Dredge Bar

[Split Bill]

Hey guys,

I'm setting up a dredge to fish for white marlin out of OI and am curious which bar's you guys start with? There are a bunch of choices out there, and would love some feedback! Here is what I've seen...

6 arm collapsable titanium dredge in 18-36" spans -- looks really nice, and is about $100. Is it worth the money?

4 or 6 arm fixed stainless models in 22-28" spans -- this is what I've used in the past and is about $25.

We are recreational guys fishing a 33' bertram and probably pull the dredge 4-6 times per year. I have to pull it off a down-rigger as our out-riggers are not strong enough for a pulley setup.

I'm also curious what you all would recommend in regards to trail baits. I was thinking rubber shads like you would use for rock-fishing, but know there's a lot of options out there as well.

Really appreciate any guidance. This is a christmas present, so kind of fun to set it up, but there's a lot of choices out there.

Thanks in advance!

Ed

PS, I am not against spending the $$ for a nicer bar and other materials if it is worth it, but at the same time always think it's worth asking the question before pulling the trigger.

[Anthony of the ARK]

just get the cheap bar 6 arms,only using it 4 to 6 times a year you should last you a few years. and if u lose it to a shark, whale or bad swivel it wont totally ruin your day cuz you didnt spend 100 on two bars.

you can find rubber fish that are kind of sliver on the bottom and black on the top, that would be my choice or artificial bait.
but i think a ballyhoo dredge will yield the best results for your money.

you can make a nice dredge for about 60 bucks.

or just go with a SQUIDNATION electric blue dredge

[mattmcl93]

If your going to use artificial baits on the dredge ( which I think work fine) I wouldn't get the really cheap ones you for like $10 - 15 . Those are fine if your using all naturals but the artificial baits have more drag and you end up losing arms fairly quickly. I dont think trolling a dredge with one or two arms missing does much good. We use the strike point dredge bars. The have the fixed titanium dredge bars with the swivels where each bait is attached so the baits dont get hung up. You can go more expensive if you would like. As for the baits you use with them- If you only using one dredge I would use the black pearl shad with a couple natural split tails mixed in. For a second one or second choice I would make a ballyhoo dredge with either manns ultimate hoos or the tuff hoos with a couple natural bally's mixed in.

[Fishypantsmagoo]

The collapsible dredges by offshore innovations are worth the money. 1)they store easy after use. 2) they are durable because of the titanium construction.

I have been using them for a few years now, along with other OI products, and am very happy with them. The holografish that come in their kits are the BEST artificials. They work great alone or with natural mixed in.

The cheap ones are good but with steady use the stainless arms do weaken. That is why I went with the titanium.

[Split Bill]

Thanks guys! Appreciate all the responses.

[marlin magnet]

I am partial to the Tournament Cable Titanium dredge
http://www.tournamentcable.com/pgs/c...cfm?itemcat=DR
They hold up very nice, I have some that have been trolled for 30+ days and don't show any signs of letting up.

[edge]

You can build better performing dredges for hundred a $100 you do not need the very expensive titanium materials to avoid bending.

In Cancun & Isla Mujeres we have to run for sailfish every day during the winter and dredges are a part of our everyday life.

very time consuming!

but when you have them they will make all the difference on the world!!!!!



We have production line made & home made on board and all have a Plus & a minus.

we build them with anything that we think that can work and experiment with them.

The best result we had withthem is with WELDING RODS. ( Stainless Steel welding rods) you can buy them by the pound..

they do not bend, do not rust, & have the size in thickness of the crimping swivels..

NEED..
*Stainless steel Bolt & (nut with a plastic end)



* welding rods.


*Plenty of Stainless washers and nylon.

*Crimping swivels.



*Lures you want !!



1= The method is simple, knock the material out it and keep the rods clean.

2= bend each end of a rod as perfect circle around a stainless steel Bolt

weld a stainless washer on the head of the bolt, stack washers in between the rod ends to generate pressure and weld the other end of the screw.

they will all collapse !!





OFF SHORE INOVATIONS!!.




Hectors Innovations LOL>
Note the dredege on the top of the bucket

http://img207.imageshack.us/f/dsc0016uv.jpg/

follow links as the pics are in full resolution!

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3223/dsc0017os.jpg



http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1156/dsc0023iy.jpg

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8721/p1140293.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/163/p1140271.jpg

by the way the sailfish season in ISLA MUJERES IS ON!! as of DEC 12/2010

[edge]

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9213/p1140333.jpg

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/6229/p1140334.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1948/p1140342.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5711/p1140341r.jpg


note the individual mini chains on each arm!!

for this season BASS LUERES LOL Swim bait on the dredge..






Cheers...

[mattmcl93]

What are those dredge baits called and where can you get them

[edge]

I went to a basspro & they had a bunch of this Swim baits FOR BASS(bass magic), LOL @ $1.50 4pk

we are trying them these season!!



this one works just fine, Just cut the hook