Rigs

Ok, so it was easy when I learned my trade on the river for trout. Drilled bullet lead, swivel, hook, job done. Now with sea fishing the more I research, the more I get confused. When should I use a pully pennel for example as opposed to a 1 or three hook flapper? Why would I use a herringbone flapper rig etc etc...? Does it really matter ? Thanks in advance.

Obviously different Rigs are tied for different situations, The Like of Wishbone rigs, and 2/3 Hook Scratchers are for the pursuit of smaller speicies, and usually entail the Hooks and baits being small.

Where as the Pulley Rig, and Rottom Bottom Rigs etc are used in the pursuit of bigger fish over harder terrain, (Fishing a 3 Hook Flapper into a Kelp Forest is a sure recipe for disaster).

In reply to your final question, yes it matters, If you want to get the most of your sport, You must change to suit the Environment you're fishing in. :wink:

generally, for beach fishing close in, 3 or 2 hook flappers, for distance, clipped down rigs(either 1,2or3hook) some styles like bomber, milllenium aka portsmouth loop, wishbone are used
for rough ground or for bigger species the likes of the pulley rig are used
rotten bottoms are also incoroprated to any rig for very rough ground to cut down on rig loses.
pennell best used for big baits, to increase the chances of hook up and aid bait presentatio, to stop it all 'blobbing' on the bottom hook.
hope this helps, if you want to find out more, just ask.

Ok, that helps. But would a pully rig be better for bite detection over say a single flapper rig and if (i may be wrong here) you lose lead on a pully dont you lose the whole rig. At least on a flapper if the lead gets snagged you get to keep the hook and the attached fish (hopefully!). These questions came to me when flicking thru the tackle supplement with the latest edition of one of the UK sea fishing mags. Seems like theres a lot in there to catch anglers with, never mind fish!!!!

would a pully rig be better for bite detection over say a single flapper rig and if (i may be wrong here) you lose lead on a pully dont you lose the whole rig. At least on a flapper if the lead gets snagged you get to keep the hook and the attached fish

Okay, typically if the lead is below the hook, bite detection is improved since the fish does not have to move the lead in order for you to see the bite. Short snoods (length from hook to main line) will also aid bite detection as will the use of braid as a main line.

Pulley rigs and running legers are different in that they are designed to keep the lead "out of the way" and let the bait waft around in the current.

In the pulley, the fish takes up the bait and based on the length of the pulley, it swims off before the lead actually helps to hook the fish... or in some cases, (see below) pull the bait out of the crittur's mouth!

In a running leger, potentially, the fish can swim off some distance not moving the lead at all before you realise you have a fish on... this is useful for bigger species that often attach a prey fish / bait and move off before devouring it - conger and tope being prime examples.

Paternoster rigs - whether flapping or clipped down - typically keep the baits above the lead, use multiple hooks and baits to generate a scent trail, and are use to target smaller species in clean or relatively clean ground. If you must use them in rougher ground, use wire hooks that will bend out of snags, use a rotten bottom link to the lead, and use light snoods so that if one hook is really stuck, you can pull for a break on the line attaching it to the trace, and that line alone, i.e. most of the kit comes back.

HTH...

If you looking info on how to build the different rigs you would be hard pushed to look beyond the free gemini brochure. If you contact them the send it free along with stickers for your tacklebox etc. It's very good overall

Does it really matter ?

Have to admit I prefer a simpler life when it comes to rigs. In my wallet I have two-hook clip-down rigs for distance, pennel rigs for big baits and running ledgers for night-time close-in delicate bass work.

Most of my groundbait fishing is over sandy ground so I never bother with anything fancier.

My reasoning for this: sod's law dictates that the fecker beside you with bailing twine and rusty hooks will always catch more than you do anyway, so what's the point :wink:

Jonathan