Pennelling large mackerel baits.

[solehunter]

Hi all. Im wondering how any members pennel large mackerel baits I may have to start doing this properly as i have missed 5 good bass out of my last 2 bass sessions.
When i try putting my bottom hook out of the back of the head and elastic it up....how do i stop the hook point twisting thus masking it. I have no problem with squid, but i find when i pull in my macky baits, the hook has always twisted left or right. What in the blazes am i doing wrong?

[squidlips]

try using treble hooks pennel style it never fails

[solehunter]

That makes sense. Cheers.

[jonnyb]

Any links to images and more advice on using treble hooks and pennel set ups please?

[squidlips]

personally i just slide a treble up the trace then tie another one on the end of the trace.
put one hook in the bait then slide the other one down untill it reaches the bait, wrap a couple of turns of your trace around the shank to secure the hook. then hook the bait with the second hook.
hope this makes sense

[monkeynuts]

if you are over rough ground try using a normal pennal t avoid snags, but chop the bottom jaw off(if dead) and then hook up as normal then put a elastic band or bait elastic around its nose to hold it in place,
im not a shore angler but it work ok for me from a boat uptiding, when the weed lets me

[solehunter]

Cheers guys, i`ll give those methods a try this weekend.

[The Codfather of Sole]

Here's my methods....

For strip baits, I always use a 6/0 top / 8/0 lower for bass from the beach or shore and snell the upper, such that it doesn't slide. Head and guts / Flapper - one 8/0 up through both jaws.

For live mackerel, if I am likely to keep the fish I use a size 1 treble, hooked down through the upper jaw, if I'm likely to want to return some I use the 6/0 and 8/0 singles combination with the 6/0 upper hook hooked UP through the upper jaw and the 8/0 nicked lightly through the skin at the back, point protruding up... I find you can return more unharmed, the trebles have a tendancy to disappear right into the stomach...

[solehunter]

Cheers. I was thinking of going up a couple of sizes hook wise as i normally stick to the 6/0.