PENNEL RIG 
 

NFSA Revised Fishing Rule on the use of Pennel Rigs - I quote verbatim, the revised National Rule from the NFSA, permitting the use of 2 rods and lines each equipped with two hooks arranged as a Pennel rig.

NFSA RULES 2007

NFSA RULES IN RESPECT OF PENNEL RIGS - Extract of the rules of the NFSA Specimen Award Scheme 2007:

8. FISHING RULES  The following NFSA Festival and Competition Rules No 11 apply to this Competition and all competitors must abide by them:-

Rule B2, 3 & S2 - as to tackle with the exception that not more than two rods with three single hooks or two pennel mounted baits between the two rods may be used. Only one pennel mounted bait is allowed on each rod and so constructed that the measurement between the eyes of the two hooks do not exceed :- 20cm for boat angling & 10 cm for shore angling.

Extract from NFSA RULES 2007 -

Boat section B:-

B2 - Equipment.  An angler may use only one rod, unless notified in advance that two rods, at the same time, may be used, with reel and running line.  Spare rods may be assembled with a reel attached, line through the rings/rollers, attached to a line swivel equivalent.  Reels must be operated by hand (subject to Rule G 5.1, Electric Reels); and reels designed to be cranked by both hands at the same time are prohibited.  The use of fishing poles is permitted.

B3 - Terminal Tackle.  Spare baited traces are allowed and no more than three hooks may be attached to any trace. In the case of pennel mounted baits, the measurement between the eyes of the two hooks must not exceed 20 cm (boat angling). A treble hook counts as one hook but no more than one treble hook and two single hooks may be used in a rig, with the exception of plug type spinning lures which are permissible when used alone.  If allowed in the particular competition’s rules, two rods are used at the same time, a maximum of three hooks between the two rods or two pennel mounted baits, one on each rod at any one time may be used.  Subject to the above, only one set of terminal tackle will be in use at any one time.

Shore Section S

S2 - Equipment.  An angler is permitted to have up to three rods set up with reels, lines and traces attached but can use no more than two rods with a combined total of three single hooks or two pennel mounted baits, one on each rod at any one time, so constructed that the measurement between the eyes of the two hooks does not exceed 10 cm (shore angling). However during one rod competitions a pennel rig will be deemed as two hooks. Reels must be operated by hand (Subject to Rule G 5.1, Electric Reels); and reels designed to be cranked by both hands at the same time are prohibited. The use of fishing poles is permitted.

A visitor to this web site has already Emailed to enquire what is meant by the term “Pennel” rig.

PENNEL RIG                       Courtesy of www.tackleworld.co.uk

It is quite simply one hook “snelled” onto a trace, by the line passing freely through its eye.  In many cases this top hook can be slid up and down along that trace, though it can be tied permanently in position.  Often the trace is wound around the hook shank three or four times to prevent it sliding, but to permit a degree of adjustment.  A second hook is attached below it securely tied to the tip end of the trace.  A single bait is attached between these two hooks.  A Pennel rig holds the bait securely and gives you a better chance to hook your quarry.  It has been a popular method for many past years.  The rule change legitimises its use on two rods at the same time.

If, as I did, you find this rule change somewhat incomprehensible, I will do my best to explain it more clearly.

A competitor may choose to fish 2 rods and lines with not more than 3 hooks and 3 baits in total attached, as in previous years.

Alternatively, he or she may now choose to fish 2 rods and lines each terminating in a Pennel rig.  Effectively you can fish two sets of rods, lines and terminal tackle, each with 2 hooks, but with only one single bait on each set of 2 hooks on each Pennel Rig.  From boat the maximum distance between the eyes of the pair of hooks on each Pennel Rig is permitted to be a maximum of 20 cm.  From shore the distance between the eyes of the pair of Pennel hooks is reduced to 10 cm, in accordance with NFSA Rules.

A competitor may legally fish one rod and line terminating in a two hook Pennel rig with a single bait on it.  He or she could then fish a second rod and line with a single hook and bait attached, to give a total of 3 hooks, but with only 2 baits attached in total.

However, a competitor may NOT fish one rod with a two hook Pennel rig and a single bait attached to it, together with a second rod with two separately baited hooks attached to it.  We are advised that to do so would fall outside the interpretation of the revised NFSA National Rule.

NB:  Away from any competitions, in which the rules clearly permit a maximum of 2 rods to be fished as above, anglers must always observe the requirements of the NFSA Rules for Boat Section and Shore Section, which provide limits on the number of rods and sets of terminal tackle which may be set up and used.  This is different from boat than it is from shore.  We are advised that to fail to observe these provisions could jeopardise the recognition of any specimen fish caught.