Rig · two hooks in line
How to tie a pennel rig
Fishing. Two hooks in line hold a long bait straight instead of letting it ball up. Better hook-ups on a big bait, and less chance of a fish taking the tail and missing the point.
Targets
- Cod
- Bass
- Rays
Baits. Big lugworm bunches, whole squid, mackerel fillet
What it is made of
- 1Rig body60 lb clear mono, about 60 cm to the lead link
- 2Top swivelSize 4 rolling swivel
- 3Snood50 lb mono, 45 to 60 cm off a three-way
- 4Upper hook3/0 to 4/0 Aberdeen. Slides on a snood knot, set to the bait length
- 5Lower hook3/0 to 4/0 Aberdeen, fixed at the end
- 6Lead4 to 6 oz breakaway
Tie it
- Swivel to one end of the 60 cm body, three-way take-off below it.
- Lead link on the tag end.
- Tie the lower 3/0 to 4/0 to the end of a 45 to 60 cm, 50 lb snood.
- Slide the upper hook on with a four turn snood knot.
- Thread the bait, then slide the upper hook down to pin it straight. Set spacing to the bait, not to the rig.
Set the top hook to the bait. A pennel spaced to the rig instead of the bait misses fish at both ends.
When to fish the pennel
Two hooks in line hold a big bait straight and give a hook point at each end of it. A bunch of worms, a whole squid or a fillet stays presented properly, and a fish that takes the bait from either end still meets a hook. It is the standard answer when the target is a better fish on a large bait.
When to leave it in the box
On small baits it is pointless extra metal, and small fish will strip the bait without finding either hook. Fished for whiting or dabs it simply costs you bites.
How it goes wrong
- Hooks set too far apart for the bait, so the bait bunches on one and the other hangs bare.
- The top hook sliding down the snood mid-cast because it was never locked in place.
- Skimping on bait. A pennel is designed around a big offering; a small one defeats it.
Other rigs for the same fish
- Pulley
Best for rough ground. Also takes cod, bass, rays.
- Up and over
Best for big surf, long casts. Also takes cod, bass, rays.
- Pulley pennel
Best for rough ground. Also takes cod, bass.
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Buy the parts
What you need for the pennel
Tagged Amazon.ie links for the published east-coast parts list. Prefer a pre-tied pack when you want to fish now; otherwise buy the hooks, leads, and terminal below.
Buy on Amazon.ie, Shore fishing rigs mixed pack (12 pack)Pre-tied · primary
Mixed shore patterns for ledger, flapper, and paternoster sessions.