Use the Pennel Rig for Improved Bait Presentation and Better Hook-Ups

The two-hook Pennel Rig is designed for 'awkward' baits - long ones like marine worms - lugworm and ragworm - or large ones like whole squid or live fish.

This rig enables us to attach these baits 'fore and aft' maintaining their natural appearance and avoiding suspicion in the fish we're trying to catch, whilst locating one hook where the biting fish can't avoid it.

And there are benefits for shore anglers and uptiders as well, because the bait is held in a more streamlined position on the cast.

As a result you'll be able to get your bait out farther than with a normal, single-hook rig.

As the line must lay along the shank of the top hook, this one should have a turned-in eye.

This hook can be held in position by a short length of silicon tubing as shown in the sketch, which allows the distance between the hooks to be adjustable.

Alternatively it can be fixed in position with a Snell Knot. This should be tied with a long tag end, to which the lower straight-eyed hook is tied with a Uni-Knot.

Over rough ground, where there's a good chance of getting hung up when retrieving your gear, use the 'pulley rig' set up to keep your weight clear of all the hazards.

This rig is fine for free-lined or ledgered live baits and dead baits, but it should never be used for trolling dead baits.

Why? Well, any dead baitfish - including whole squid - attached in this way, will spin. And that's a real turn-off for predators.

So how should we rig baitfish and whole squid for trolling?

For sprats and similar fish, like this ...

And for whole squid, like this ...

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