You'll need: one strong swivel, one pulley/link swivel (or a small bead + free-running link), one bead, around 60–90 cm of 60 lb mono for the snood, and lighter mono (10–15 lb) for the weak-link to the lead.
Step by step
- Mainline → top swivel: knot a strong swivel (size 4) onto the mainline. This is what the rod's line connects to.
- Bead + pulley swivel: thread a bead onto a short trace below the top swivel, then attach the pulley swivel. The bead protects the knot from the pulley sliding into it.
- Snood: tie the hook trace (60–90 cm of 60 lb mono) to one side of the pulley swivel. Hook of choice on the business end, a 4/0 Aberdeen or Pennel pair for cod, smaller for whiting.
- Weak link to lead: attach the lead (4–6 oz grip-style) on a short loop of lighter line (the "rotten bottom"). When the lead snags, this breaks first and you keep the rest of the rig and your fish.
Why the pulley swivel matters
On a take, the snood pulls upward through the pulley. The lead gets lifted off the seabed and is dragged along behind the fish, rather than acting as an anchor that snags every rock or weed bed on the way in.