Whenever I focus on improving my casting range on open beaches, a 2-hook clip-down rig becomes one of my most reliable setups. It keeps both baits streamlined during the cast, also reduces spin, and ensures the hooks sit perfectly on impact. This rig is simple, efficient, and one of the best ways to get maximum distance without sacrificing bait presentation.
Below is exactly how to make a 2 hook clip down rig, what components I use, and how you can craft a professional-quality version at home.
🎣 What You’ll Get in This Post
- 🧰 The exact materials needed to make a 2 hook clip down rig
- 🪝 Step-by-step instructions on how to tie a 2 hook clip down rig
- 🌊 Pro tips from my personal surf fishing experience
- 🎣 Useful variations like double hook fishing rigs and salmon-style double hooks
- ⚠️ The common mistakes you should avoid while building this rig
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to make a 2 hook clip down rig using the materials I personally rely on for long-distance surf casting.
What Is a 2 Hook Clip Down Rig?
The 2-hook clip-down rig is a specialized setup used in surf fishing. In this rig, two hooks are secured behind the rig bait clip or shield. The advantage of this is that the bait remains streamlined in the air due to the clip, allowing for easy, tangle-free casting over long distances.
Because of these features, anglers often use this rig for:
- When a long-distance surf casting rig is needed
- Beach fishing for pompano, whiting, and redfish
- A clean bottom rig with two hooks for maximum range
- A great two-hook fishing rig for medium-sized baits
In my opinion, this rig is most effective when there are strong winds on the beach and you need a stable setup, or when the fish are far beyond the first wave.
2-hook clip-down rig Components You Need (My Recommended Setup)
To make a double hook fishing rig, you should carry these components and follow my recommended setup to make the best rig.
Main Leader Line
- 50–60 lb mono (Strong shock resistance + stiffness)
Hook Snoods
- 20–30 lb mono or fluorocarbon
- 6–12 inches in length (your choice)
Hooks
- Size 2–2/0, depending on target species
- Circle hooks or J-hooks
Terminal Tackle
- 1 impact shield or bait clip
- 1 cascade swivel
- 1 or 2 snood swivels
- 1 strong barrel swivel (top)
- Breakaway-style lead with wire grip (bottom)
Optional
- Glow beads
- Floating foam beads
- Attractant beads
Once you understand how to make a 2 hook clip down rig the right way, you’ll notice an instant improvement in casting distance and bait stability.
How to Make a 2 Hook Clip Down Rig
Here’s how I make a 2 hook clip down rig from scratch. This step-by-step breakdown covers everything you need to know about how to make a 2 hook clip down rig for surf fishing.
Step 1: Cut the main leader
I usually cut a leader at 24–30 inches of 50–60 lb mono. This length gives enough space to place both hooks without any tangling.
Step 2: Tie the top swivel
Attach a barrel swivel using an improved clinch knot. This will be the connection point to your mainline.
Step 3: Add your first snood swivel
Slide on a snood swivel. This will later hold your first hook snood. Add beads to reduce friction if needed.
Step 4: Install the cascade swivel
This is the main part of the clipping system. The cascade swivel allows the second hook to clip down cleanly and stay secure during casting.
Step 5: Add your bottom clip (impact shield/bait clip)
Place your bait clip or impact shield near the sinker end. This is where your top hook will clip down.
Step 6: Tie on the sinker link
Add your breakaway sinker at the bottom. This gives the rig weight and tension, allowing both hooks to sit tight during the cast.
Step 7: Build your snoods
Cut two snoods:
- Top snood: 8–10 inches
- Bottom snood: 6–8 inches
Attach hooks with a simple knotless knot or improved clinch knot.
Once attached:
- The lower hook clips into the cascade swivel
- The upper hook clips into the impact shield
This is the reason the rig flies long beautifully through the air.
How to Tie a 2 Hook Clip Down Rig
Let’s take a summary in short:
- Tie the main leader to the top swivel
- Slide snood swivel and bead
- Add a cascade swivel and beads
- Tie sinker link at the bottom
- Attach two styled snoods with hooks
- Clip the lower hook into the cascade
- Clip the upper hook into the impact shield
That’s all. Learning how to make a 2 hook clip down rig gives you a major advantage on open beaches where fish stay far beyond the first breaker and yes, once you do it two–three times, it becomes muscle memory.
How to Make a 2 Hook Fishing Rig
Many beginners search for how to make a 2 hook clip down rig because they want more distance and cleaner bait presentation in windy surf conditions. The two-hook clip-down rig is essentially a more advanced and aerodynamic upgrade of the standard two-hook fishing rig. Its clip-down system streamlines both baits during casting, something a normal two-hook setup cannot achieve. If you want a simpler version, you can omit the cascade swivel and the clip-down components and simply tie two dropper loops with hooks. This is its basic form. However, when it comes to surf casting, especially when distance and bait presentation matter, the clip-down version consistently outperforms a standard rig.
How to Tie a Double Hook Rig
A double hook fishing rig simply means:
- two hooks
- two snoods
- attached to the same leader
Your clip-down rig is a type of double hook rig, but it is a more advanced and distance-focused surf casting rig.
How to Tie a Double Hook Rig for Salmon
Some anglers use double hooks for catching salmon, which consist of two hooks attached one above the other on the same snood. This is a completely different rig from a two-hook clip-down rig.
Salmon-Style Double Hook Rig:
- It features two hooks positioned close together.
- This method is typically used for drifting.
- It is not a standard clip-down rig.
- This rig is not effective for surf casting.
I only reference this variation here because some anglers want to know about it, but structurally, it has nothing to do with a surf-style 2-hook clip-down rig. It is totally different rig. If you don’t know how to make a 2 hook clip down rig, you might end up losing distance because the bait spins or creates drag during the cast.
Pro Tips From My Own Surf Fishing Experience
✔️ Vary the length of your snoods, as two snoods of equal length will easily tangle.
✔️ Always check the clip tension by casting twice on the beach to ensure the hooks are clipping properly.
✔️ Use fairly stiff monofilament for the snoods; they need to be rigid enough to stay in the clip.
✔️ Add a float bead if you’re targeting pompano; it’s perfect for visibility and lifting the bait off the bottom.
✔️ The impact shield must be in the correct position; if it’s not, your top hook won’t sit properly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Before I learned how to make a 2 hook clip down rig, I struggled with bait tangles and inconsistent casting accuracy on windy beaches. I used to make these mistakes while making the rig. Everyone should avoid these common mistakes.
- Snoods too long can tangle it.
- An impact shield placed too low will not sit properly
- Cascade swivel upside down
- Hooks not clipped firmly
- Using a soft fluorocarbon that bends during casting
Fix these, and your rig performs like a premium store-bought one.
FAQs About 2 Hook Clip-Down Rigs
Q: What is the easiest way to learn how to make a 2 hook clip down rig?
The easiest way to learn how to make a 2 hook clip down rig is to follow a simple step-by-step process: cut the leader, tie two snoods, add clip-downs, and attach the sinker.
Q: Why should I learn how to make a 2 hook clip down rig?
You should learn how to make a 2 hook clip down rig because it offers long casting distance, two bait presentations, and clean aerodynamics.
Q: What gear do I need to make a 2 hook clip down rig?
For how to make a 2 hook clip down rig, you only need a leader line, two hooks, two swivels, snoods, beads, and a clip-down system.
Q: Is making a 2-hook clip-down rig beginner-friendly?
Yes, how to make a 2 hook clip down rig is beginner-friendly because the steps are simple and repeatable once you learn the basic knot structure.
Final Thoughts
A 2 hook clip-down rig is one of those setups that becomes more valuable the deeper you go into surf fishing. It gives you the ability to cast farther, keep both baits streamlined, and present them cleanly even in windy beach conditions. Hence it is important to know how to make a 2 hook clip down rig. Whenever I need extra range without sacrificing bait visibility, this is one of the rigs I trust the most.
If you’ve never built one before, once you try it a few times, it quickly becomes a regular part of your surf fishing rotation—especially on open beaches where distance and presentation matter the most.
