When to use it
On the Irish east coast
General bottom fishing on beaches, piers, and estuaries. Calm to moderate conditions. Flooding tide for bass close in; any tide for flounder, dogfish, and dab. Works from 20 to 80 metres on most east-coast marks.
The running ledger is the everyday rig at Kilcoole, Brittas, Silver Strand, Greystones Harbour wall, and the Breaches estuary outflow, and it is the same first rig to tie on Dublin Bay sand and pier walls. Short cast with peeler at 30 to 40 metres in a coloured easterly surf is a proven east-coast bass pattern. On piers, swap the grip lead for a plain bomb and fish worm for whiting and flounder.
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 lead sits on the bottom and the mainline runs free through the boom. The bait moves naturally on a long hooklength.
Targets
- Bass
- Flounder
- Mullet
Baits. Ragworm, peeler crab, sandeel
What it is made of
- 1MainlineRuns free through the boom. Nothing is fixed above it
- 2Running boomPlastic zip slider or a plain link, lead hangs off it
- 3Buffer beadSits between boom and swivel so the knot is not battered
- 4SwivelStops the boom and joins the hooklength
- 5Hooklength20 to 30 lb fluoro, 60 cm to over a metre
- 6Hook1/0 to 3/0, single
Longer hooklength means less resistance but more tangles. Start at 60 cm and go longer only if the fish are shy.
Tying sequence
Step by step
Thread the slider
Thread the mainline through a zip slider or bead-and-slider combo. Slide on your lead (2 to 5oz bomb on pier; 4 to 6oz breakaway grip on surf beaches).
On the diagram
Lead runs freely above the stop swivel.
Stop swivel
Tie a size 4 barrel or rolling swivel to the end of the mainline. The slider hits this swivel and stops; the hooklink hangs below.
Hooklink and hook
Tie 18 to 24 inches of 15 to 20 lb mono or fluorocarbon to the lower eye of the swivel. For bass use 24 inches; for flatfish 12 to 18 inches is enough. Finish with size 1/0 to 2/0 for bass, size 1 to 2 for flounder and dab.
Bait and cast
Mount peeler, ragworm, or mackerel strip. Cast to your chosen distance and set the rod in a rest with a slight bend in the tip. Use a bait clip on the lead if casting far with a soft bait.
Strike and land
A knock followed by a steady pull usually means a fish. Lift into the fish; circles can be fished without a hard strike. Keep pressure steady on rough Wicklow shingle when retrieving.
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.
Zip slider booms and beads
Running ledger sliders for mainline. Pair with a bead above the lead to protect your knot.
No live Amazon.ie listingAny 4-6oz breakaway grip lead
Grip leads for surf ledgering when the tide runs on Wicklow open beaches.
View on AmazonPhoxinus Aberdeen hooks 1/0
All-round shore hook for worm and crab on a running ledger. The same pack covers bass and flatfish sessions.
View on AmazonSeaguar Blue Label fluorocarbon leader
Fluorocarbon hooklink for clear water and line-shy bass at Brittas and Kilcoole.
View on Amazonbait elastic dispenser
Secures ragworm and soft baits to the hook for casting on a running ledger without a clip rig.
View on Amazon