Outriggers for small boats

Sold individually. Comes with new Reelax Supa Maxi with 7.

A properly working trolling spread is a joy to behold. And the backbone of an effective trolling pattern is correctly rigged outriggers. Not only do outriggers keep the baits from tangling, they also elevate the lines so the lures or baits run on the surface. This is particularly important on a small boat. Pulling baits from outriggers spaces out the spread, creating a larger footprint in the water that will attract more fish. When gaffer dolphin showed up inshore two years ago, I attempted to target these fish by trolling naked ballyhoo from the rod holders on my foot Jones Brothers center console.

Outriggers for small boats

You've probably guessed what this article is about as the title Outriggers — Lure Trolling is a pretty good hint, but perhaps it should read "why your boat may be set up wrong if you have a foot sports fisher or smaller. There has been endless debate as to which motors will get you more fish, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, outboards, inboards, petrol diesels etc. Usually, the outcome is big boats with diesels will catch you more fish, but just maybe it has nothing to do with the size of boat and motors, maybe it's all about the outriggers! It's very different to the big boat. The riggers are much shorter and the tips are very low to the water, plus the gunwales are much lower than the big boats. Here's the problem, at the same trolling speed the prop wash is longer on the small boat than it is on the big boats, not just in proportion, but it's physically longer. Percentage-wise, width of prop wash to width of the boat is wider on the smaller boat. So, out of the two boats which one needs the longer and highest riggers to get the same performance out of the same set of lures? It may now be a little easier to understand that the lures and rigging used by the bigger boat will not perform as well on the smaller boat. There is no terminology I'm aware of to describe the difference in prop washes and the difference in outrigger length or height. The reason all of this is important is the factors that govern the performance of lures are speed, position of the lure on the face of pressure waves and the angle of the leader to the water. The height of the rod and outrigger tips on larger boats as explained before compensates to a large extent achieving a much higher angle of entry. Unfortunately smaller boats have a lot more leader dragging in front of the lure. There is less leader in the water, so there is less leader trail, and lures are more active and have a more consistent action.

Also available in Let's do the comparison Big boats have very long outriggers, check out the length and how high the outrigger tips are off the water's surface, and while outriggers for small boats looking at the boat, note how high the gunwales are which governs how high the rod tips are when trolling for rods that are run off the rod tips and not in the outriggers Here's an average sized sports fisher in Australia, New Zealand and PNG, outriggers for small boats. Add an extra bead of sealant, then begin bolting your base with the required hardware washer, bolts, etc.

A basic premise when trolling lures offshore is that the boat itself attracts fish. The prop wash, foaming water, etc. The fish come to check out the disturbance, and see the trolled lures as either stragglers from a school of bait being attacked, or as unsuspecting smaller predators trailing a school of bait. In small boats, especially those with outboard motors, the difficulty is finding spots to place the lures that are not too far back. Outboards have a tougher time producing clean wakes, although there are tricks to improve things.

A plus-foot sport-fisher trolling a spread along a weed line without outriggers, complete with supporting struts and multiple lanyards, was once unthinkable. But what was an oddity 40 years ago became standard when shorter, simpler riggers hit the market with designs suited for even small center consoles and walkarounds. Zane Grey and other early innovators realized the advantages of spreading the baits to cover more water while pulling them outside the prop wash where they can be seen by fish more easily. Of course, outriggers steadily improved as new materials were developed and anglers fine-tuned the designs, incorporating features that now allow crews to troll a variety of baits, lures, teasers and combinations more effectively. There are several factors to consider when selecting outriggers for a new boat or for retrofitting an older one. While swing-out, gunwale-mount -models are still available for those looking for simplicity and lower cost, most setups nowadays are installed on hardtops, says Darin Asher with Rupp Marine, which builds outriggers for boats from 20 to feet.

Outriggers for small boats

If your dream is trolling for big game from your small boat, the size of your vessel need not stand in the way, as long as you have the correct setup and use of your small boat fishing outrigger. For successful fishing with outriggers, your aim is trying to achieve the irresistible illusion of a school of panicked bait. To achieve this, you need a white-water wake and a fishing outrigger. While this is probably the most challenging part of installing the fishing outrigger on your boat, the kit should come with instructions on how to attach the hardware. Ultimately, your boat creates a white-water wake, which in turn attracts a variety of bait fish. Your boat does this work for you, but it is of little use without an effective fishing outrigger, specifically setup and used as a small boat outrigger. The key to a functional trolling pattern consists of a backbone that has properly rigged outriggers since it has the power to keep baits from knotting together. This also can increase the height of the lines so the baits function on the outer surface rather than penetrate and cause problems. Having this backbone setup ensures a steady small boat. Outriggers help widen the trolling area and accommodate multiple lines, so that a spread of lures can be run behind the boat, creating a larger footprint in the water school of bait!

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Percentage-wise, width of prop wash to width of the boat is wider on the smaller boat. There are a number of outrigger companies offering Carbon Fibre and Aluminium outriggers that are incredibly light and stiff. Note: Sold as a pair. You need to make sure that your bases are symmetrical — on the same place on every side of your boat. D inside diameter. Reelax Fibreglass White 6. Fits the Reelax Gunnel, T-top, and bulkhead mounts are common. The width of prop-wash to width of boat is just wider, percentage wise, on smaller boats. Suit tackle up to 24kg. Likewise, heavier lures, more lines and faster trolling speeds all amplify the differences between materials.

Adding a set of outriggers to any boat will increase the number of strikes by accomplishing two basic tasks: adding width to the trolling spread, and allowing the captain to troll more baits. Experienced crews typically troll seven or more lines when targeting yellowfin or albacore tuna in the Northeast. There is no way such a feat could be accomplished without those outriggers.

In small boats, especially those with outboard motors, the difficulty is finding spots to place the lures that are not too far back. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Whether an outrigger pole is fixed length or telescopic is its most obvious characteristic, and the trade-offs are fairly straightforward. The riggers are much shorter and the tips are very low to the water, plus the gunwales are much lower than the big boats. These quality Reelax Outrigger poles suit bases with a tube diameter of Reelax Outrigger Release Clip. Gunnel, T-top, and bulkhead mounts are common. Its a scissor arm outriggers capable of all skirted lures and larger sized baits. Some have live chat available or phone numbers or emails to contact them. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Modern outrigger poles are made from aluminum, carbon fiber or fiberglass, each of which comes with its own pros and cons. Reelax Junior with 6. Then you just slide the pole into the base and insert the pin. Quick view Choose Options.