[kevcros]

I currently fish a seven rod spread for Bluefin north of cape cod--The "typical" set up is 4 13" squid spreader bars off the riggers, a green machine/ bird chain down the center rigger and two flat line baits in the prop wash (cedar plugs, feather, etc,). We have done pretty well with this main set up but a large majority of my fish come on the riggers---

As such, I am considering adding a set of corner riggers that would allow me to run the flat lines in clean water JUST outside of the prop wash and tight to the boat-- They would be angled at a 30-45 degree angle off the stern--

Anyone have any experience douing this ? Will my flat line prodcution increase (probably put 9" squid bars on the flat lines)--

 

[MakoMatt]

Excuse me, but what are "corner riggers"?

MakoMatt

 

[kevcros]

Would be used to elevate/ spread the flat line baits outside of the prop wash--think center rigger at a slight angle off the boat rather than straight back-- enough of an angle to get the flat lines running in clean water--would also be nice to run bars on teh flat lines and get the bar out of the water--

 

[gusto45]

I do not use them personally, but do know of a few boats that do. You are talking about 3 center rigers? If this is what you mean then yes I would say you would increase your odds. I think anytime you can get your line and terminal tackle out of the water you are better off. Plus this will get the bar out of the water and allow you to present a better bait. I would still run a bait right behind the boat in the propwash though, I have had many fish take the bait everyone thinks is too close.

 

[PtJudeRI]

Something like this..... You have your normal outriggers, a center rigger and two others on the corners so you can get long and short lines on your corners... Lets you get into a 9-11 rod spread with out a trip spreader outrigger.

Photo courtesy of Ironwood Tuna

 

[gusto45]

you can also rig your center rigger with 3 halyards. center and one off each corner, it will not get you as far our or up but will help a bit.

 

[MakoMike]

Why not just double rig the outriggers and use the lower halyard to position the bait where you want it?

 

[kevcros]

Ironwood-- That is it-- what did you use for those riggers ? Are they just a fixed mount base on a 45 degree angle ? 12' poles ?

Gusto- Triple rigging a center rigger will still only get your baits in the propwash--Not outside

Mako- This is in ADDITION to double rigging the main outriggers--

My spread would essentially be 6 bars (two off the "corner riggers" and 4 off the main outriggers--

 

[PtJudeRI]

Mike, like the new avatar.... sexy sexy......

 

[MakoMike]

PtJudeRI wrote:
Mike, like the new avatar.... sexy sexy......

I'm getting lots of compliments on it. I think 'll keep her around for a while.

 

[CaptainFweddy]

Lots of variables involved to take into consideration before slapping extra riggers on your boat. Trolling 6 or seven rods is easy, but once you get into double digits, you had better have a system in place that allows you to pull them tangle free, both in heavy seas and while making sharp turns.

Single or twins?
Inboard or outboard?
Beam of the boat?
Current outrigger dimensions?
How many rod holders & where are they?
Gunnel mounted? Do they swivel?
Do you run rods from a fighting chair?

If you simply want to add two more bars to your spread outside your wake, you could run a tag line with a release clip off each rigger inside of your short riggers. It would be alot easier (and cheaper) to do this than it would to mount two extra center riggers.

Attach the tag line directly to the outrigger pole and make the tag line long enough to reach past the transom. It will take a few attempts to get the spacing and height on the outrigger poles correct, but when you do, you should be G2G...

 

[kevcros]

Captainfweddy- Thanks for the hints-- I run a twin outboard 12' beam express with 24' Lee pro riggers--I have six gunnel mounted holders and 4 additional on the rocket launcher--(which i currently run the center rigger from)

I have tried tag lines and a product called sideriggers to get the flat line bars in clean water (which they do) but they dont do a great job of elevating the bars--

Where we fish (Stellwagon/ Jeffries), properly run bars get most of the action--

 

[BLUEFISH9]

MakoMike wrote:
PtJudeRI wrote:
Mike, like the new avatar.... sexy sexy......

I'm getting lots of compliments on it. I think 'll keep her around for a while.

Until a moderator removes it

 

[CaptainFweddy]

10-4, Kevcros...

Tough to know without seeing if the riggers articulate correctly on your boat, BUT your riggers should be long enough to rig them triple. That would then be your easiest solution, given you have three gunnel mounted rod holders to accomodate it. Ideally, your gunnel mounted rod holders should be at different angles, to allow for them to match your rigger positions. There is a science to rigging a boat to troll efficiently and no two boats run the same...

If so, then your rod holder rigger position would be short, middle & long, with the long rigger being run from farthest aft rod holder. West Marine has all kinds of stainlesss pulleys to get the job done. And I'm a big fan of Hal-locks and Roller troller release clips...

Hopefully your riggers were mounted correctly on your boat to maximze that 24' you have to work with. I've seen so many whacked out rigger installs that I wonder why they are even there in the first place.

Another option is if your center rigger reaches out to clear your outboards, you can rig it double off your hardtop and run two rods out of the launcher outside of the outboard's skinny wash instead of the one center rod you have now.

If I had a center rigger on a twin outboard boat, that is exactly what I'd do, given the looong thin wake they make. Much better to have two lures/bars running beside the wake than one right in the middle of it. Postioned on the same wave as your "hot" rigger bar, they should also be slammed accordingly...

 

[MakoMatt]

I agree with CaptainFweddy, and think the first thing to try would be to run triples off your riggers. It would seem to me with a 12' beam running 24' riggers that you could accomplish what you are after.

MakoMatt

 

[kevcros]

Thanks guys--- I will try to play with the tag line concept again-- The big problem is that we are dragging 4' 13' squid bars off these riggers-- Even with 24' riggers, dragging 2 of these off each rigger is quite a chore-- Would be no problem if we were using 6" or 9" bars and single lures but the 13"/ 18" squids are fairly bulky---