Spreader Bar - The Hull Truth

The Dude · 02-27-2005, 10:24 PM

I am going to try a spreader bar in my spread this year and am looking for some tips on rigging. I fish off SC and usually troll a spread of skirted ballyhoo for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and billfish. I want to pull the spreader bar on 40-50 lb tackle, so I was planning to go w/ the smaller 6" bulb squids. How many squids to a 36" bar? What arrangement? Should I use one of the squids as my hook bait or go w/ a larger lure or lure/bait combo?

jclaude · 02-28-2005, 08:31 AM

I have a couple of them that I purchased from a place in NJ, "Tuna Time Tackle", I think it was. I will try to get some pictures of them and post them or email them to you. If I remember correctly, they use 8" shell squids, but I can't remember the number or the arrangement. There are a number of places on the net that sell them and you can get some pretty good ideas on what some of the options/variations are.

33trojan · 02-28-2005, 08:33 AM

PROBABLY 11 OR 12 SQUID 12" OR SO APART STAGGERED. LEAVE THE MIDDLE LAST SQUID WITH A 200LB. SNAP SWIVLE SO YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR TRAILER OUT. YOU WANT THE BAR OUT OF THE WATER SO MAKE YOUR CLOSEST SQUID FAR ENOUGH BACK TO DO THAT.

jclaude · 02-28-2005, 08:38 AM

Try this link for starters:
http://www.fishermansoutfitter.com/c...html?E+scstore

jclaude · 02-28-2005, 08:43 AM

Found a pictrure on file of the squids I started with. One of them is made by Sevenstrand and I don't remember who made the other one. I considered making my own before I bought, but I don't think there was a big cost savings, so I bought a couple of ready-made.

DD · 02-28-2005, 09:06 AM

Check out reelseat.com or canyonrunner.com

pellicot · 02-28-2005, 06:06 PM

Also more succcess pulling 2 or 3 bars at a time not 1. Don't know why but others have said the same as well.

33trojan · 02-28-2005, 07:04 PM

4 bars with 11 squid per bar. THATS 44 LURES. THATS WHY THEY RAIS FISH

TerpHeels · 03-02-2005, 09:00 AM

Just like that canyon runner bar pictured above. Don't overload it w/tzers as it won't drag right far back in your spread. Put torpedo floats in the heads of the squids. For good info see canyon runner web site

The Dude · 03-02-2005, 09:57 AM

Thanks for the tips. I just got a cheap spreader bar to start out with that has 5 rings for attaching squid chains. I was thinking about hanging 2 squids from the outside rings and 3 squids apiece from the middle 3 rings (plus a hook bait down the middle). The rigs pictured above just have 3 chains - should I just keedp things simple and go w/ 3 chains or load up all 5 rings?

DD · 03-02-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

The Dude - 3/2/2005 8:57 AM

Thanks for the tips. I just got a cheap spreader bar to start out with that has 5 rings for attaching squid chains. I was thinking about hanging 2 squids from the outside rings and 3 squids apiece from the middle 3 rings (plus a hook bait down the middle). The rigs pictured above just have 3 chains - should I just keedp things simple and go w/ 3 chains or load up all 5 rings?

Probably depends on the bar you have and where you run it. The one pictured is titanium, which will flex quite a bit. If you had 5 rows instead of 3, it would probably be prone to tangles.

I run a stainless 5 row spreader on the flat as a teaser. It will tangle if it gets caught in the wake.

All my hooked spreaders are rigged as shown. I have had better luck with zukers and green machines as opposed to the bulb squids...

tunatyme · 03-02-2005, 11:35 AM

I making new bars as we speak. I like to make them in a Diamond shape with 12- 8 to 12 '' squids. I use a bar that has 5 places to attach baits. I run 4 - 4'' Bonne birds first then the teaser squids but dont put one in the center you dont want to mess with the leader. I troll 3 or 4 bars at a time a and place them in a diamond shape as well. I use all the same color squids in the same spread. Eather Green or Pink. Place a hoo on a Seawitch in the center of the Dianond and behind the bars and hold on.

Wahooking · 03-02-2005, 09:22 PM

Kind of been off this site for a while. It's nice to be back on.

If you guy want to try and make your own spreader bars, the best bar material I've found is Solid Nylon Round Bar or Poly Carb Round Bar. You can locate this stuff at Aircraft supply stores or plastic companies.

Poly Carb Bar is probably your best bet...it's almost clear. That stuff will not break, its semi-flexible and light. Perfect for all fishing conditions.

Anthony