When to use it
On the Irish east coast
Open surf beaches when you need distance into a headwind or strong side-wind. The bait stays clipped to the rig body during the cast, then releases on splash-down. Best with worm, crab fragment, or mackerel strip for bass, flounder, and dogfish.
This is the default distance rig on Kilcoole, Brittas Bay, and Silver Strand when an easterly is pushing in, and the same clipped pattern works on Dublin Bay open sand (Dollymount, Sandymount) when you need bait protection into a headwind. Clip a peeler section or ragworm bundle tight, cast past the first breaker, and fish the flood on a 4 to 5oz breakaway grip. Greystones South in a fresh onshore also calls for clipped-down presentation when bass are holding wide.
Rig diagram
How it is built
Switch between states to see how the rig changes on the cast, in the water and on the retrieve. The parts list lights up with each one.
Released. The snood swings out and the bait fishes on a long fluoro trace, well away from the lead. Bass are wary, and this is what buys you the bite.
Targets
- Bass
- Large cod
Baits. Whole crab, big rag, sandeel
What it is made of
- 1Rig body60 lb mono, one take-off
- 2Bait clipSet so the hook sits just above the lead
- 3Snood30 lb fluoro, 50 to 70 cm
- 4HookSingle 2/0 to 4/0
- 5Lead5 to 6 oz breakaway
One bait, presented properly, out-fishes three ragged ones for bass. Resist adding a second hook.
Tying sequence
Step by step
Mainline to top swivel
Tie your mainline to a size 4 rolling swivel at the top of the rig. The rig body runs down from this swivel, and an impact shield or bait clip threads onto the body lower down, just above the lead link. That shield is where the baited hook will clip for the cast.
On the diagram
Top swivel at the top; the impact shield sits low on the body, just above the lead.
Build the hook trace
Tie 12 to 18 inches of 15 to 20 lb mono or fluorocarbon off the body just below the top swivel. Finish with a size 1/0 to 2/0 Aberdeen or wide-gape hook. Keep the snood short: clipped-down rigs lose their advantage with a long trace.
Add the lead link
Below the clip, tie a 6 to 8 inch length of 40 to 60 lb mono as a lead link. Attach a breakaway grip lead (4 to 6oz on Wicklow surf beaches). The lead must be heavy enough to turn the rig over on impact.
Clip, bait, and cast
Bait the hook, then clip the hook trace down to the impact clip so the bait sits tight against the lead link. Cast smoothly (do not whip a clipped bait). On splash-down the clip releases and the hook drops to fish a single bait on the seabed.
Fish and reset
Set the rod in a rest and watch for knocks. After a fish or a blank retrieve, check the clip and re-bait. In heavy surf, carry spare clips; they take abuse on Wicklow shingle.
Components
What you need to tie this rig
Researched for Irish shore conditions on Dublin and Wicklow marks. Where we have fished an item ourselves, we say so. Links go to Amazon.ie; omit anything you already carry in your tackle box.
Gemini bait clip and impact shield set
Standard clipped-down terminal for UK and Irish surf casting. Holds bait tight for distance casts.
No live Amazon.ie listingPhoxinus Aberdeen hooks 1/0
Fine-wire Aberdeen pattern for worm and crab baits on Wicklow beaches. Size 1/0 is the workhorse for clipped-down bass and flounder.
View on AmazonAny 4-6oz breakaway grip lead
Mixed 5oz breakaway grips for holding bottom in Wicklow tidal run and surf. Essential on open beaches.
View on AmazonRolling swivels size 4
Size 4 rolling swivels for the top of the rig and trace junctions. Buy a bulk pack; you will use them all season.
No live Amazon.ie listingSeaguar Blue Label fluorocarbon leader
Low-visibility fluorocarbon for clear-water bass days at Brittas and Kilcoole. 15 to 20 lb covers most clipped-down traces.
View on Amazon