HOW TO TIE AN UPTIDE COD RIG
This rig is ideal for uptiding anywhere in the UK, especially for winter cod. I’m using size 5/0 hooks for worm and squid baits, but you can go up to size 8/0 if you want to use bigger baits such as half a cuttlefish or whole squid and worm wraps.
lead needs a long tail to encourage it to lie flat, plus a set of wires properly positioned to ensure it takes hold. With that in mind, the Gemini range fits the bill perfectly.
Coming with a long tail as standard, optional extension pieces to take the plastic head further away from the lead’s body to ensure it lies flat, and with a selection of interchangeable heads and wire choices, this is about as versatile as it gets.
Gemini also offers the option of making fixedwire leads, which I use a lot in deeper water or fast tides – they’re perfect for our tidal estuaries. The fixed wire option is also ideal when fishing over rough or snaggy ground, like a reef. It will dig in and hold bottom but can easily be bent out under pressure.
Make sure you carry a good selection of lead weights with you. River estuaries are notorious for their fast tides, which is often why the cod are there in the first place. Depending on the size of the tide you are fishing, you’ll need anything from 5oz breakouts to 10oz fixed grippers to hold bottom.
SIMPLE RIGS
When it comes to rigs for codling I usually opt for a simple running leger with two hooks, rigged Pennell-style. Depending on the size of cod or codling expected, I suggest going for size 3/0 or 4/0 hooks for smaller fish and up to size 8/0 for the big gals, so you can cram on a big bait and really get that scent trail working to your advantage.
Because you can often expect to catch a reasonable number of codling in estuaries, it’s a good idea to keep your hooklengths around the 40lb mark. This way you won’t have to change them too often due to the cod’s sharp teeth damaging the line. I like to keep my hooklengths shorter than normal in fast-flowing tides – something around 2ft 6in is ample.
When fishing in deeper water for 30lb-plus cod I tend to use 50lb fluorocarbon for the hooklength and Pennelled size 8/0 hooks.
Another rig I use in estuaries is the running paternoster. This is a little more complicated to tie. I use this when the tide isn’t running so hard on smaller tides, because it allows the bait to move about a bit more.
To tie this rig, you need to thread a swivel on to your mainline, followed by a bead. Tie a second swivel to the end of your mainline, then tie on a 3ft length of 30lb hooklength material
(fluorocarbon is best). Now you tie a 2ft length of 40lb mono to the swivel that is sliding up and down your mainline. Add a link swivel to the end of this and clip on your chosen grip lead. Now you can tie your chosen hook(s) to the end of your hooklength.
BAIT CHOICE
Cod are not usually fussy when it comes to bait. The traditional lugworms, lug tipped with squid or whole squid baits will sort out the bulk of the cod in winter.
Fresh or frozen peeler crabs can really pay dividends throughout the winter, and into the spring run too.
A lot of anglers keep a few dozen peelers in the freezer specifically for the spring run.
For those fishing in deeper water for bigger