Floating Spreader Bars

[FrankSI]

I got a bigger boat with outriggers last yaer and I am looking to maximize my trolling spread. I boat two spreader bars with 9" squids. I could have gotten them with floats in the squids -- but I think mistakenly opted for no floats. I have been doing some winter reading and now think floats are the way to go. Without disassembling the whole rig to add floats, I was thinking of using spray foam (insulation) to add buoyancy to my spreader bars. Has anybody else tried this? Give me your thoughts.


Also, I fish out of Staten Island and LBI and cannot reach the NE Canyons, so I am limited to about 50 miles offshore -- are the 9" squids too big to run on spreader bars. Canyon Runner sells a 6" squid bar that seem like a better fit for "my" tuna grounds. Anybody run 9" squid bars inshore with success?

Thanks.

[WildeOne]

Don't other. None of my dozens of spreader bars have floats and can't see any compelling reason why to have them. They don't sink when were landing fish (we don't come to a dead stop). I run bars with squids up to 12".

[offshorebri]

We troll 4 or 5 bars with out floats as well.......Just as Wildone says above, we never really totally stop the boat......Off the coast of Jersey we troll really small stuff in-shore like 3" bars believe it or not. The bigger stuff rarely gets touched. The small bars, feathers and jets in the 3-4 inch range work great for Bluefin in the 15-30 pound range as well as lots of Mahi, Albies, Bonita and the likes. One we hit the canyons we use the 6 inch stuff. I don't even own 9" bars............neither does the charter boat that I mate on......It seems we catch all the fish we need in recent years pulling all small stuff...

[WildeOne]

Just a quick comment on the big bars. We don't catch on the big ones, but we catch a bunch under and slightly behind. We always run a bait just behind and under, like a cedar plug chain, etc. Always run one or two big rainbow squid bars. I consider them teasers, BUT we always have a hooked bait on them. Never can tell!

[FrankSI]

Thanks. Being that I already have them I will try em out this year as teasers. And I will rig up a couple of smaller bars too.

[second time]

Floats do work in keeping your rigs afloat if and when you stop. I have tried spray foam with negative results. It will not cure inside the squids for whatever reason.

Ed

[WildeOne]

Frank, when you rig up the bars, I would suggest small (1/4 to 1/2 oz) egg sinkers in the last squid on the outermost chains. Keeps the bar from cartwheeling.

[nautibuoys]

Those cheap pool floats (look like a long straw) that you can buy for under $1 make good squid floats (closed cell foam). The only issue with the floaters is the bluefish continue to chomp on them if you ever stop the boat...

[ubettcha13]

We run the styrofoam in the smaller squids(6" and 9") this makes them run much better We had problems with cartwheeling adding weight works but then you have more than the stinger below the surface This in turn with cause more strikes on the side squids makes for excitement but not hook ups The floats help with the illussion of a small predator chasing prey Animals and fish live in a dominance world (It's my turf stay out if you will)
If and when you can trigger this type of response you can catch fish when they are no even hungry High speed trolling for wahoo is a good example and so is a spreader bar
The spray foam method can work in 11" and up squid but the little squids don't run riught with it The styrofoam floats that Canyon Runner uses are the best type/method for adding floatation
As far as should you shouldn't you run three with and three without all the same otherwise This will make up your mind

[WildeOne]

ubettcha13, my squids have 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and do NOT ride below the surface. The small weights just keep the shell squids from flying around and in contact with the water most of the time, which prevents cartwheeling. I don't use any weight with the MoldCraft type squid bodies. Foam is a waste of time and doesn't affect how the squids troll, only keeps them from sinking in a dead stop situation.

[idigitu88]

[img]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/scott/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/Fix%20the%20flat%20squid%20007.jpg[/img]

[ubettcha13]

WildeOne - 3/1/2008 4:32 PM

ubettcha13, my squids have 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and do NOT ride below the surface. The small weights just keep the shell squids from flying around and in contact with the water most of the time, which prevents cartwheeling. I don't use any weight with the MoldCraft type squid bodies. Foam is a waste of time and doesn't affect how the squids troll, only keeps them from sinking in a dead stop situation.

He will be fishing for sbft's much more often than any other tuna where he is located Small bft's will attack at a speed yft will but big bft's and gbfts like it really slow The easiest way to get the little bars to run right at 4-5mph is with the floats The styro floats that look like a little cigar weight make them run really well as the bodies don't crush down no matter the speed you use Once you have a float that stretches the squid body it won't run right either Like I said before the weights do work but not if you have to slow down to a crawl
The main reason I use the cigar floats is so that the shells stay a uniform shape which in turn makes for a better presentation inho I have bars with 8oz eggs in the last 2 squids on each chain of a 4' bar and some 3" with about the same weight as your pulling but I feel for where he is that would be a best way One of the benifits is when you get a school of bluefish chopping up your spread you can find the bodies after they let them go if your so inclined

[ciguatera]

I have a floating spreader. Can't tell you what I use but its fairly common material and pretty durable. Friends have caught up to 180lb tuna on it but its run differently.

[offshore3144]

We run floats in all, of our bars. Mainly to get more surface action. The floats keep the squid on the surface but our trailer ride 6-10ft behind the last squid and about 1-2ft deeper. Killer combination. Here is a pic of how they are rigged...Mark