It’s a good idea to arrive at a venue with a rig wallet full of ready-tied terminal rigs to suit any conditions, especially when fishing over rough ground. Being prepared is the key to success! Having rig variations to hand let's you plan for bait changes, weather changes, and casting range changes, but it also allows for quick rig swap over should you land a fish or need to rig up with a fresh bait.
Sometimes cod may be present for a limited time over a six-hour fishing trip, so make the most of it. Choose a hook pattern that best suits your fishing, which can from region to region. For worm or cocktail rigs, the varivas Big Mouth Or Cox And Rawle specimen hooks in sizes 1 - 4/0 are perfect for most applications, these hooks are ideal for clean to mixed ground rigs, while still offering more than enough strength when landing fish over rougher/mixed ground, the thinner wire construction means you can thread on worm baits with ease.
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PENNELL PULLEY
This is by far the most popular rig for cod fishing, especially with larger baits. At least 90% of your cod fishing will incorporate this rig, especially over rough or mixed ground. Despite its common use over rough ground, many anglers fishing at long range on clean ground will also utilise this rig due to its streamlined format and its reduced chance of tangling on the cast. The pulley rig is a classic cod rig that benefits from a simple construction in comparison to other clipped-up rigs.

Pulley Rig Component List
Component | Options |
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Rig body line | Asso Utraflex or Rovex 10x (80-100lb) |
Snood line | Amnesia Clear (40-60lb) |
Pulley Bead | Gemini Perfect Pulley or Trident Aero Pulley |
Bead | 5mm or 6mm hard plastic bead |
Swivel | 200lb+ breaking strain |
Bait Clip | Trident Roto Clip, Gemini Splashdown or Breakaway Imp |
Instructions for Tying a Pulley Rig
Step | Description |
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Step 1: Prepare the Rig Body |
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Step 2: Prepare and Attach the Snood Line |
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Step 3: Attach the Hook to the Snood Line |
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Final Assembly |
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Pulley Rig Species Guidance
The pulley rig is the rig that 90% of your fishing will utilise. Especially fishing over rough ground or fishing the East or the North East coasts of the UK. Below, we have provided a useful table that breaks down line strength and hook sizes for targeting a multitude of sea species.
Hook Size | Snood Strength | Target Species |
---|---|---|
2/0 to 3/0 hooks | 40lb snood | Cod, Smooth Hounds |
3/0 to 5/0 hooks | 50 to 60lb snood | Cod, Rays |
5/0 to 6/0 hooks | 80 to 100lb snood | Conger Eels, Bull Huss, Big Cod |
5/0 to 6/0 hooks | 150lb snood | Conger Eel |
3/0 to 4/0 hook | Wire snood | Spur Dogs |
Importantly, when a fish is hooked, the lead weight is lifted up in front of the fish and out of the snags by the pulley action; this is the one rig that does help you retrieve big fish through snags.
- Clipped down rig
- Pulley rig in action. Using a bead as a shock absorber is optional.
The advent of the various pulley devices has improved the efficiency of this rig because instead of using a swivel as the fulcrum of the pulley system, the purpose-made pulley bead allows the rig to operate more efficiently. Another bonus is that it does not stress or damage the line, as a swivel does, and, therefore, lighter hooklengths can be used, although a minimum of 40lb is recommended, but go stronger if you are power casting. Your hooklength should be shorter than the rig body. Some anglers use beads or rubber stops on the rig body to prevent the pulley jamming in the lead clip, although this is far less likely to happen when using a pulley bead.
TWO-HOOK LOOP RIG
The best of the long-range codling rigs for clean ground, the loop, sometimes called the Portsmouth or Golds rig, is very popular for seeking maximum range. Its two hooks, clipped close behind the lead weight, offers maximum casting range with two large baits, and it should not be dismissed as a mere match rig. Long hooks full of worms can be sent a long way with the loop rig. Its secret is that the lower snood, which hangs below the lead weight, has a Breakaway Cascade swivel tied into its length, and the top hook of the rig clips into this.
Fixing the lengths of the snoods correctly is important, so that the baits can be positioned as close as possible together and tightly behind the lead weight. Using crimps or stop knots made from mono line allows better adjustment of hook snoods on all clipped rigs. Tension springs are also recommended on the loop rig to add pressure to the hook snood and keep it under tension during casting and help to avoid premature release.

Two Hook Loop Rig Component List
Component | Options |
---|---|
Rig body line | Asso Utraflex or Rovex 10x (60-80lb) |
Snood line | Amnesia Clear (30-50lb) |
Bead | 5mm or 6mm hard plastic bead |
Swivel | 200lb+ breaking strain & Cascade Swivel |
Bait Clip | Trident Roto Clip, Gemini Splashdown or Breakaway Imp |
TWO-HOOK CLIPPED PATERNOSTER
If you are fishing mixed or clean ground then a one snood mono paternoster is recommended. This rig can be used with a single hook or two hook configuration, Pennell style (as displayed in the diagram), making it perfect for large cod or small codling. This cod rig can be constructed with either a long or short hook snood, depending on what is required ie: short snoods for rougher ground and longer snoods for clear ground.

Two-Hook Clipped Paternoster Rig Component's List
Component | Options |
---|---|
Rig body line | Asso Utraflex or Rovex 10x (60-80lb) |
Snood line | Amnesia Clear (30-50lb) |
Bead | 5mm or 6mm hard plastic bead |
Swivel | 200lb+ breaking strain |
Bait Clip | Trident Roto Clip, Gemini Splashdown or Breakaway Imp |
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EASY RIG STORAGE
Rig winders have taken over from rig wallets in recent years as a more efficient way to store rigs. Because the rig can be unravelled from the winder spool, tangles are avoided, as was the case with rigs coiled and stored inside a plastic packet or wallet. They can also be returned to a winder more easily, where they can be allowed to dry out, which reduces corrosion. Different coloured winders can be used for the various types of rig – clipped, flapper, one hook, two hooks or three hooks – or you can simple add a sticky label with the rig details to the winder.
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SEA FISHING TACKLE SAVER!
Rotten-bottoms or weak links can be made up ready for use should you find yourself fishing rough ground. The weak link clips come in various forms, and range from a disc device to a bead. This keeps the device closed so that it can hold the lead weight when casting. As the disc or bead hits the water, it slides up the wire and opens the device, allowing the lead weight to come off the clip. It is then only joined to your rig via a short length of lighter 10lb line.
Preparation includes tying the weak link on each device so that it can then be clipped on the rig and the lead weight tied on.
If you require any more tips or information on cod fishing, why not check out our article, Cod Fishing Basics.