How to tie

You'll need: a wire boom or a plastic anti-tangle boom, one strong top swivel, around 1.5 to 2.5 m of 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon for the snood, a single hook (size 2/0 to 4/0 depending on bait), and a small drop of weak line (the rotten bottom) connecting the lead.

Step by step

• Top swivel: tie to the mainline.
• Boom: attach a metal or plastic boom about 30 cm below the top swivel. The boom keeps the snood standing off the bodyline so it can flow freely.
• Weak link to lead: tie 6 to 8 cm of lighter line (10 lb is plenty) to the bottom of the boom, with a small bomb lead on the end. This sacrifices the lead when it snags rather than the rig.
• Long snood: 1.5 to 2.5 m of fluorocarbon tied to the bottom ring of the boom. Fluorocarbon vanishes in water and lets the bait move naturally.
• Hook: a strong, sharp single. Wide-gape or O'Shaughnessy pattern.

Why the length matters

The long snood lets the bait drift, swing and behave like an unconnected food item in the current. Worms unfurl naturally, prawns kick across the tide, soft baits don't sit dead on the bottom. For bass and big wrasse, this presentation is night and day vs a short, stiff snood.