, pound for pound,
than black bream. They are
great fun to target with really
light tackle when conditions
allow and, for the most part,
you can fish with one hook
on a short flowing trace.
However, there are
occasions when you cannot
get away with using a 1oz lead
weight and a 7-35g spinning
rod. That’s when you opt for a
two-hook rig fished on slightly
heavier gear.
It’s just a basic paternoster,
although some anglers use
booms to hold the snoods.
The edge is the addition of a
bead directly above the hook.
The way the hook snoods
are positioned allows you to
have one bait bouncing off
the seabed, with the other
just a few inches above it.
LEAD CARRIER
A size 4 rolling snap
swivel holds the sinker.
GUIDE TO RIGS 33

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TWO RIGS FOR
ARTIFICIALS
Using lures is popular for catching many species
of fish when boat fishing – try these rig options
Lure design evolves, but how
we present them doesn’t. In
general, a soft lure is worked
off a tube boom, which not
only presents the lure so
it doesn’t tangle, but also
carries the lead weight.
Whether you use a plastic
or wire boom, the aim is to
minimise the risk of the long
trace getting wrapped around
the mainline. While a plastic
boom slides on the mainline,
a metal boom can be tied to
the end of your leader, with a
sinker added to the bottom
with a 6in length of mono. A
hooklength of 10-12ft is ideal.
HOOKLENGTH
Use a 10-12ft of
25lb mono line.
BOOM
Tubi boom
with weight.
METAL BOOM
French wire boom.
LURE CHOICE
Tie lure to end of
the hooklength.
OPTIONAL WEAK LINK
Sinker on a 6in length of weaker line.
34 GUIDE TO RIGS

BOAT
ADD LURE
Bait with a live
sandeel or an
artificial.
CONNECTION
Swivel connects reel
mainline to rig body
HOOKLENTH
The trace is made of
10-15ft of 20lb mono.
BODY
Rig body
made
from
18in of
50lb
mono.
BAIT OPTION
Size 5/0 circle hook
(if using bait).
HOW TO TIE A HOPPER
The backbone of this rig is an
18in length of 50lb mono. At
the bottom, tie a snap link,
which allows you to change
the sinker size to suit the
speed of drift and depth of
water throughout the tide.
Over snaggy ground, use a
plain swivel with a length of
weak line attaching the sinker
to the swivel. A second, small
swivel is tied to the top of
the rig, which links with the
mainline or leader. Below this
is another small swivel that
ROTATION
Swivel trapped
between beads.
slides and revolves freely,
and slides up and down
between two beads, with the
hooklength tied to this swivel.
For pollack, cod and bass,
use a 20lb clear Amnesia or
fluorocarbon hooklength,
which should be 10-15ft long.
The lure is tied to the end of
this, but if using live eels, tie
on a size 5/0 circle hook.
Where the Hopper or
Portland rig works well is
when worked in clear water
when the fish are perhaps not
feeding so aggressively.
GUIDE TO RIGS 35

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TRY A SIMPLE
PATERNOSTER
Use this rig when bait fishing over a wreck
HOOKLENGTH
6ft of 150lb clear mono.
HOOKS
Single or Pennell
6/0-8/0 hooks
baited with
mackerel flapper.
36 GUIDE TO RIGS

BOAT
STANDARD PATERNOSTER
DECORATION
The hook carries a muppet
and a strip of mackerel bait.
SNOODS Use 150lb line.
FIXED PATERNOSTER
WITH FRENCH BOOM
WEAK
12in of 20lb
mono forms
a weak link.
WEIGHT
8-12oz sinker.
Late May and into June
sees the ling moving to
the wrecks, but there
are bonus fish too, like
cod, pollack and even
some haddock.
When fishing in up
to 300ft of water,
you have to take into
consideration the tidal
run and depth.
Use a reel loaded with
40lb braid and attach
a 30ft length of 50lb
mono leader to the end.
Anglers use all sorts of
rigs, such as a standard
paternoster, but a
fixed paternoster with
a French boom offers
good presentation.
Tie the top of the
boom to the end of the
mono leader. Attach
about 12in of 20lb mono
at the bottom end to
create a rotten bottom.
The speed of drift will
determine the weight of
sinker, but if using braid,
try 8oz to 12oz.
The hooklength is tied
to the end of the boom.
Ling have sharp teeth so
use around 150lb clear
mono. A 6ft hooklength
is perfect. Hooks, fished
either single or Pennell,
need to be strong. Sizes
6/0 to 8/0 are best.
GUIDE TO RIGS 37

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
TWO SIMPLE
FLOAT RIGS
When you want to fish surface or mid-water
feeders, here’s an exciting and very visual tactic
Float-fishing presents a bait
at a chosen depth from either
the shore or boat.
Try a standard cigar-shaped
float with a ball weight under
it, or go for a bubble float
filled with water.
The latter is fished with a
soft plastic lure and is used to
catch surface-feeding bass or
mackerel. It allows you to fish
from a fair distance away.
In most cases, you can be as
far as 70 yards off the feeding
fish thanks to the weight of
the water-filled bubble float.
If you struggle to get bites
while retrieving the bubble
float, let the tide or breeze do
the work for you.
LINK SWIVEL
Use a link swivel at
the end of mainline.
WATER-FILLED
Add your
water-filled
bubble float.
TRACE
Attach a 3ft
length of 14lb
fluorocarbon.
HOOK IT ON
Use a size 1 hook
to attach a soft
plastic lure.
38 GUIDE TO RIGS

SPECIALIST: SHORE OR BOAT
SET DEPTH
Bead and stop
knot above float
sets the depth.
VISIBILITY
A float with a
colourful top is
easy to see.
COMPONENTS
Ball weight (to cock
float), with a bead and
swivel underneath.
FLOW
THE TRACE
20in, 15lb
hook snood
ties to swivel.
BAIT CHOICE
Fish a worm or
strip of fish on
the hook.
OPTIONAL
An optional
split shot on
hooklength.
GUIDE TO RIGS 39

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
4 ROTTEN
BOTTOMS
If you’re constantly losing rigs when fishing over
rough ground, it’s time to use a weak link system
PANEL PIN AND FOAM
Here’s the most basic type of
weak link system.
Tie a loop into your rig body,
and add a weaker length of
line tied to your sinker and
then to the loop.
Take the panel pin and
push into a small piece
of buoyant foam. Now
push the rig body loop
through the eye of the
sinker and slide the
panel pin and foam
through the loop that
will rest against the
eye of the sinker when
it is tight.
On impact with the
water, the panel
pin and foam
are released to
leave the sinker
attached to the
weaker line.
Packaging
foam is ideal. Do
not to use a panel
pin that is too soft.
TRONIXPRO
CANNYLINK
Available in packs of 10,
these are easy to use and
incredibly effective.
It is a small piece of bent
metal that attaches to your
lead link or directly to your
rig body.
With an angle to hang
your sinker and
another to use
as a bait clip,
this rottenbottom
actually
streamlines the
rig for achieving
casting distance.
A weaker line
is tied directly to
your lead weight
and then to
the Cannylink.
Upon impact
with the water,
after casting,
the lead weight
is released from
the clip.
40 GUIDE TO RIGS

SPECIALIST: SHORE OR BOAT
GEMINI GENIE BREAKER
This is a lock-and-load type of
rotten-bottom device.
Add the Genie Breaker to your
Genie Lead Link. Now tie your weak
link line to the lead link and then to
the sinker eye.
Next, pass the swinging arm of the
Genie Breaker through the eye of the
sinker and lock the swinging arm into
position by placing through the hole
of the slider. Push the slider down
the link to secure in place.
The slider is forced upwards on
impact with the water. The swinging
arm is released along with the sinker.
BREAKAWAY ESCAPE LINK
This clever concept
from Breakaway
Tackle is a rottenbottom
link that
doesn’t require a
weak link of line.
It can be used as
a normal lead-link
attachment, but
should you encounter a snag, the harder you pull
to escape the snag, the more the likelihood of the
sinker being released, enabling you to carry
on landing your fish.
Simply tie it directly to your rig body or
add to a connecting link, then clip the sinker
on to the Escape link and, finally, push the disc
down to the sinker for security.
On impact with the water, the locking ring will be
forced upwards, making the escape easier when
you hit a snag.
GUIDE TO RIGS 41

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
WEEDLESS LRF
RIGS TO TRY
If you want to get into light rock fishing,
here are some great rigs to get you started
SPLIT SHOT RIG
Tie on your hook and rig it with
a soft lure, and then pinch on
one or more split shot.
The closer you have the shot to
the lure, the more control you
will have over it. The further
you have the shot from the lure,
the less control, but it adds a
weightless element to the rig.
Another method is to tie the
hook with a Palomar knot.
Leave a tag end of about an
inch and pinch on some shot
close to the hook. This should
make your chosen lure stand
up on the seabed.
DROPSHOT RIG
Dropshotting can reduce tackle losses because
you can fix your lure to hover above the weed.
The idea is to cast out and allow the weight
to hit the seabed. Tighten your line and start to
twitch the rod tip while reeling slowly. This is
deadly for flounders and other bottom-feeding
species. Use 5-6ft of 8lb fluorocarbon leader.
42 GUIDE TO RIGS

SPECIALIST: LRF
TEXAS RIG
Ideal when fishing snaggy areas
with soft lures. An offset lure
hook is the key to making this
rig weedless, and the sliding
cone weight and glass bead add
some noise.
You can fix the cone weight
with float stops, or by trapping
the line in the weight with a
cocktail stick.
The lead weight will slide down
the line faster than the trailing
lure, and when it hits the seabed
the lure becomes momentarily
weightless. When you retrieve,
the lure is drawn up against
the weight and bead to create
a clicking noise. It’s a great
technique for hopping through
weed or over the rocks, and is
deadly for wrasse and many
other species.
n CAROLINA RIG – This is very
similar to the Texas rig, except
that the weight is at a fixed
distance from the hook and
achieved by having a separate
swivel between the weight and
lure. You can add a leader to
attach your lure, and also vary
its length to suit the conditions.
You can lock the weight in
place using cocktail sticks or
rubber float stops.
JIKA RIG
This is an ideal choice for working
creature baits over rocks.
Getting split rings small enough to fit
such tiny hook eyes can be diffcult, but
there are some big-eye patterns that
do the job.
GUIDE TO RIGS 43

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
RIG STORAGE
Winders and wallets are the popular choices
Rig winders are usually made
from EVA, the same tough
foam-like material used for
some rod handles.
They come in a range of
sizes (width and diameter)
as well as colours, so you
can separate different types
of rigs more easily than with
plastic packets.
Winders are sold loose or in
custom size fabric tubes or
plastic boxes. Make sure you
buy the correct size.
Light Continental match
rigs can be stored easily on a
4cm diameter winder, while
standard UK shore rigs require
a winder of at least 6cm. Wire
boom rigs are best kept on
the larger 10-12cm winders.
WINDER TIPS
n Have a system so that you
know what hook
to detach first to
unravel a rig
tangle-free from
your winder.
Hook the first
hook in the centre
of the rig winder
when you start to
wind it on. Place
the second hook in the edge
of the winder, and the third
hook outside the winder.
Unravel it in reverse.
n Boom rigs can also
be stored on winders.
Using Gemini Genie
metal booms, wind
the rig tightly around a
winder. Winders with a
larger diameter (up to
12cm) allow the
booms to be removed
without curling.
44 GUIDE TO RIGS

WALLETS
Most sea anglers opt for
the popular rig wallet,
and the majority have 12
or more compartments.
Expand the wallet’s
capacity by placing rigs in
small sealed plastic bags
so that each compartment
of the wallet contains
upwards of six rigs.
SHORE OR BOAT
HOW TO KEEP THEM ORGANISED
n Mark each rig packet with
the type of rig. Use a small
stick-on label or a felt tip
pen. Include rig type (flapper
or clipped), number, size and
type of hooks (short or long
shank, make, pattern, etc)
and snood breaking strain or
the species and/or bait the
rig is designed for.
RIG WALLET TIPS
n Making your rigs with
different coloured beads
or snood lines can help you
to differentiate your rigs.
For instance, use red beads
on all rigs with a hook
below the lead weight;
sand-coloured beads for
all flapping
rigs, and black
beads for all
clipped rigs. The
combinations are
endless. In the
same respect,
clear, red and
black snoods
can be used to
mark your line
diameter and the
breaking strain.
n Make rigs in pairs or
fours to ensure you have a
replacement available.
n It’s common to wrap the
rig in coils before placing in
bags, but don’t twist snoods
through the loops – it helps
prevent annoying tangles.
GUIDE TO RIGS 45

SeaAngler
POCKET RIG GUIDE
YOUR GUIDE TO
LEAD WEIGHTS
Plain and wired versions offer loads of versatility
Fixed grip: Great
for boat fishing
and strong tides.
Cannon ball and
pierced bullet:
Roll with the tide.
Pear lead:
Multi-purpose
plain weight.
Watch lead:
Great for
fishing sand.
Impact lead:
Weight with its
own hook clip.
Aquapeado:
Plain weight for
shore or boat.
46 GUIDE TO RIGS

SHORE OR BOAT
Gemini breakout:
Versatile weight
for strong grip.
Splashdown:
Gemini’s weight
and clip system.
Pyramid:
Will drag on
the seabed.
Bomb:
Plain
lead that
rolls in
the tide.
Uptide Inserts:
Used to give
more grip when
uptide fishing.
Flatback:
Allows bait
to sit behind
the weight.
Breakaway:
The original
breakout.
GUIDE TO RIGS 47

SeaAngler
Britain’s only shore
and boat fishing magazine
ESTABLISHED
IN THIS SECTION
CASTING
John Holden explains why thin line
and multipliers don’t mix Page 74
THE KNOWLEDGE
Spotlight on the flounder and tips
on how to catch it Page 76
MAN-MADE FISHING
Jake Schogler’s LRF tips for great
fishing in industrial areas Page 78
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Nine pages of advice from our top
panel of saltwater experts Page 82
Ha ry Brake’s
happy with
this tope
urnards are usua ly caught
by a cident when anglers fish
with bo tom baits, but in some
areas of the country it is
po sible to targe them with
light tackle, which puts a
completely di ferent
perspective on their fighting capabilities.
Not only are gurnards great eating, they
provide som exce lent sport for both bait
and lure anglers.
Most UK sea fish species are the exact
o posite of their tropical relatives when
it comes to colouration. Our cold-water
species are often shades of brown, grey
or silver, bu tub and red gurnards are real
mavericks when it comes to the colouration
stakes. Even the grey gurnard has tinges
of purple – guarant ed to brighten an
otherwise du l day at sea.
The shape of a gurnard is quite unlike
any other British sea species. With their
exceptiona ly strange l oks and big head,
it wi l probably come as no surprise that
the order of fishes they come from is
known as Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes
and flatheads), and the direct family of
fishes tha they are related to is ca led the
Triglidae (Searobins).
Scorpionfishes have distinct l oks
and a matching personality - the
gurnard is no exception. From
initial l oks they may a pear
quite cute, bu this is far from
the truth. The gurnard has
developed to live and hunt on
the seabed among the most
fearsome of larger predators.
Large eyes to s e at depth in
low light, dorsal spines and
sharp gi l plates capable of
dete ring any other predator,
and a huge head constructed
entirely of bone, taking up a
third of its body ma s, means
that for any other predator
that eats fish whole, it’s an
uninviting meal.
ou may have read on Facebook and sea fishing
forums about frozen black lugworms being a
ru bish bait.
Recently, Crusty, a Holderne s Coast
sea fishing forum member who catches a lot of cod,
disregarded them and called them nothing but whiting
bait. I know he won’t mind me repeating that.
We l, I want to stick up for frozen blacks. I have
seen the poor use of them far too often. Most people
just thread them up the hook, cas them out and, 10
minutes or so later, r el them back in to find a
sa gy, wrinkled skin hanging around the
bend of the hook.
My view is that they are a cracking bait when
used correctly and have got me out fishing
and catching at short notice when fresh bait
is not available. They are a g od back-up
bai that I ca ry with me.
Costing around £4.50 for 10, su plied
in rolls usua ly wra ped i newspaper
or ce lophane from my local tackle
shops, they are not a cheap bait,
so it’s a shame to s e
them used badly.
Words and
photography by
JANSEN TEAKLE
Words and
photography by
DAVE BARHAM
Gurnards not only have large heads
and larg eyes, but also have an oversized
mouth when compared to their somewhat
sma ler body. This large mouth is the ideal
t ol for any bo tom f eder that n eds to
swa low di ner quickly and without even
having to chew.
Perhaps the most notable feature,
though, is the gurnard’s huge pectoral
fins, almost like wings, which are used for
propulsion. Thr e long f elers can be
found extending like fingers from
the base of these fins. These are
not only used to f el for f od,
bu to walk on like legs.
Words and photography by Ma t Hope
Main image by Lloyd Rogers
SEA ANGLER I SUE 5 SEA ANGLER I SUE 5
SEA ANGLER I SUE 5
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 555
SEA ANGLER I SUE 5
5
WAYS WITH WORMS
Here’s how I use them. Two things you need are a g od
baiting n edle and fine bait elastic.
First, I thread a worm (preferably defrosted) on the
baiting needle and then trap th elastic a th end of
the worm. I hold it with my finger and thumb, tightly
wrapping th elastic around the worm a l the way to the
bo tom of it and back up. You can then tie it off a the
end with a couple of half-hitch knots if required.
Next, place the hook in the end of the baiting n edle.
You need to keep the pre sure on your hooklink while
threading the bait from the n edle on to your h ok
to stop the hook point po ping out of th end of the
n edle. I do this by l oping the hooklink around my
little finger while holding the n edle with the rest of my
3
1
everal months ago, I
stated in this magazine
that I no longer
considered tope to be a
viable target species from
the shoreline of the
Bristol Cha nel. With
only a handful of this
shark species landed here over the last
few years, I had g od reason to declare
that opinion.
No s oner i such a bold statement
made, though, tha nature gives you
reason to doubt yourself.
A th end of December, fo lowing
a phone conversation with my pal
Da ren Be l, a general fishing trip
to the north coast of Devon was
a ranged. The lure of the cli fs and
deep water under the shroud of
darkne s has b en one that I
have su cumbed to for many
years. I am undeniably
h oked on thi style of
fishing, to the extent
that thr e visits
each w ek are not
unheard of around
this time.
The evening
was erily sti l,
and mist
clung to the
Exmoor hills.
The sme l of
damp and
earth hung
in the air as
we trudged
through
sodden gra s
and negotiated the mu dy tracks. As we
reached a sma l fence, we stopped
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 5
You n ed
some
frozen
black lug
(it comes
wra ped
in paper or
clingfilm),
a baiting
needle and
some fine
elastic bait
co ton.
Inser the
point of
your h ok
into the
hollow
end of the
baiting
n edle,
making
sure you
k ep
pre sure on
the length
of line.
Continue
threading
the black
lug from
the needle
on to the
hook and
over the
eye, so
there is
plenty of
hook point
visible.
to a preciate the stillne s. Far below
the limestone cli fs, the sea had a
gentle wisp that beckoned us towards
it. A riving on hard standing, we
tackled up and, for a brief moment,
the m on revealed itself.
The phrase ‘m on shark’, that
a fectionate name given to the tope by
Devon anglers of old, flashed through
my mind before the m on was gone
once more.
As anglers, we a rive and run through
the motions of preparing tackle,
casting our lines and waiting for what
might happen, bu things can and wi l
happen that are beyond ou reasoning.
GUILTY PARTY
After almost two hours we’d caught
a few sma l bu l hu s. The mist had
dispersed to leave a relatively clear
sky, and the m on emi ted a bri liant
glow overhead. One of my two rod tips
gave a couple of subtle taps before the
line dropped away and I reached out
for it. Again, in my arms I could f el
the line tighten through the rod, so I
decided to se the hooks.
Although I met with some resistance,
the guilty party was recognisable as a
small conger. As it revealed itself at
the base of our cli ftop vantage point,
our headlamp beams picked it out
well. It was an awkward el – t o small
to bother with a net, but perhaps t o
big to hand-line up the face . perhaps.
Da ren gra bed a glove from his
rucksack an did the honours. The
el was a few f et away when the hook
pu led and it dro ped into the froth
below us. At exactly the same time,
the ratchet of the r el on my second
rod su denly decided to let out a
6
4
2
fingers and thumb. My other hand eases the bait off
the needle and over the bend of the h ok, down the
hook shank and over th eye, always leaving plenty of
h ok point showing.
It’s quit easy once you get the hang of it. You can also
whip in other baits to create a cocktail; I like mu sels
(see the photos) or squid, especially the g oey bits out
the mi dle of the squid when fishing for cod.
For fishing with sma ler baits or smaller h oks, cut
the worm in half, or even thirds, depending on what
size is required. Sma l slithers of Bluey or mackerel can
be whi ped into the worm when fishing for whiting or
fla ties.
I find whi ping with plenty of elastic k eps the scent
in the bait longer. It’s well worth the effort.
A decen tub gurnard
caught on a lure rod rea ly
puts up a g od scrap
Thread
the worm,
preferably
defrosted,
on the bait
n edle.
Then trap
th elastic
a the
end of the
worm and
wrap the
bait with
the elastic.
Thread the
bait from
the needle
on to the
h ok by
easing the
bait off the
n edle and
over the
bend of
your hook.
Remove
the h ok
point from
the baiting
n edle and
your bait
should l ok
like this.
You can a d
another
worm if you
want, or
tip off with
a piece of
squid
or fish.
scream. It we l and truly startled me.
I instinctively pa sed the rod that had
almost landed th el to Da ren.
GREAT SPEED
By the time I’d picked up the ru ning
rod, the line level of the wailing sp ol
ha dropped considerably. Unle s I
did something now, I knew the culprit
could drop the bait.
I put a couple of clicks on the
star drag and o fered a li tle more
resistance with my thumb on the sp ol
as I leant back to take the strain.
With a quick, uneasy ping, I fel the
lead weight pop from the weak link. By
now I knew it was a tope, particularly
when it began swimming towards me
at great sp ed. Just a few f et from
th edge of the cli f it revealed itself in
spectacular fashion by leaping clear of
the water. This i something to behold,
but the damage a tope can cause to
the leader when it performs this trick
can be catastrophic. I prayed that my
leader had survived this crash without
a scrape, which may prove fatal.
When the fish a peared on the
surface again, it was clear that it had
managed to wrap itself up in the
leader and was now being pu led in
backwards. This, combined with an
increasing swe l, made for one he l of a
task. Da ren waited patiently with the
net a the water’s edge and, after what
s emed like a lifetime, the tope was
lifted from the water. The tension that
had b en in the air had lifted t o.
We rejoiced in the moment and
weighed, photographed and released
the tope as quickly as we could before
si ting down to take a breather and
gather our thoughts. The tope
WHERE AND WHEN
Gurnards can be caught a l-year-round from
much of the UK coastline, but catches are
more frequent during the warmer months. A
gurnard’s diet consists of anything that wi l
go down whole, including crustaceans (mostly
shrimps and sma l crabs) and fish (gobies,
flatfish, young he ring, els and other bo tomdwe
ling fish). A l thr e species of gurnard
will often be found living hard on the bo tom
either on clean open ground or on clean
ground around th edge of a r ef or wreck.
The south coast, Cornish and Welsh coasts,
right up the west coast into Scotland provides
some of the best gurnard fishing, with notable
spots such as Rhyl being established as the hot
spot for big tub gurnards, which often weigh
in exce s of 6lb.
Gurnards love sand, shingle and mud,
although you may find areas where they
are more common and prolific. Although
predominantly a bo tom species, I have caught
gurnards just a few f et under the surface in
over 1 0 metres of water, strings of them at a
time on feathers intended for mackerel.
The huge
pectoral
fins, almost
like wings,
have long
finger-like
f elers
Britain’s biggest and best saltwater magazine
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ISSUE 555 March 8 – April 4, 2018
BUMPER BOAT SECTION...
FISH THE BAY OF PIGS
Where and how to catch huge cod
GROUNDBAIT SECRETS
An easy way to attract more species
+ SAVE £100! Rod & reel for only £69.99
1972
www.seaangler.co.uk
MOON SHARK
MARVEL
Catch tope from the
shore at night
18 PAGES OF
GEAR INSIDE
ON TEST
Daiwa beach rods
REEL GUIDE
Spotlight on multipliers
FIRST LOOK
New kit for shore & boat
SEA SCHOOL
17 PAGES TO MAKE YOU A BETTER ANGLER
FROZEN
ASSETS
The fish-catching ability of black lug
Y
HOW TO... BAIT UP WITH FROZEN LUG
72 73
SHORE ANGLER
MOON
SHARK
MARVEL
Nothing in sea angling should be set in stone. Even
though we might claim to understand what wi l
happen, an element of surprise is a constant
28 29
BOAT ANGLER
BOAT FISHING WITH BARHAM
GO LIGHT FOR
GURNARDS
One of the most brightly coloured and often overlooked
species can be targeted by bait and lure anglers alike
G
S
52 53
Packed with the best expert
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