trolling set up for stripers

[obieram]

We usually run 4 lines out. 2 inside we run bunker sppons or stretch 25's and in the outrodders we run umbrella shads. We are new to trolling off the beach for stipers and haven't had much success with this setup. I've been experimenting with different setups throughout the day. Any suggestions on varying our spreads? Thanks

[Captain Rich Adler]

How deep, how far back are you placing your lures?? I think I would have trouble making turns with a 4 lure spread, I troll 3, 2 on the outrodders, one down the middle and as far back (300 feet of wire) and as slow as possible. We do pretty well trolling, so I would check your speed/depth/ and distance.

[obieram]

We troll braid and not wire b/c we had so many problems in the past. We are use to trolling bonita at the ridge with 7 lines in the water so maybe running the 4 lines is just a bad habit. Next time out I'll try running three only and slowing down to 3knts. Since we don't troll with wire right now, would anyone suggest using drails above the umbrellas or on the spoons when we target deeper water? Do you lose any action on the lures?

[CaptainBrian]

I have found that you have to troll to slow with spoons to mix up umbrella rigs and spoons. Try spoons on the outside/out rodders and a stretch 25 down the middle. I also think the braid doesn't get you down deep enough if you are trolling in 20-30' of water with the spoons. I also think that the drails do inhibit the spoons action. We only use braid on the plugs and wire on everything else.

[chugbugger]

In my spread you will find no wire line or umbrella rigs, strickly 50lb power pro. Try this on the side holders run tamdem rigs which I use 30ft leaders. Tie a sampoo swivel to the leader then cut the leader in half, then tie a 3 way swivel to the two ends you just cut. At the end of the leader attach a 2-5oz bucktail with a shad, then cut a 8ft leader and tie to the 3rd eye of the 3 way and tie on a 18- 28oz mojo/parachute. No drails needed. This would be my short line, 30-100ft of running line plus leader. I run a green tamdem on one side and white on the other. These two rods rigged this way catches quality stripers especially when it`s choppy. The rougher the better, very good jigging action. Don`t troll without those bunker spoons cause when tamdems don`t catch the spoons do. I use drails with ths spoons and have very good success. Spoons lines are usually out the back corners 175-225ft with different size drails to eliminate tangles. Also speed is important 2.5-3mph and I prefer to troll diagonal to the current or tide.

[Fighting Irish45]

I troll mostly offshore but i would really like to start trolling up strippers. Why are people using wire? Are a lot of people using those BIG bunker spoons? Or silver spoons like inshore trolling? I've used all stretches before but with little luck. Are you guys setting the baits down deep or various depths?

FYI-- I was at the 60ft S yesterday, water temp. was around 57, water was a little soupy, and no striper bites. Not to mention it was pretty snotty out. We had a nice run-off but turned out to be a foul hooked skate that got our blood rushing. I give it another week and I think the Delly will turn on.

[paul708]

most use wire, BIG Bunker Spoons, and the Right rod.. fished just off the bottom, for other lures you can use other options,

[Fighting Irish45]

most use wire, BIG Bunker Spoons, and the Right rod.. fished just off the bottom, for other lures you can use other options,

Wire leader? How long? I guess your using a heavy drail to keep the Spoon down deep. Thanks!

[paul708]

wire line (not leader) you can also do a wire line/mono mix , BIG spoon, right rod, SLOW speed ;)

[Mullica Bob]

Skip the wire for now and try braid first. You can always run wire later if you can't get the braid to work. Get a pair or one good bunker spoon rod and then do a little experimenting.

[Fighting Irish45]

Thanks guys I'm assuming this bunker spoon goes all over the place and i need to get a older conventional set-up for a trial run.

[Bar Hopper]

Good info.

[killin time]

I use braid,and 8 ounce drails,with 10 ft leader,to my umbrella rigs......one on each side....never a problem getting them down deep...even to 50 ft.....I have several different color rigs,and they are very productive....also run the stretch,with good results....
Try the "secret spoons",with the use of braid,...and you dont need drails with them,cause they weigh about 25 ounces...but the right rod is recommended.....7 to 8 ft,...talk to paul(jpr)

[Fighting Irish45]

I use braid,and 8 ounce drails,with 10 ft leader,to my umbrella rigs......one on each side....never a problem getting them down deep...even to 50 ft.....I have several different color rigs,and they are very productive....also run the stretch,with good results....
Try the "secret spoons",with the use of braid,...and you dont need drails with them,cause they weigh about 25 ounces...but the right rod is recommended.....7 to 8 ft,...talk to paul(jpr)

Are we talking about a conventional reel or spinner? (does it matter) Also what is the significance of braid or wire, everyone keeps telling me to use it but I can’t figure out why other then the spoon is like a cederplug but 10x worse. Thanks

[makorider]

We troll braid and not wire b/c we had so many problems in the past. We are use to trolling bonita at the ridge with 7 lines in the water so maybe running the 4 lines is just a bad habit. Next time out I'll try running three only and slowing down to 3knts. Since we don't troll with wire right now, would anyone suggest using drails above the umbrellas or on the spoons when we target deeper water? Do you lose any action on the lures?

Thats your main problem right there...way too fast. Shoot for 2-2.5 and I think you'll see much much better results

[killin time]

Are we talking about a conventional reel or spinner? (does it matter) Also what is the significance of braid or wire, everyone keeps telling me to use it but I can’t figure out why other then the spoon is like a cederplug but 10x worse. Thanks

Wire gets the line deepest,being that it is metal......braid not as deep,as wire,but thinner than mono,and will get deeper....I troll slow,about 2 knts,with one motor....I use penn senator 6/0 with braid topshot,50lb....
I also ran this same setup with 50lb mono,8 ounce drail,10 ft leader,and umbrella,with same results.....Only problem is when you want to troll in deeper water,you need alot more line out, to get desired depth......but it does work.....I use spinners for my stretch 25's,and mono,and can get down nearly 20 ft.

[enzo]

hey killen time i use braid with tgt bunker spoons an 4oz drails an thought they were to light switching to 8oz how far back do u run umbrella rigs to achive 10' depth 20' depth 30'depth ,an should bunker spooms run almost same depth first year trolling need a little help

[Fighting Irish45]

Thanks Killin Time!

[Joseph Lamberty]

We troll braid and not wire b/c we had so many problems in the past. We are use to trolling bonita at the ridge with 7 lines in the water so maybe running the 4 lines is just a bad habit. Next time out I'll try running three only and slowing down to 3knts. Since we don't troll with wire right now, would anyone suggest using drails above the umbrellas or on the spoons when we target deeper water? Do you lose any action on the lures?


If you can get slower than 3 knts that would be better,,,,,1.5knt-2.5 knts is better, as the water cools...Keeps the blues off too!!! course now that the water has cooled Blues aren t much of a problem..

LIV2FISH
born to Fish Forced to Work..

[Fighting Irish45]

Whats a good striper spread? Stretch, spoon, and dredge,? Mix it up or go 2 stretches and a spoon? Any thoughts

[killin time]

hey killen time i use braid with tgt bunker spoons an 4oz drails an thought they were to light switching to 8oz how far back do u run umbrella rigs to achive 10' depth 20' depth 30'depth ,an should bunker spooms run almost same depth first year trolling need a little help

If you use "secret spoons",they will not need any additional weight....they are about 25 ounces,the ones I use anyway.......You should have the spoons near the bottom third of the water column.
The umbrella rigs are weighted to start with,depending on which you use....but I use different weights(drails) for different depths,in front of the umbrellas,with a mono leader....There are many different types of umbrellas....I use the shad/bunker type....4-5 inches long,with at least 9 shad/bunker...and each weighted,with hooks....this is what works for me....It took me a few times to figure out about how deep I was,but after a couple tries,and hitting the bottom,I figured it out......Once you get the hang of it,it is pretty basic.

[Sea Monkey]

I run a fairly simple spread when I troll for stripers. I focus close to the beach, usually 17' to 25'. On either side I run Stretch 25 or 30's on the outrodders. In the port rod holder I run a 9 shad umbrella rig with a fairly large drail to get deep an not need a lot of line out. In the starboard rod holder I run a 24" tube about 5 feet of 50# mono behind a large drail (8-12 oz so that am nearly constantly bumping the bottom.)

All my trolling outfits are straight 20# mono and I troll at idle which is usually just about 3 mph through the water.

This seems to work pretty well for me and is really pretty simple. the only other thing that I'll sometimes do is to drag a big wooden swimming plug about 200' back down the middle with about 10' of 50# leader. this usually picks up bluefish like crazy, but has gotten some nice bass as well.

[CaptainBrian]

You guys are talking about speed and trolling spoons and you are way to slow there is no way a TGT spoon will give you the proper action at anything less that 2.8 knots or so. We troll them at 3.2 knots most of the time but you have to let the rod action dictate your speed. If the rod isn't pumping properly you aren't getting the right action. Remember this is only trolling spoons. But I have also found that trolling stretch 25 plugs we are doing the same speeds to get them down where we want them ( the bottom 3rd of the water column).