Common rigs · String of feathers · sabiki

Mackerel feathers

A string of small lures on short droppers. Cast out, let it sink, then jig it back.

Mainline / leaderSize 4 swivelDropper loopevery 30–40cmSnood 5–8cmFeathered hook 1/0or flasher, or sabiki size 8Body 40–50lb mono3–6oz bomb
Targets
Mackerel, scad, herring, small pollack, sandeel
Where
Piers, rocks and boats when shoals are in, summer to autumn

What you need

Body
40–50lb mono
Top
Size 4 swivel
Droppers
3 dropper loops, 30–40cm apart
Hooks
1/0 feathered or flasher hooks; sabikis size 8–12 for herring
Bottom
Lead link, 3–6oz bomb

Build it

  1. Tie the top swivel to about 1.5m of body line.
  2. Tie a dropper (blood) loop 30cm below it. Repeat until you have three loops.
  3. Trim each loop to 5–8cm and cut one leg near the knot to make a single snood.
  4. Tie a feathered hook to each snood.
  5. Tie on the lead link and clip on the bomb.
On the beach

Three hooks is plenty from the shore: it's easier to unhook fish and the rig tangles less. Keep only what you'll eat, and take tangled feathers home rather than leaving them on the rocks.

Knots for this rig are in Knots. Line strengths, hook sizes and weights are starting points: scale them to your tackle, the ground and the tide. Diagrams are schematic and not to scale.