Step by step
How to fish it
- Tie a swivel to the end of your mainline
- Through the upper eye of this swivel, pass a length of heavy mono (60 to 80 lb), this is your rig body
- At the bottom of the rig body, attach your lead weight via a link
- About 6 inches up from the weight, attach a bead and swivel (the 'pulley')
- Pass your hooklink through the pulley swivel so it can slide freely
- The hooklink end carries your hook; the other end ties to a stop swivel above the pulley
- During the cast the hook and bait ride up near the weight; on splash-down the weight falls and the hook drops away
Tackle
Gear you need
- Rig body: 60 to 80 lb stiff mono (Amnesia or similar)
- Hooklink: 40 to 60 lb mono for bass and smoothhound with large baits
- Hook: 4/0 to 6/0 circle or wide gape for large baits
- Lead: 4 to 6oz breakaway grip for surf conditions
Kit
Kit picks for pulley rig
Researched for Irish shore conditions on Wicklow marks. Where we have fished an item ourselves, we say so. Links go to Amazon.ie; skip anything you already carry.
Luroad pre-tied pulley rigs (5 pack)
Ready-made pulley rigs so you can fish tonight. Check the hook size matches your target species.
View on AmazonWide-gape circle hooks 4/0
Strong wire circles for whole crab and sandeel. The smoothhound and autumn bass standard on Wicklow marks.
View on AmazonAmnesia shock leader mono 60lb
Stiff mono for pulley rig bodies. Holds shape under a heavy lead and survives rough-ground retrieves.
View on AmazonFFT Pro breakaway grip leads mixed pack
Breakaway grips for casting big baits to the back of the surf at Greystones South Beach.
View on AmazonBuilding a full setup from scratch? See the complete gear guide.
Conditions
When to use it
When fishing large, fragile baits at distance in a surf or casting wind. Essential for whole crab baits for bass and smoothhound. Also the right choice when fishing fresh whole mackerel for tope.
Local knowledge
On the Wicklow coast
On the Greystones South Beach in a south-easterly blow, a pulley rig with a whole peeler crab cast to the back of the surf is the classic autumn bass setup. The circle hook means you can fish with a slack line and still hook fish reliably.
