How to Rig a Trolling Spread: Offshore Lure Placement Guide

Setting up a proper trolling spread is like conducting an orchestra on the high seas. Each lure, teaser, and line has its specific place and role, working in harmony to create the irresistible illusion of a panicked school of baitfish fleeing for their lives. Get the symphony right, and you'll attract pelagic predators from miles around, turning your wake into a feeding frenzy. Get it wrong, and you might as well be dragging empty hooks all day without a single strike.

Whether you're running a 25-foot center console out of Morehead City or a 60-foot sportfisher in the Gulf Stream, the fundamental principles of a good trolling spread remain the same. It's all about creating maximum commotion to draw fish in, covering a wide swath of water at different depths, and presenting your hooked lures in clean, highly visible pockets where curious predators can easily spot and attack them. We've set and refined spreads from the Carolinas to the Caribbean, catching everything from mahi to blue marlin, and here's what consistently works to put fish in the box.

Understanding the Fundamentals of a Trolling Spread

At its core, a trolling spread leverages your boat's motion, noise, and wake to mimic natural prey and attract gamefish from afar. As you troll at typical speeds of 6-9 knots, your vessel's hull displaces water and the propellers create a trail of bubbles, turbulence, and low-frequency vibrations that travel far underwater, piquing the curiosity of nearby pelagics like tuna, mahi, wahoo, and billfish.

The key is building on this foundation with a strategic array of hookless teasers for attraction and hooked lures for catching. A well-designed spread creates visual and auditory chaos that draws fish close, then funnels them to your baits in clear water lanes.

Key components of a basic to advanced spread include:

• Flat lines: Lures run directly from rod tips or transom clips, positioned close to the boat (15-40 feet back) in the first or second wave for surface action.
• Short riggers: Lures clipped to outrigger halyards and positioned 40-80 feet back in the second or third wave.
• Long riggers: Extended outrigger positions for lures 80-150 feet back in the fourth or fifth wave, often diving subsurface.
• Shotgun or center line: A single rod in a center holder with lure way back (200-400 feet) in the sixth wave or beyond for shy or deep fish.
• Teasers and dredges: Hookless attractors like daisy chains, squid spreads, or bird teasers to create flash, splash, and movement without risk of tangles.
• Planers or downriggers: Optional for getting select lures deeper into the water column.

The overarching goal is to position lures in 'clean water' lanes - the clear areas between the central white prop wash and the outer chine spray from the hull. Stagger the distances and depths so lures swim naturally without tangling, even on turns. A good spread covers surface skim to 20-30 feet down and spans 50-100 feet wide to maximize your fishing footprint.

Your boat's size and setup limit how many lines you can realistically run without descending into chaos. Small boats might max out at 4-6 lines, while larger vessels with multiple outriggers can handle 8-12 or more. Always prioritize quality over quantity - a well-tuned 4-line spread consistently outperforms a tangled 8-line mess.

Step-by-Step Guide to Rigging an Effective Spread

Follow this sequence to build your spread efficiently and minimize tangles:

1. Deploy teasers first. These hookless attractors form the foundation. Run a Compact Squid Dredge or Flash Banger Daisy Chain off a dedicated rod or cleat on each side, positioned in the first-second wave close to the boat. Add bird teasers or splash bars if targeting surface feeders.

2. Set flat lines. Clip small to medium lures like skirted ballyhoo rigged with Ballyhoo Pin Rigs or Easy Wahoo Lure to flat line clips on the transom or gunwales. Position them in the first or second wave, 15-40 feet back, running just below the surface in clean water lanes.

3. Deploy short riggers. Send larger splashy lures like chuggers or plungers (e.g. Black Mirror Wahoo) out on the short rigger halyards. Set 40-80 feet back in the second-third wave for maximum disturbance.

4. Run long riggers. Position slimmer tracking lures like bullets or jets (try the Axis Wahoo Lure) 80-150 feet back in the fourth-fifth wave for subsurface appeal.

5. Add the shotgun/center line. Rig a small, durable lure like a cedar plug or Sea Witch on heavy mono and send it way back 200-400 feet to the sixth wave or beyond for following fish.

6. Fine-tune and test the spread. Accelerate to your target trolling speed (consult our trolling speed chart for species recommendations) and observe each lure's action. Adjust positions, skirts, or weights so they swim naturally without skipping or tumbling. Make test turns in both directions to check for crossing lines and tangles, repositioning as needed.

For those new to trolling, start with a basic 4-line setup as detailed in our trolling lures for beginners guide before expanding to more complex patterns.

Lure Selection and Strategic Placement Tips

Lure choice and position should be tailored to your target species, prevalent bait size, water conditions, and time of day. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Short positions (flat lines and short riggers): Opt for large, splashy lures to create maximum disturbance close to the boat where fish first enter the spread. Chuggers, plungers, and large jet heads like the Easy Wahoo Lure excel here, running on or just under the surface to generate bubbles and noise that draw attention from afar.

Long positions (long riggers): Choose slimmer profiles that track straight at speed without tumbling, such as bullet heads, jets, or tubes like the Axis Wahoo Lure. These dive 5-15 feet deep and appeal to fish investigating from below or the sides.

Shotgun/center: Small, tough lures that can handle extreme distance without twisting line or losing action, such as cedar plugs or small daisy chains.

Color selection: Match the hatch with blues/whites/silvers in clear water to mimic flying fish or squid, pinks/oranges in murky conditions for visibility. Dark purples/blacks for low light or deep running. Rig all lures with 200-300lb mono leaders and ball bearing swivels to prevent twist.

Stagger heights too - some surface skimmers, some divers - to cover the water column. Rotate lures periodically to find what works that day.

Incorporating Teasers and Dredges Effectively

Teasers are the unsung heroes of any great spread, creating irresistible flash, splash, and movement to draw fish from deep or far away without the risk of tangles from extra hooks. Simple daisy chains like the Flash Banger with 6-8 squids or birds work great on short lines or outrigger tips, positioned in the first-third waves.

For maximum bait ball imitation, run a Compact Squid Dredge off a dedicated heavy rod or cleat on each side. These multi-tiered arrays of 20+ squids create huge visual profiles underwater. Position in the first-second wave close to the boat. In rough water, use lighter single-tier teasers to avoid excessive drag and tangles.

Pro tip: Rig teasers with quick-release snaps for easy switching, and check frequently for weeds or damage that reduces effectiveness.

Species-Specific Trolling Spread Adjustments

Tailor your setup to target species for better results:

Mahi (dolphinfish): Lots of small colorful lures close in on flat lines and short riggers. Add multiple surface teasers to bring schooling mahi to the boat. Troll 7-8 knots along weed lines.

Tuna: Deeper-running lures on long riggers and planers like the Planer Bridle. Higher speeds 8-10 knots. Add bird teasers or splash bars for surface yellowfin.

Wahoo: High-speed 10-14 knots with wire leaders and dark/purple lures close to the boat. Short spreads to avoid cut-offs. See our wahoo fishing guide for more.

Billfish (marlin, sailfish): Large skirted ballyhoo or naked ballyhoo on circle hooks from riggers. Multiple dredges and teasers. Slower 6-8 knots with lots of lure action.

Common Trolling Spread Mistakes and Fixes

Overcrowding leads to constant tangles - fix by running fewer lines and staggering properly. Improper staggering causes crossing on turns - keep shorts inside and above longs.

Wrong trolling speeds make lures swim poorly or skip - match to conditions, lures, and species per our speed chart. Forgetting to check for weeds, debris, or damage fouls action quickly - inspect every 30-60 minutes.

Not adjusting for sea state - shorten lines and reduce numbers in rough water to maintain control, extend in calm conditions for wider coverage. Poor leader connections fail on big fish - use quality crimp sleeves and test rigs.

Advanced Trolling Tips and Techniques

• Incorporate planers: Use a Planer Bridle on flat lines to get lures 20-40 feet deep for tuna without downriggers.
• Add daisy chains: Run hookless chains like Flash Bangers between lured lines for extra flash without more hooks.
• Vary lure actions: Mix chuggers for splash, pushers for smoke trails, swimmers for wobble to appeal to different preferences.
• Monitor with tech: Use a waterproof drone or underwater camera to check lure action and spread from unique angles.
• Night trolling setups: Add glow sticks, LED lights, or bioluminescent lures for after-dark sessions targeting swordfish or tuna.
• Pattern variations: Try diamond or W shapes instead of straight lines for better coverage in some conditions.
• Maintenance routine: Rinse gear with freshwater after each trip, check leaders for nicks, reskirt lures as needed.

A well-rigged and maintained trolling spread can turn average offshore days into epic hauls of mahi, tuna, wahoo, and billfish. Start with basic patterns, experiment with lure types and positions, and fine-tune based on what's producing bites. Soon you'll be dialing in custom spreads that consistently put quality fish on deck. For high-speed wahoo-specific tactics, dive into our comprehensive wahoo fishing guide.

Questions about trolling lures, rigs, or spread setups? Call us at 888.453.3742 or email help@thetackleroom.com. Tight lines and screaming drags!

Know Before You Go: Regulations change frequently. Always check current size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear restrictions with your state fisheries agency before heading out. For Atlantic species, visit ASMFC.org for interstate management updates.