If you've ever wanted to try using Crab Cart for Winter Cod fishing, then stick around because one of our Staff members in Edinburgh Angling Centre, Scott, recently took the time to sit down and talk us through baiting up a Pulley-Pennell & Dongle rig with various cocktail baits featuring Crab Cart Wings!
Crab Cart is one of our most popular Winter Cod baits and certainly one of the most effective. It's not just about hooking them up and chucking them out though, so Scott is here to show you how to get the best out of them with proper baiting technique!
Rigging materials:
- Tronixpro Pulley Pennel Rig
- Cox & Rawle Dongle Rig
- Tronixpro Baitex Baiting Tools
- Tronixpro Bait Elastic
- Rotten Bottom Links
The baits used for these Cod Cocktails are:
Step by Step Guide:
Pulley Pennell Rig – Squid, Crab Cart & Lugworm
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Prepare the rig
Remove the Pulley Pennell rig from the packet. These rigs come pre-tied and ready to use, but take care with the hooks and ensure all line is untangled before baiting up. -
Create the bait spine
Using your baiting tool, begin by creating a spine bait.
Start with the squid, threading it onto the baiting tool. Some anglers prefer to remove the head, while others leave it on — for this demonstration, Scott uses the whole squid with the head intact. -
Add the Crab Cart
Next, introduce the Crab Cart.
Crab Cart can be confusing for newcomers, as it’s a very versatile bait. It’s available in two types:-
Sloppy Cart (unsalted and harder to work with)
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Salted Cart (easier to handle and better for presentation)
The Crab Cart sold in-store is salted.
Cut the wing in half and layer both wings neatly over the squid. -
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Finish the cocktail with lugworm
Fold the black lugworm in half and layer it on top of the squid and Crab Cart wings. -
Elastic the bait
When using bait elastic, always wrap away from yourself to avoid getting sprayed by bait juices.
Secure the bait firmly, finish with a half hitch, and then push the completed bait off the baiting tool. -
Attach the bottom hook
Take the bottom hook of the Pennell rig and nick it through the base of the bait, pulling it through the top of the squid head.
Slide the hook shank down so it sits flush along the bait.
Use bait elastic to secure the hook and bait together, ensuring the mainline runs straight up the length of the bait to prevent twisting. Finish with a half hitch. -
Position the Pennell hook
Scott prefers circle hooks when tying his own Pennell rigs, though J-hooks are more common on pre-tied rigs.
Using the Pennell J-hook, wrap the mainline around the hook a few times, then pass it through the top of the bait so the hook holds everything neatly in place.
Dongle Rig – Mackerel, Crab Cart & Lugworm
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| Cox & Rawle Dongle |
A Dongle rig is essentially a pulley rig with a short length of braid and a circle hook that “dongles” below the main bait. This setup allows fish to hook themselves effectively.
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Match bait length to dongle length
Remove the dongle rig from the packet.
Match the length of the bait to the length of the dongle — for this presentation, Scott pairs a 3-inch dongle with a 3-inch strip of mackerel. -
Build the bait
Lay the mackerel on the baiting tool, then add:-
Half a wing of Crab Cart
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Another strip of mackerel (flesh side facing outwards)
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A section of black lugworm on top for added scent
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Bind the bait
Secure the bait firmly with elastic and finish with a half hitch.
The result should be a compact, streamlined bait that holds together well in the cast. -
Attach the dongle
Hook the top of the bait, then run the dongle down the back of the bait so it sits flush.
Use plenty of elastic to keep everything straight and secure. -
Extra security wrap
For additional strength, wrap the elastic from the bottom to the top of the bait.
This creates a full casing effect around the bait and helps it withstand powerful casts and rough ground.
Rotten Bottom Setup
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| Fisheagle Rotten Bottom Clips |
The rotten bottom is a weak link designed to release the lead if it becomes snagged, saving your hooks, trace, and bait.
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Scott uses an Imp fixed to the Cox & Rawle Dongle rig to secure the rotten bottom link.
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For this example, a 20lb line is used, though Scott often steps up to 30lb line when fishing rougher ground.
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Rotten bottoms are typically tied using a uni-knot for strength and consistency.
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