TROLLING OFFSHORE USING BIRD T'ZERS

[ancient mariner]

OFFSHORE BIRDS!!!!
Hi Guys:
Just got back from a few days of offshore fishing. Most of the hits and catch were on rigs with BIRDS out in front.
I have attached ( SWMBO did it 'cause I can't) some pictures showing why I put BIRDS out in front of trolled lures.
Look at the pictures aand you'll see how BIRDS react on the water. I have three(3) close up of a
Black, Chartruse, Green bird. I have them working on a straight troll and another picture on a curve NEXT to the propwash. PERFECT positioning for trolled lures for me.
I firmly believe that the ADDITION of a BIRD, any BIRD, will help you get more fish UP into your spread, AND more importantly keep them there for multiple hookups.
For YFT, I found that putting a lure as close to the chine wake was the key for me.
For BFT, I found that back in the 3rd-5th wake wave work best and a slower troll, but I guess, you all knew that already.
It's certainly nice to get home with lots of fillets in your cooler. Now get out there and :
Wackm 'N Stackm
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
PS:
All the birds were on the FRONT of each WAKE WAVE while the lures rode in the next wake wave. I also found that
when I ran a jet behind a BIRD, I had to keep the jet WAY to the OUTSIDE of the propwash. On spreader bars, I would position the BIRD/jet combo BEHIND and OUTSIDE of the spreader bar. Why? I don't know. I do know, it out performed being put
between the spreader bar and the prop wash.
For me that was the best presentation on both boats that I was on.
Where do you place all your lures?
Do any use BIRDS?
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner

[Chasin_Tail]

I have used birds on my teasers or my WWB lures with limited success.

Can you share a little more -

Behind the bird, how long was the leader, 2ft - 3ft behind the bird?

Did you have meat/ballyhoo on the jet or do you run them naked?

Did you run naked ballyhoo behind the bird?

I'm heade to OI this weekend and would love/appreciate any advice!

[Sterling Tackle]

We use birds all the time to lead of a daisy chain. The fish are drawn to the commotion of fleeing bait. The birds mimic bait skipping across the surface to evade a predator. We sell one chain that is a series of three birds then a stinger.

[ancient mariner]

HI::
I make and sell my own brand of birds. I add a special tail to each bird and add a length of leader behind the bird to a snapswivel thats HIDDEN by a double skirt. I found that by hiding that snapwsivel. I get more hits 'n hookups. I've watched them come thru the spread and turn AWAY 'Till I hid that snapswivel. At certain speeds, that snapswivel makes a noise Tuna don't like.
I run birds in front of everything.
On the WWWBack bird, I run A). 6 inch cedar.B). GM in GREEN/YELLOW. C). MY OWN spreader bar.
I runBirds off each rigger and run a THREE(3) T'ZER setup on EACH lure. the hooklure(predator) is matched to what I'm after....Mahi...BFT...YFT...colors, and size.
I run them CLIPPED DOWN low and run them in the 3rd wake wave. Behind them feathers or small CEDARS for YFT or BFT here.
I run them in the 4th-5th wake wave for AVERYTHING. Whatever swims will eventually some thruy my spread here.
Again. EACH lure has a three(3) T'ZER setup on the leader going to the bird. Here GM's in Blue/Pink, Green/Yellow,etc on one side and feather ot JETS on the other. I ALWAYS make sure the JET is on the OUTSIDE of a lure thats in front and also OUT side, AWAY, from the propwash. LOOK AT THE PICTURES for placement.
I run NAKED Bally's this time of year behind abird. Later on, I'll add a Seawitch,Ilander etc in front of the Bally.
Have I ever run a three BIRD SETUP.....YOU BETCHA. I'll run them back in the 5th-7th wake waves. They really turn on Tuna and Mahi and even MARLIN.
You can look at my website to see how I make birds and lures.
Now get oyt there and:
WACKM 'N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
www.ancientmarinertackle.com

PS:
I make two(2) kindsa of birds. One is for lighter line and the other for 100+ pound lines.
Joseph B.

[flvol77]

We use birds all the time to lead of a daisy chain. The fish are drawn to the commotion of fleeing bait. The birds mimic bait skipping across the surface to evade a predator. We sell one chain that is a series of three birds then a stinger.

When I opened this thread I was thinking about the daisy chains that I bought from you....used them for the first time this last weekend (very new to the offshore scene) and we caught all kinds of fish...Bonita (as in double digits) The wife had a blast fighting them and it got her mind off the rough seas, wahoo, (landed one, lost two ) and many Barracuda, I used them as more of a teaser and connected them to a cleat on the back of the boat. We fished an hour with out them with no fish and three hours with them and I lost count how many we caught.

[ancient mariner]

HI Chasin Tail:

I use at least 6+ feet on all my leaders. If I use a rig on the Way,Way,Way back rig, I'll use a 8+ foot leader. THat way, I feel a tuna comin up behind the Bird/T'ZER/Hooklure has enough space to home in on the hooklure.
All other places, I run a 6-7 foot leaders that has the three(3) T'zers on the leader line.
IF you look at my birds, you'll see that the snapswivel is also covered by a doubled up plastic squids. and it is 12 inches berhind the bird. I do that to :
1,) keep the bird free and easy to flop the wings in the sea and reduce drag from the lure.
2,) hides ths snap swivel to stop the sound of the swivel in the water. Certain speeds create a sound Tuna just don't like.
Hope I've helped.
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
www.ancientmarinertackle.com

[canyongear]

hmmm...admin hasn't seen the above post yet..it's #4