Pennel rigs

[Pat Spillane]

I never reallty paid much attention to the top hook in a pennel rig but over the last couple of months and especially the last few outings I have noticed that a lot of fish are being hooked on the top hook. I am mainly using sandeel with the tail at the top hook. Any comments ????

[glengormley-gavin]

Most fish will take a sand eel from behind (pardon the pun), hence the top hook catching the fish.

Jude

[x]

Try hooking the sandeel the other way up to see if the fish are deliberately trying to swallow the sandeel head first....

[BigPhil]

mmm.. when any advise has been given to me on sandeel hooking for the likes of dogs in magazines and ammo packets etc it has been to hook it tail first(up the snood) and the head end at the start of the bend of the hook.
this puts the end with most scent and blood etc at the hook and stands you a better chance of a hook up

pollack/bass fishing etc with them is different on spinning tactics where best results are to hook them head first as it would look unnatural for the sandeel to swim backwards

even on pennells i still find the bottom hook does the business best with the top mainly to help aid bait presentation

[Cooke]

We use sandeel as the primary match bait for most of the year on the East coast and the eels are almost always topped and tailed, with the tail end up the snood and the head end, where most blood exudes at the bend of the hook. This is the method shown to us originally by the Isle of Man anglers who use sandeels all year round for all species. A spun full eel for pollock is mounted head up the trace.

[kieran]

Yep...

Bear in mind that most predators will target the eye on a bait species, hence many fish have false eyes around the tail or other non-vital areas.

Another tip I was given was to nip a bit of the beak/mouth off when tailing the sand eel to allow more of the blood etc. to leak out...

FWIW

[scara]

I used to use a small flattie hook as the top of my pennels something to clip the rag into. Even did this on my bass rigs until on benone about a year ago go into a massive scrap with a bass. 15min to get to within beaching, went to lift it he turned and ran straighted the top hook.

I now use owner circle hooks for the top of the pennels, 2 reasons.
1. the hook is easy to remove from flatties, usally lipped. Small enough not to spoke either.
2. strong enough in the case of catching something bigger.

I still have dreams about that fish, getting bigger each time too.

[Pat Spillane]

Again guys thanks for all the contributions,

I do mount the eel tail up and nip both ends. Interesting thoughts sandman about trying it the other way but its not that I am catching more fish on the top hook, just that I am catching more than I would expect to get on the top hook. like Scara I used to use a smaller weaker hook on the top but now that practice has changed.
I suppose my main point is that attention to detail is important, I took the top hook for granted and only used it for bait presentation, I now realise that it has a far greater role to play.

Sorry for not getting back sooner but I have been away all week with work and did not have internet available.

Good fishing