Rig · sacrifice the lead
How to tie a rotten bottom rig
Fishing. Everything is normal strength except one deliberate 20 cm section of 6 to 15 lb line above the lead. It fishes exactly like the rig it is built on.
Targets
- Conger
- Huss
- Rock species
Baits. Whole squid, mackerel fillet, crab
What it is made of
- 1Rig bodyNormal 60 lb body, any hook arrangement
- 2Weak linkDeliberately light line, 6 to 15 lb, between rig and lead
- 3LeadCheap. You are going to lose it, that is the plan
- 4HooklinkFull strength, unaffected by the weak link
- 5HookSized to the fish, 4/0 and up for conger
Tie it
- Tie your normal rig as usual.
- Instead of a lead link, tie in about 20 cm of 6 to 15 lb line.
- Lead onto the end of that weak line.
- Use the cheapest leads you own.
- When it snags on east-coast rock or kelp, pull steadily and the weak link goes first.
The weak link must be the weakest point in the whole setup. If your hooklink or shockleader is lighter, you will lose the rig and the fish instead of the lead.
When to fish the rotten bottom
A rotten bottom joins the lead to the rig with a deliberately weak link. When the lead jams in rock or kelp, the link breaks, the lead stays behind and the rest of the rig, and any fish on it, comes back. Over heavy rock and kelp it is the difference between losing a lead and losing everything.
When to leave it in the box
On clean sand it is pointless, and an over-weak link will break on the cast itself. It is an addition to a rig, not a rig on its own.
How it goes wrong
- A link so weak it snaps under casting load, sending the lead off on its own.
- Expensive leads on the weak link. The whole idea is that you expect to lose them.
- A link so strong it never breaks, which just makes it a normal rig with extra knots.
Other rigs for the same fish
- Pulley pennel
Best for rough ground. Also takes huss, conger eel.
- Pulley
Best for rough ground. Also takes conger.
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Buy the parts
What you need for the rotten bottom
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.