Best outriggers for a Tomcat

R

rogerbum

New member
So, I'm going to add a pair of outriggers to the Tomcat over the winter/early spring. I've never used outriggers nor have a seen a pair installed on a sport fishing boat close up. So....

1) Any specific recommendations on what I should buy?

2) Anyone in the Seattle area with a pair installed that I can look at?
 
Roger,

I will also be interested in the responses to your question. I have had a pair of outrigger poles for a few years, but never have bought bases to mount them. Either mount on the gunnels, the cabin wall, or the radar arch. I have seen all three examples on offshore boats in the past.

I lost interest in the outriggers when we quit going to Mexico, Yellowfin Tuna fishing. The Salmon fishing I do, is with downriggers.

Brent
 
Brent - the salmon fishing I do is with down riggers also. The outriggers are intended primarily for albacore fishing. However, they might come in handy for salmon fishing also. When coho are thick, a spoon or fly on the surface can be one of the most fun ways to catch them. Outriggers would allow me to employ a wider spread with either spoons/flies or with banana weights and cut plugs.
 
Had em, and wouldn't do it again. When I had my previous C-Dory, Snoopy-C, I had mounted outriggers. Figured I could put more tackle in the water and attract more fish. Well, it worked, but salmon fishing proved that there can be too much tackle to deal with. We'd get a fish on, and start trying to pull the extra gear out to fight the fish. Two or three guys cannot effectively pull rigging out on 5 poles fast enough to keep out of trouble. I also thought that I could use it instead of planing boards. Well, planing boards work better than outriggers for their use. However, there is a "cool" factor when you see a boat with outriggers, down riggers, rocket launchers, and planing boards on it. Just have to be careful with how much gear you load in the water at the same time.. :smile
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php
 
No - I'm just looking for ways to improve my tuna catch. This past year was my first attempt - only fished it one day and I got 3. This year, I plan to fish albacore more and I plan to do better. Fishing albacore is a bit of a different deal than fishing salmon - for starters you troll at about 10kts. On the Tomcat that means significant prop wash/turbulence behind the boat. About 80-100' of white water that's about as wide as the stern.

On my one attempt at trolling, I had 4 rods out, 2 on each corner - two faced outward and two straight back. The two facing straight back were still in some white water and didn't get hit. The two facing outward did git hit. While I realize it's only 3 "data points", all fish that hit were on the lures in clearer water. Hence the desire for outriggers to get the tuna clones farther away from the white water of the prop wash.

I don't plan on running tons of rods - just 4 (maybe 6 at most). The Tomcat has a much bigger cockpit than a 22 and it's easy to fish 4 guys from the Tomcat. I've also found that I don't necessarily have to clear all the gear when a fish is on. In fact, it's often better to leave some gear out as that increases the likelihood of double and triple hookups. E.g. if you get a strike on one rod, it's likely that other fish are nearby so leave out as much gear as you can without causing too much trouble.

My issue with outriggers is that I've never used them and never really seen any close up in action. Hence, I don't really have the experience base from which to make a good purchase or to even figure out the best location to install them. But I will have them on the boat by June this year - ready for use in August for tuna. This year's fishing plans are:

May - Drano lake (guided). Spring king fishing to fill the freezer up a little. It's usually out of fish by March. 4-5 days with Mystical Legend guide service around the first weekend in May.

June -Tofino for kings, halibut, shrimp and bottom fish. Probably will have the boat at Weigh West marina for 7-10 days starting around mid June.

July - Neah Bay - probably will have the boat moored there for all of July. Again we'll be doing king fishing and bottom fishing. I plan to also scout at least one or two new locations for shrimp out on the ocean side. I haven't found them yet out there, but someday I will. We'll probably just do a few 3-4 day weekends at Neah Bay.

August - Ilwaco - I plan to moor in Ilwaco for all of August. That will allow for buoy 10 coho and king fishing and for tuna trips when the weather is good. So I have just 6 months to get ready for all of this.[/b]
 
sounds like I have to start sucking up for a tuna trip :lips
I have never used them here. Only once in Hawaii on a guide boat. It was a tomcat 225 in Maui. I like the idea for getting lines away from the boat and it might work well for silvers.

I have used a lot of side planners for trout on lakes and the big benefit of those is the distance to the side of the boat you can achieve. I was running mine up to 200 ft to the side of the boat and then 300 to 500 ft behind the boards. Some clear water trout are very spooky.
 
Roger, mine were Shakespear telescopic rods. The telescopic feature is nice, but they were fiberglass, and with multiple line on them, they were too flexible, thus not holding distance away from the boat well. I would insure that the rods you get are fairly stiff, thus they will work better as you load up the tackle. Mine also only had one line to the end of the rod, so I could only have one clip tied permanent on it. You could have multiple clips on multiple lines so the tackle management would be easier.
 
I installed a set on my radar arch. Had side plates welded between the tubes to mount the brackets. They are fiberglass type from Precision Marine. If you go to all this work I suggest you invest on the stiffer model because they dont whip about like the normal ones offered. They have been very productive for me when fishing for tuna i use downriggers for salmon
 
Helpful albacore hint ,never put a spread out without 1 or 2 black and purple Rapala Magnums . They are far and away the most productive lure on many days. They get under the wash and the slhouette is hard for the albies to resist . Have at least 4 on board at all times .
Marc
 
Mark - like this one?

Rap-cd-pm.jpg


How do they track and how deep do the go when you're doing 10kts or so?
 
Yes.
They work best at abot 6 or 7 Kts [thats the speed I troll in warm water as well] . They go 15 feet or so .I have taped up other light color magnums with black electrical tape and caught fish when the light colors dont work .
Out riggers are good ,but when the fish are thick and you have lures that they are biting ,4 boat lines can keep you pretty busy . Outriggers are good for prospecting though. I like to pull feathers on them . We always had good luck with Zuckers . 4 or 5 " long ,60 or 80 Lb leaders so they move well . Cedar plugs should be part of the Tuna arsenal as well . I'm having albacore nostalgia now.............
Marc
 
Roger, I sent you a PM.
Marc - I completely forgot..... will send out this week.

Marc is correct as far as speed is concerned. 10knts is for searching or for Blue Fins. I typically run 5-6knts on my CD-22. This help reduce the prop trail and keeps the lures from skipping out of the water.

The rapala or yozuri have models that dive upto 30'. These should be run tight to the boat and no more than 30' away or they will lose their action. If a tuna hits these lures, they may lose their action so you will have to tune them.

I dont want to open a can of worms regarding lures. Tuna clones, brooms, feathers, and cedar plugs are all proven lures but can skip out of the water if you dont control your speed or if there is alot of wind chop. Sumo makes jet heads that leaves a bubble trail and are heavier. They will not skip in 1' chop. Try not to break the bank on lures as lures tend to catch more fishermen than fish.

For the outrigger poles, the telescoping aluminum ones will work.
 
I have trolled up to eight rods fishing for striped bass on the left coast and on large lakes here in the east. Don't stop the boat when you get hooked up and let the fish fight backwards so it clears the other lines and then work it in. something that you may want to consider is a big jon otter boat. http://www.walleyetacklestore.com/bigjonotbopl.html

It goes out to the side like a planer board but you can run many lines off of it to increase your hook up chances. It would require some additional gear besides the otter boats like down rigger style clips for each line etc and possibly a pin mounted mast with a line reel.

Just my opinion on fishing in the wake here, I dont think the tuna really care so long as you get your stuff back far enough. I believe the otter boats would be cheaper than the outriggers and would allow you to get the spread/coverage you want
 
Roger,

When this all shakes out, maybe I will go ahead and put on bases for the outrigger poles and lanyards I already own. Thanks for asking the question.

I have lots of Tuna feathers, jet heads and Rapala type lures that I have bought over the years. I fished Mexico from 1972 to 2004, at least 1 trip per year.

Brent
 
Roger,

I added pictures of my outriggers to my photo album. Note, my outrigger mounts to a Maximizer, which allows me to adjust the angle of the outriggers to almost parallel to the water. This allows me to keep the lures in the water in rough seas or if I want to troll at faster speed. Again, I must stress that most who are not happy with their outriggers tend to have ones that are too narrow and flexible which contributes to whipping the lure out of the water.
 
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