When fishing from a rough ground mark anglers generally use simpler rigs with fewer components as this means there are fewer terminal tackle items to get snagged, and if rigs have fewer components they are cheaper to construct meaning losing a lot of rigs to snags is less costly to the angler. In rough ground rigs the link is often replaced with some kind of rotten bottom or weak link release such as a Breakaway Escape Link, Gemini Breaker or another form of rotten bottom clip. Weak links and rotten bottoms cut down on tackle losses by allowing the weight to break free if it is snagged and the rest of the rig (and any hooked fish) to be reeled in.
Swivels and hooks should be tied to the line using the uni knot, as this is the simplest, strongest and most streamlined knot that can be tied with monofilament line. When it comes to attaching snoods to the rig body the trapped swivel method is the most commonly used. This involves gently pressing crimps in place on the rig body line. Specialist crimping pliers should always be used as they are specifically designed for this job and using normal pliers runs the risk of damaging the line. As stated above crimps should not be fitted to line less than 60lbs breaking strain as they can damage weaker lines. Many rigs also feature a sequin and neoprene stop knot on the hooklength. This is because impact with the water can sometimes force baits up the hooklength and away from the hook – a stop knot and sequin ensure that this will not happen, and the sequin also offers added attraction to fish (click here to read how to make stop knots with neoprene). More information on other components and accessories which can be added to rigs can be found on the terminal tackle page on this website, while further information on hooks can be found on this page.
Many anglers do not have the time to make their own fishing rigs and therefore buy ready-made rigs, whereas some people who are new to fishing begin by using ready-made rigs and then start to make their own once their knowledge increases. There are a huge number of ready-made rigs on the market with a rig available for almost every sea fishing situation. The cost can vary considerably. Simple, single hook paternoster rigs can be fairly cheap but the price rises for more complex rigs which incorporate bait clips, impact shields or cascade swivels. Many anglers are happy to buy pre-tied rather than making their own and rigs from reputable manufacturers are high-quality and reliable and proven to catch fish. The range of Cronus Sea Fishing Rigs – all hand-tied in the UK – are available at Sea Angling Shop by clicking here.
All rigs are designed to be re-used. However, after even a single fishing session a rig can become damaged and can even become unsafe to use if the line is damaged. The type of fishing also plays a part in how much damage a rig takes as fishing a rock/rough ground mark which will take more of a toll on rigs and terminal tackle than fishing on a clean, sandy beach. It is therefore important to check each rig after a fishing session to ensure it is still in usable condition. Rinse the rig in cold water (to remove salt which will clog up swivels and corrodes metal) and dry off excess water with kitchen roll. Check all of the line to ensure there are no nicks, cuts or abrasion damage and if any are present the rig should not be used again – a snood snapping could lose a good fish, while a damaged rig body could snap and send a weight flying down a beach. After this check all hooks to ensure that they have not become bent when pulling out of snags or over rocks and ensure that the points are still sharp and haven not been blunted by being dragged over sand or rocks. If the rig is in good condition it can be placed back into the rig wallet to use again once it is fully dry. Partially damaged rigs may be repairable (i.e. trying on a new hook snood if this is the only part needing replacing), but with rigs with a lot of damage, it is best never to use them again. If this is the case then all of the usable components such as swivels, hooks and links can of course be cut off and used to construct a new rig.
Line Clippers – Either specialist line clippers or a set of small scissors or clippers are needed to cut line to the right length and clip away tag ends after tying knots.
Crimping Pliers – An essential tool to safely and securely press crimps to line. As stated specialist purpose-bought crimping pliers should be used.
Knot Puller – An inexpensive tool which can be used for pulling knots tight when it is awkward to grip or hold a swivel, hook or other item of terminal tackle.
Rig Wallet – Very useful for storing rigs once they are completed and taking them on a fishing session. Rig winders – foam discs that have rigs wrapped around them – are becoming a popular alternative (or addition) to using rig wallets. Sets of ten Red and Green Rig Winders are available from Sea Angling Shop for £4.79.
Terminal Tackle Bits Boxes – Larger boxes can be used to store terminal tackle components at home, while smaller boxes can be used to take a selection of clips, links and hooks fishing.
Most anglers who have been sea fishing for several years will have built up a supply of terminal tackle components which they can use to make rigs. The following list is far from exhaustive, but having all of the components listed below will allow every single rig featured on this website to be made. Clicking on the links will open a new window to Amazon or Sea Angling Shop to view and purchase the product.
Very large hooks: For anglers fishing for the largest species such as skate, conger and top anglers may use hooks up to size 8/0, such as Cronus’s Dark O’Shaughnessy hooks which are available in sizes 5/0 – 8/0. Alternatively, WSB Tackle’s Mono Conger Trace consists of a size 8/0 hook attached to a length of 200lbs monofilament.
Large/strong hooks: When fishing for species such as cod, big bass or pollock large and strong hooks should be used such as Cronus O’Shaughnessy hooks, which come in sizes up to 6/0. Kamasan B950u Uptide Hooks are another pattern of hook which is strong and reliable and favoured by anglers fishing for large species.
General sea Fishing hooks: Size 1/0 or 2/0 hooks are the best choice for general sea fishing as they are small enough to catch fish weighing around 1lb such as small bass, coalfish and whiting, but can also handle any larger specimens which come along. Kamasan B940 Aberdeen Hooks are ideal hooks for this purpose, as are Cronus Silver Aberdeen Hooks.
Smaller hooks: Rigs for smaller species such as flounder, dab and pouting should be made with size 1 hooks. Cronus Black Aberdeen hooks are lightweight but strong and would be a good choice.
Mini species hooks: When targeting small species such as rockling, topknot and poor cod Cronus Flatfish hooks in sizes 4 – 6 are ideal.
60lb breaking strain line for rig body – Trace Builder 60lb Clear Rig Body Line is a good choice for making sea fishing rigs.
15 – 30lb b.s. memory-free line (for hook snoods) – Amnesia Snood Line is an excellent memory free line and is popular with UK anglers, as is WSB Specimen Mono.
Cronus Black Nickel Swivels are ideal for rig making. They are high quality and available in the above sizes, with prices start at just 79p for a packet of twenty. View and purchase by clicking here.
Rig Clips – used to clip down hooks in pulley rigs (Extended Rig Clips for larger baits are also available).
Fluorocarbon RigsDrilled Bullet weights or Cylinder Weights – used to add weight in float rigs, or to add casting weight to a light jelly lure.
Sets of terminal tackle which contain a selection of different terminal tackle items are available from Sea Angling Shop. As well as providing a saving compared to buying all of the items individually these terminal tackle sets allow anglers to quickly and easily acquire the items necessary to make a range of rigs:
Sea Angling Shop New Filled Component Box – This set contains nine different terminal tackle items including Cronus sea fishing hooks in a number of different sizes, teardrop links, rig beads, attractor beads, crimps, snood swivels and top swivels. This allows anglers to make their own rigs or to top up their terminal tackle collection with new terminal tackle products. Available for only £6.49.
Hook Selection ProfileSea Angling Shop New Hook Selection – A wide range of hooks from sizes #4 to 4/0 are included in this set, meaning that anglers will have everything they need to catch the wide range of species found around the UK. The patterns of hook featured in this set include Cronus Aberdeen, O’Shaughnessy and baitholder hooks and Angling Works circle hooks. In total seventy individual hooks are included in this set. Available for only £7.49.
Sea Angling Shop Complete Terminal Tackle Collection – This set contains a total of eighteen terminal tackle items including Trace Builder rig line, WSB Specimen snood line, Cronus hooks, links, rig beads, attractor beads, clips and bait shields. Indeed, this set contains everything anglers need to make all of the major rigs used in UK sea fishing. Available for £24.99.
Many anglers start out purchasing ready-made rigs and then move on to buying their own components and slowly building up a supply of terminal tackle items so that they can build rigs to suit the species they target. Most anglers take a selection of rigs with them on a fishing trip so that they can change and adapt their tactics depending on how the fishing session develops. For example and angler may start fishing with a rig using a size 4/0 hook to catch cod, but if they are not biting having a supply of rigs will allow him or her to swap to a multi-hook rig with size 1 hooks to target smaller species such as whiting or flounder which may be present. Conversely, an angler being plagued with small species such as pouting taking the bait he or she has cast out may switch to a rig with a size 4/0 hook or larger in the hope that smaller fish cannot take this bait into their mouths and it will instead attract a large bass or cod. Creating a selection of rigs and then choosing the correct rig for a given sea fishing situation is an important aspect of sea fishing and one that all anglers enjoy developing over the time they go sea fishing.
The key to hooking a prize catch is to start with a solid line that provides the right balance between visibility, weight, and control. There are many different ways to rig a fishing line, depending on the equipment you’re working with, but each method has a couple of things in common—a basic understanding of the type of tackle being used and an effective, well-tied knot to hold everything together.
The key to hooking a prize catch is to start with a solid line that provides the right balance between visibility, weight, and control. There are many different ways to rig a fishing line, depending on the equipment you’re working with, but each method has a couple of things in common—a basic understanding of the type of tackle being used and an effective, well-tied knot to hold everything together.
Tie a fishing hook onto your line using an improved clinch knot. Pass the end of your leader line through the eye of the hook until you have 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) of loose line on the open side. From here, loop the line around your index finger and double it back on itself, making sure to keep your finger inside the loop. Wind the line around itself for 4-5 turns, then thread the end through the finger loop and pull it until it’s nice and tight.[1]
A basic #6 or #8 hook with a long shank (the straight section between the eye and the point) will work just fine for most types of catch, especially on your first few outings while you’re still getting used to your rod.[2]
The improved clinch knot makes a wonderful all-purpose knot. You can use it to secure each subsequent piece of tackle you choose to add to your line.
Snap a bobber onto your line at a height matching the depth of the water. Position the bobber so that it’s about the same distance from the hook as the distance between the surface and bottom of the water. To secure the bobber, loop your leader or main line around the hook at the bottom of the device and, keeping the line taut, guide it up the opposite side and snag it on the hook at the top.[3]
The addition of a bobber will allow you to make longer casts into deep waters and keep your bait suspended just above the bottom of the water, where it will be easily accessible to fish like crappie, walleye, and catfish.
Place one or two split shot sinkers 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) above the hook. Press your line into the narrow groove running through the middle of the sinkers. When picking out your sinkers, use enough weight to bring the bait closer to the bottom, but not enough to weigh down your line.[4]
You also have the option of using sinkers with rings, loops, or eyes, though you’ll need to tie these directly to your line at the desired point.
Bait your hook with an appropriate type of bait for the fish you’re after. Pierce the thickest part of your nightcrawler, leech, or minnow with the point of the hook, angling it so that the bulk of the bait is centered around the curve of the hook. Genuine bait is better at fooling most types of fish than fancy lures, and is also far less costly (especially if you catch your own).[5]
It’s possible for both live and dead bait to come loose quite easily. Be prepared to re-bait your hook several times during a single trip, if necessary.
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