How to Rig a Lee Outrigger

Lee outriggers give deep-sea anglers the ability to fish multiple lines and troll at least a few of those lines out to the sides of the boat where prop wash and engine noise won't scare fish off of the baits. Rigging and fishing Lee outriggers can seem complicated at first, but the basic concept is simple and can improve your fish-catching ability.

Things You'll Need

  • Boat
  • Lee outriggers
  • Fishing pole with reel spooled with the angler's choice of line and rigged with bait
  • Rod holder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fit the butt of the fishing pole into a rod holder on the same side of the boat of the Lee outrigger you want to rig for fishing. With the boat moving at a slow trolling speed, press the button or open the bail on the reel allowing line to unspool from the reel and the bait to slip into the water behind the boat. Put a thumb over the face of an open-faced reel to prevent overspooling. Allow the bait to reach the desired distance behind the boat and close the bail on the reel or engage the reel by turning the crank so that no more line is released.

    • 2

      Pull a bit of line from beyond the tip of the fishing pole and clip it into the line clip-release on the Lee outrigger. The clip release is attached a heavy piece of monofilament or rope on the outrigger and connected to a pulley system. The clip should be close to the base of the outrigger setup at this point. In the process of clipping the line into the clip-release make sure the clip release is opening and closing smoothly.

    • 3

      Pull the line on the outrigger's pulley system to move the line clip-release up to the farthest point possible near the tip of the outrigger's pole.

    • 4

      Swing the outrigger out beyond the edge of the boat until it clicks into the locked position and has carried the fishing line out beyond the side of the boat.

    • 5

      Check the drag setting on the fishing reel. You want line to be able to pull smoothly off the reel to prevent line breakage in the event of a strike from a large fish.