Trolling Tandem Lures?

[MetroMan]

I really dont know how else to title this.

When trolling lures, could you rig them up in series to look like a big lure chasing a smaller lure? Like tying a leader (12" or so?) to the tail of another lure? I guess it would kinda be like a daisy chain type of set up?


Does anyone do this? It seems like it would be more attempting & tempting (& life-like) than a single lure just cruising around.

Just thinking aloud here...any input is welcomed!

[ictalurus]

Friday on Tidalfish routine trolls a deep diving crankbait and a shallow diving crankbait which are connected to a 3-way swivel and each leader going from the swivel is a different length. Tackle shops sell inline bucktail tandem rigs, but I think it's two different weights (not sure of the ratio, but I think the second is double the first). Neither of these is quite what you're talking about since it's more like a school of fish rather than a predation event.

The only problem I see with attaching crankbaits inline is that the second one will dampen the action of the first and make it look weird. I've seen similar rigs in Bass Pro (I think Yo-zuri and another company make them), but they don't get good reviews because they tend to foul. I don't see why you couldn't pull a smaller bucktail followed by something like a parachute, which would look like what you're talking about as long as the weight difference between the lures wasn't too great. Chimo's rig on his St. Jerome's post was kind of like that.

[mmanolis2001]

That is what a umbrella rig replicates. The wire arms hold 4 to 8 hook less shads and a long leader is attached to the center with a rigged shad. Don't think i would want to troll one of those in a yak though. Its heavy and would create quite a bit of drag.

You might be able to make a smaller version macgyver style out of a coat hanger.

Maybe 2 or 4 hook less shads and i rigged in the center on a leader. I thought of doing this in the past.

[surfdog]

i picked up a small umbrella rig at the PSG flea market last winter, its time to put it to the test. hopefully it will not be too much drag when trolling it.

[ictalurus]

Hey Sam,

If you like pulling the umbrella, I've got a 12" umbrella you can have. It's way too much work for me to pull it at a decent speed. Maybe the Revo with turbos would be better for that.

[MetroMan]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm aware of umbrella rigs and I figured they would be too heavy and draggy. I will take some of the ideas here and try to come up with something. Seems like it would be a fun DIY project

[crawdad]

You could try making a saltwater version of a spinnerbait

[DOGFISH]

Just last night on WFN, George Poveromo was doing that. He had a chugger type lure with no hooks, with another tied to the rear, about 18" behind, with hooks. It worked. Another rig is the popping cork, with a bucktail tied in behing the cork. I know that works.

Years ago, I used to make my own popping plugs on a lathe. I would use dows or old broom handles. Instead of hooks, on some, I would just put an eyelet at the rear. To that I would tie a bucktail. Great for rockfish, and blues. They are suckers for that splasing sound. Then when they see the bucktail, they think its their turn. Broom handles are good hard wood. The wood floats and is better than hard plastic.

I'd be careful with the crankbaits. That could make for a mean tangle. It is bad enough when the fish cross lines. The lone crankbait looks to be an easy target for a fish. Rattles in the crankbaits get alot of attention. I am not an advocate of the real loud rattle, but some rattle is good.

I oftern thought about a bucktail tied in behing a spoon, such as a Tony or Cripled LY. The spoon would give a small bucktail some movement. That could also make for a big mess.

Good creative thoughts here.


PS: There are saltwater spinnerbaits for redfish and for stripers.

[Yak Fish]

I troll a tandem rig. I use a 6" or 8" swimming shad and a 4" swimming shad tied to a 3 way swivel. Put the heavier lure on a shorter line than the lighter lure...I think that's how I do it. They are already tied up so I just snap them on when I'm ready.

[DOGFISH]

Seem to me that I have seen those extra small unbrella rigs around. They are small, with four tails and the longer tail with the hook. These would be great for a kayak.

[Capt C-Hawk]

Look up Six Pack Schoolie by Luhr Jensen. Way less drag than an umbrella and lots of vibration and flash. Don't know where you'd find them locally since the passing of Boaters World

[jffoley]

From the boat I've used tandem swimbaits of different sizes or a bucktail and swimbait off a 3 way swivel. It's the way to go as others have mentioned. I tried a crankbait below a swimbait but that made a BIG mess. Learned my lesson the first time with that set up!

For the kayak I made a daisy chain with 3 small swimbaits out of a high-lo rig I got at Dick's. Haven't tried it yet but looking forward to seeing how it works.

[ictalurus]

A popper with a small trailing bucktail has been my most productive striper lure this year. It's been way out-fishing my usual go-to Chugbug. The fish usually hit the bucktail going full throttle so I don't even have to think about setting the hook.

[MetroMan]

Now I'm excited to get out and try!

[surfdog]

going to try this in the morning