| Managing of a spread is an important skill to be mastered by any offshore angler. The deployment of a spread can seem simple, but can be difficult in certain conditions. The first decision that needs to be made is, where to put what. The basic slow troll spread can be seen in the diagram on the right, but this may differ depending on wind, seas, the depth fish are being caught, the type or size of bait being used, and angler preferences. The basic rules of line deployment call for the lines that are to be fished deep on down- riggers are to be deployed first. These are followed by the top line that will be fished the furtherest back in the spread, and so on until all the lines have been set. Though it might not matter on calm days, this scenero is a must on those days when winds, waves or current can cause lines to tangle during deployment. Practicing correct deployment each time it's done will ensure it's done correctly in critical situations. Because rigged dead baits don't require as much inspection as top baits, which can usually be seen from the boat, most fishermen will deploy dead baits, like ribbonfish, on the down-riggers. Most live baits should be fishing on the top lines. The exception can be very hardy live baits, like mullet and blue runners, which may fished deep due to there strength and longevity when trolled. When managing a spread, it is important to realize that it is not many individual baits, but rather a simulated food chain of several baits. This means that if one bait in the spread is foul hooked, dead, spinning or swimming unnaturally, it will blow the entire presentation. It is better to have fewer baits than to fish a full spread incorrectly when there are too few hands on board or weather conditions are making things difficult. When all the lines are out, it's not time to hit the bean bag for a nap. These lines need to be inspected almost constantly, making sure baits are running correctly and adjusting lengths. Constantly adjusting the lengths of the lines is a great trick to trigger strikes. We don't want baits to follow and inspect our baits. We want them to feel that they have cut a bait from the school. The slightest change in the bait's swimming pattern can trigger a following king to attack. After a hit, it is probably even more important that the remaining lines are retreived in order. We don't have time to deal with tangled lines when chasing a big kingfish. The increased excitement and a faster moving boat that is turning doesn't make matters easier. The down-riggers should be brought up first, ensuring they will not get tangled in a motor propeller. Then work from the shortest lines to the longest. Some anglers will leave one line out at a short distance in case another king decides to come and see what all the excitement is about. Spread management should be no problem once all on the boat know and understand the tasks involved, and when to perform them. I've often said, "I love introducing kingfishing to friends, but there better be at least two fishermen on board that know what's going when attempting to boat a winning kingfish." |
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| Kingfish Trolling Spread |
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| SKA Professional Saltwater Tournament Team |
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