When to use it
On the Irish east coast
Rough ground and open beaches when fishing whole peeler crab, full sandeel, or mackerel side for bass, smoothhound, and tope. Essential when a standard ledger would strip bait off on a power cast.
The pulley pennel is the rig for Wicklow Head marks and Killoughter when hounds are on peeler from May through October. It also earns its place at Brittas and Kilcoole when you are casting a whole crab into a headwind for bass, and on Dublin Bay sand when a large soft bait needs protection on a long cast. Tie pennel hooks for large baits; a single hook is fine for sandeel.
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.
Fishing. The rig settles, the hooklink runs out through the bead and the big bait works away from the lead in the tide.
Targets
- Cod
- Bass
- Huss
- Conger eel
Baits. Whole squid, big lug and squid cocktails, mackerel fillet
What it is made of
- 1Rig body60 lb clear mono, about 60 cm
- 2Top swivelSize 4 rolling swivel
- 3Pulley beadHooklink runs free through the bore
- 4Hooklink50 lb mono, 45 to 60 cm
- 5Pennel hooksTwo 3/0 to 4/0 Aberdeens. Upper slides, lower is fixed
- 6Breakaway lead4 to 6 oz
Set the top hook to the bait. A pennel spaced to the rig instead of the bait misses fish at both ends.
Tying sequence
Step by step
Mainline to top swivel
Tie the mainline to a strong size 2 rolling swivel. Everything below this swivel is the rig body.
On the diagram
Top swivel separates mainline from the rig body.
Rig body and pulley
Tie 24 to 36 inches of 60 to 80 lb stiff mono (Amnesia or equivalent) to the lower eye of the top swivel. Thread a bead, then pass the rig body through a pulley swivel. The pulley is the heart of the rig: the hooklink will slide through it.
Lead link and weight
Below the pulley, tie a 6 inch lead link of 60 lb mono and attach a 4 to 6oz breakaway grip on surf beaches, or a plain bomb on rock marks with less run.
Hooklink and pennel hooks
Tie 3 to 4 feet of 40 to 60 lb mono as the hooklink. Pass it through the pulley swivel. At the bait end, tie two hooks in pennel (top hook snood 3 inches, bottom hook on the main hooklink) for crab, or a single 4/0 circle for sandeel. The other end of the hooklink ties to a stop swivel above the pulley.
Cast and fish
On the cast, the hooklink slides down so bait sits near the lead. On splash-down the weight drops and the bait lifts clear of the bottom. Retrieve slowly through snags; the pulley brings the lead up first.
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.
Luroad pre-tied pulley rigs (5 pack)
Ready-made pulley rigs for anglers who want to fish immediately. Check hook size matches your target species.
View on AmazonWide-gape circle hooks 4/0
Strong wire circles for pennel mounting of crab and strip baits on rough east-coast ground.
No live Amazon.ie listingAmnesia shock leader mono 60lb
Stiff mono for pulley rig bodies. Holds shape under a heavy lead and protects during rough-ground retrieves.
No live Amazon.ie listingAny 4-6oz breakaway grip lead
Breakaway grips for surf pulley fishing at distance on open Wicklow beaches.
View on AmazonPulley swivels and beads kit
Pulley swivels and buffer beads for tying your own pulley pennel from scratch.
No live Amazon.ie listing