Fairly new to the game on going on my own boat this year and calling the shots lol, and getting the fever!! Looking for advice on a trolling setup…ie what/where do you pull? Teasers, Naked Ballyhoo, Skirts Alone, all on top, any below etc… Im looking to run two flat prop wash lines, two shorts, two long outriggers, and shotgun center, thanks for any and all suggestions you may have.
Depending on how many people you have on board, seven lines could be a handful, especially if you get multiple hookups. I would have at least four people to run a spread as you described. Also, if there are a lot of scattered weeds clearings lines could be tedious. With three or less, five lines have worked well for us. I suppose it also depends on the room you have in the cockpit. As far as dolphin go, skirts with ballyhoo work well. Don’t forget to have a few rods ready with pitch baits, buck tails, or poppers to throw at them if they school up around the boat. A daisy chain teaser on a hand line tied to the corner cleat can drawn them up to the boat as well. If you have one on, and others of decent size follow it up, leave it in the water to give you a chance to hook them up as well. Good luck and tight lines!
17’ Islander,
60hp Evinrude
All of that.
If one’s working better, switch them over.
I really believe if you’re in the right area, the bait isn’t quite as important.
Yes, a better swimming/running bait will get eaten, but when they are thick you can catch them on about anything.
The most productive bait for you will be the one you pull the most. (Red/pink/blue/purple/green. Etc…)
We run 6 to 7 rods all the time with just two men on board. Last season had all six go off at once and landed six dolphin. I must admit, Lady Luck was on our side.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
quote:
Originally posted by Long EnuffLast season had all six go off at once and landed six dolphin.
That’s what I’m talking about! We had every rod go off at once on Jordan’s boat last year, we somehow got them all too… fun times. Got2Go was slinging 15 pound dolphin in the boat like they were peanuts!
If you need a hand one trip this spring let me know. that Lynn fella might vouch for me 
“mr keys”
quote:
Originally posted by Fountain250Fairly new to the game on going on my own boat this year and calling the shots lol, and getting the fever!! Looking for advice on a trolling setup…ie what/where do you pull? Teasers, Naked Ballyhoo, Skirts Alone, all on top, any below etc… Im looking to run two flat prop wash lines, two shorts, two long outriggers, and shotgun center, thanks for any and all suggestions you may have.
My typical spread is a blue and white ilander way back on a shotgun rigger. Something blue/white or green/white on the long riggers. I like to run a black/blue flash ilander on one short rigger loaded for bear (150 lb wind-on to heavy ball-bearing snap swivel to 12’ of 250lb leader), the other short rigger gets an iland seastar, a green/white witch or a moldcraft chugger (this depends on time of year, lots of dolphin-chugger, sails-seatwitch, both-seastar). One flatline is the planer rod with something red/black, the other flatline is usually another moldcraft chugger or something to that effect. All colors can be changed out except the blue/white way-back. That never changes.
Edit: Even if you don’t have a planer rod set-up, spend some money on a heavy trolling weight and put something red/black behind it and run it off the flatline just past the propwash. Set your drag light and put the clicker on. A lot of times a wahoo will slash the bait and come back to get it. Gives you a chance to drop back if he misses.
Growing up that was my dad’s one rule and I stick to it to this day.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Will keep that in mind Nchucky.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
Thanks for all the advice