Gilling for Pollock

Guys,
a number of my mates were at the Irish Team Boat Qualifiers the weekend, they said it was tough going with the bad weather and the lack of fish. I believe Hiko Dryer won the competition again for the third year. When I ask the question of what he caught and how, I was told "80+ Pollock" and he was "Gilling" the whole time. I'm familiar with Gilling, but what are your views on the "Best Practices" for the gear, the technique, etc.

Cheers
Brian Fleming
http://www.crabrock.com

Hi Brian

Around here (Clew Bay) the standard rig is two norwegian eels and a pirk! :wink: No, seriously they do use two norwegian eels and then a standard eel like an eddystone on 6 foot of mono off a flying collar... provided you are entitled to use three hooks. Shads are good too.

Whats frustrating about pollacking this way is that the buggers will often follow almost all the way up to the boat without snatching or you get lots of mock bites. Altering the speed of the retrieve dramatically - fast very slow fast - often attracts a bite.

I've had one come right out of the water at the last second...

FWIW

Hi Kieran
Interesting approach. I've seem those Nowegian eels before, they're used a lot by the EFSA Lads in Norway and Iceland for the big Cod. What I was told about last weekend is that they seemed to be using very plain gear with either frozen sandeel or ragworm. The winner was using fluorcarbon for his traces! I'd love to know exactly because he seems to have it down to a fine art if he's won the past three years when the cream of our angling guys are at these event.