PULLING A DREDGE

[30' PURSUIT]

I'M ADDING A DREDGE TO THE SPREAD THIS YEAR AND WOULD LIKE YALLS THOUGHTS. SHOULD IT BE PULLED WITH A PLANER OR LEAD? HOW MUCH LEAD? HOW DEEP?

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT GUYS.

[shoefish]

I'm thinking about adding that to our spread this year as well. From what I've been told, most people use a big dredge weight and pull the whole thing from a dedicated rod (usually a 80 or 130).

[mike wesson]

we pull our dredges off the riggers, you can do this by attaching pulleys to the riggers, run your cord through them tie it off to the tower leg. much easier to pull out of the water or away from fish when they come on it. the weight depends on the size dredges your pulling singles, doubles , mullett or ballys, with the dredges off the riggers you can pull them right on the edge of the wash, you can see them much better than off the stern cleat or a rod. plus leaves rod holder open for another rod, and the dredge cords don't hang on the corner of the boat in a turn.also you can leave the dredge hanging above the water when backing on a fish and you don't have to deal with them being in the way while fighting a fish.

[Chuck Richardson]

There are quite a few ways to add weight to a Dredge Teaser and there are just as many choices as to how much weight is required.

First there are questions that have to be answered. How large is the Dredge, what it will be rigged with, how fast you are going to be trolling. What size boat and how good is the crew are a couple more things to consider as well.

As far as the weights, there are several to consider. Standard trolling leads come in 24, 32 & 48oz. These can be rigged in a number of ways. There is also a 66oz. Dragon weight that could be used, a modified Manns G50 as well as a Loon. Some Dredges are being pulled and kept down with standard down riggers and planner set-ups.

Some are pulling from a dedicated dredge rods equipped with expensive electric reels.You can pull them from cleats and out-riggers too. Dredges and all that’s needed are very expensive and it’s important to look at all these things closely before you pull the trigger.

No matter what dredge you buy or from whom, they are extremely effective for whatever you're after.

[OffTheHookB&T]

Another option you can use is a downrigger. They work great and with the swivel holders you can move them up the side of the boat clearing the transom area.

[Bert Rodgers]

Their are some pricey dredge wieghts out there and a lot of folks simply insert wieghts into large bulb squid. Another idea is to paint a couple of 36 oz inlines blue and white(or any color) and run them dirtecly in front of the dredge.

Bert

[mike wesson]

if you want to start with a dredge that's easy to deal with, buy the MoJo dredges that Chaos makes they come rigged and ready to go , 15 fish each attach 2 together with a 48oz inline weight with a skirt on it directly in front of it. pull it off the cleat, you will figure out what works for your boat , with these dredges you save alot of hours of rigging and they also raise fish. they are $150.00 each rigged and ready to pull, and look good in the water.

[pitch bait]

Practice, Practice, Practice. Dont get fed up with the dredge because it is difficult to pull and a royal pain in the but to fish around. Master it, make it work for you and not against you, then reap the rewards.