Spreaderbar thoughts ?

[TOMMYV]

WOW, so many things do do in life, so many spreader bar builders. Someone should start a thread "how many spreader bar builders are there and what do you have to do to be considered one." Having been in business since 1996 with our initial product line consisting of NOTHING but Spreader Bars,(13 years of catalogs to prove it) I have seen many come and go but not much changing between four styles, NE Giant Tuna Squid bars by Murray Brothers (not widely used in the NE Canyons), Hi Speed bars by the Reel Seat (the only commercially available hi speed bars in the 90's) , Freds composite and our 5 position Hi Speed bars that came last of the four but are still being coppied by many. Some sink, some float, depending on mostly the preference of the captain and a simple list of facts that have mostly already been stated here. I like the analogy of the car motor, it is 100% true. I also like to give credit where credit is due and I will say, for whatever it is worth, the only product that I see in this thread that looks different is the G-Tech bar. That is unique. It is nice to see someone do something on their own.
There have been some other cool spin off products to the originals like the Tournament Cable Splash bars and a couple of others, but mostly nothing to different.
By the way, we havn't made any changes to ours bar in 13 years so something must be right!
Just my $.02

Stalker: Everybody's $.02 is worth something especially you guys! Your bars and Fred's were the first bars we ever ran. They were are staple in the spread for years. You guys inspired my partner and myself to figure out something different that works. Thank you for the acknowledgement in the vast world of spreader bars that we are unique. Call us sometime if you want to take a trip!

[R'nR Bob]

I thought I’d share this short story / report and fotos (from2003) that were sent to me by a friend that resides and fishes on the eastern side of the pond. I hope you all enjoy. “They were on the top north west of Ireland , off Donegal county .
The trolling speed with the bars was 3 knots.
They used 3 bars, 2 on re-enforced outriggers (aluminum tubes: leading edge of pendulum ULM aircraft) and one in the center.
They also used re-enforced release clips because of the traction; their lines were 130 pounds test.
The skipper wanted his squids to stay on the surface of the water. He made his own bars to accommodate to the weather up there. (Looks like the way Stalker Outfitters rigged theirs)
They would search for birds and tuna chases and then set up the bars. Tunas were feeding on big herrings in 100 feet deep water.
The skipper, sorry I forgot his name, the only one sportfishing in the area, was pretty successful and was fully booked during the 2 good months.
The tunas ranged between 200-600 pounds with the biggest he caught over 800 lbs; all released but records.”
Slow trolling wide bars with large (15 inch) squids. Squid chase bait as well.
R’n R Bob

[Patudo]

Adrian Molloy of the "Naomh Cartha". I spent a few days with him in September that year. Very fine seaman and boatman with great eyes. He has caught more bft than probably the rest of the Irish fleet put together. Much of Adrian's gear came from Fisherman's Outfitters.

There's a good series of photos of a satellite tagging trip here.
http://www.aquaphoto.ie/bluefin_html..._61_large.html Unfortunately Adrian's website www.tunacharters.ie does not seem to be online.

I'd like to go back some day, but the Irish autumn weather isn't the most hospitable. Never forget seeing those fish though.

[Roddy Hays]

The skipper, sorry I forgot his name, the only one sportfishing in the area, was pretty successful and was fully booked during the 2 good months.
The tunas ranged between 200-600 pounds with the biggest he caught over 800 lbs; all released but records

Adrian, is, and was, not the only sport-fishing outfit in the area. The originator of the fishing in this area (as in taking people to sea to fish for bluefin) was Michael McVeigh.

And Adrian is one of the most vehement rod&line commercial fishermen it has been my opportunity to meet.

"all released " ? Ya kidding me !

[Andrea LaDue]

I love G-tek!

[R'nR Bob]

Maybe these last fotos and last little bit of info would help with who the captain was on the trip. Fotos of the boats engine box and cockpit corner. As I recall, my friend said the Capt. would drive to the coast in the morning to check the sea conditions. If fishable, he’s load his group and travel 20 miles thru a fjord to the sea. They fished within 10 miles of the dirt on this trip. Capt had marks on his engine box that he used for rebuilding (squid spacing) the spreader bar wings as they tended to need rebuilding after each fish.
About all that I can recall except that this trips Capt. is no longer taking charters.
R'n R Bob

[Makoexpress]

He fishes Everol's. I understand they are very popular reels in other parts of the world.

[HCOBluewaterSFX]

BLUEFISH - Spreader Bars make great bluefish teasers!

One thing I have learned is spreader bars work and work very well.

In North Carolina people use them on the shotguns or long riggers.

In OC we use them on the flat lines and short riggers.

Jersey and North they use them in every position.

Some like stealth where just the squids are hanging in the water and the bar is out.

some attach birds to the bars to make them even noisier.

Some have to have floats so they can get drifter bites when other stuff is hooked up.

Some prefer they sink slowly so when the other baits get attacked and the boat slows, the bar starts to slowly sink where the majority of the school is lurking. Think about that one. Why is jigging so successful? Cause you are going down to where they live not up on the surface where they visit.

Some like 3 to 5 inch squids on the bars. Because they are matching the hatch. While some of the most successful charters I know purchase the absolute biggest squids they can find becuase it is their belief that they are trying to cause a ruckus to raise the fish from the depths - nothing more.

Some like them as teasers because they are a pain to wire or usually the fish outrun the bars - gets ahead of them and lose the hook. Some wouldn't think of deploying one without a hook - or two - or three

Some prefer a flex bar (some even like plastic bars) that will allow the squids to bunch up and spread out with the wake. kinda like watching a jellyfish swim. Whiles others use the a-frame style to keep the bars as straight as possible so the squids stay in perfect uniform position

I have not been doing this for ever but in the last 6 years of making and selling bars my biggest piece of advice would be. MAKE YOUR OWN! Don't get me wrong. I love selling complete bars. They work - you don't have to worry about making them - and you can blame someone else if they fail. But nothing beats the satisfaction of catching a big eye or yellowfin, bluefin or longfin on a bar that you tinkered with until you reached perfection.

Stop on by our store - http://squidnation.com and pick out your components or give me a call if you want my opinion.

410-726-3582 cell

bill

I use mine hanging in the salon. serving as a rack to hang other leaders.

[R'nR Bob]

I hang mine in the garden outside my kitchen window. Helps to remind me of days gone by.