first spreader bar (please help)

[steve76]

I'm going to try the yft this year and was looking at buying a green machine spreader bar from fishermansoutfitter. I've been looking at the mini green machine bars (4' w/o the bird or 36" with bird). I have a 25' cc w/ no outriggers yet and having a hard time deciding between the 2 basically b/c I've never used a spreader bar on my boat. Any suggestions? Should I be looking at some other bar? What kind of action could I expect out of each? Thanks for any help!

[ClassicGuy]

Generally speaking it is a good idea to run two spreader bars or more (yet another reminder of why offshore fishing is an outrageously expensive hobby). The idea is to attract the tuna to what they will think is a good concentration of bait. I prefer to use bars without a bird rigged on them. It is always possible to put a bird in front of a bar without one if you think more commotion in the water will help, but you can't go the other way.


I have outriggers with two clips per pole so you can't do exactly what the same thing. But the pattern I have found effective is to have a spreader bar on each side on the inner clip. Then I will pull some combination of rigged ballyhoo, green machines, tuna feathers, etc, on the long outer clip of the poles, with cedar plugs or ballyhoo on flat lines close in off the transom at each corner. Then I will run one bait very far back down the center, usually ballyhoo or a green machine with a bird in front of it.

One easy addition to your boat would be to get a pair of flat line clips for the transom. That way you can run six lines even without outriggers as long as you are careful in making turns (assuming you have six rodholders and six rods available).

[lydoniablock]

steve -- where are you fishing yft in a 25' cc in fisherman's outfitter country? In any case, the guys at fishermans outfitter have been very good to me in the advice dept. Most of 'em fish what they sell. I got hooked 3 years ago on bft and my VISA is still smoking.

Good luck!

[ALLTACKLE]

You made a good choice on the mini GM spreader bar. I would also look at a Rainbow Shell Squid bar and a Rasta Bar. There are a thousand spreader bars out there, but these three always produce.

[steve76]

Thanks to everyone! I really appreciate all the input. Guess I'll try the green machine w/o the bird and look into the rainbow bar.

[DrC]

Hey Keith, got my GS350's and poles installed and rigged. They look awesome!!! Can't wait for trolling season to try em out. Thanks for all your help!! Paul

[John_Madison CT]

If that Steve76 of CT? If so, welcome aboard !!

Canyon Runner makes a very nice Green Machine and Rainbow Machine bar, but I made my own using their blank bars.