How to Set Up Outriggers

Often confused with downriggers, which allow running the bait at an increased depth, fishing outriggers are designed to keep multiple fishing lines, from separate poles, from tangling. Extending out from the sides of the boat, outriggers hold the fishing lines far enough apart to preventing the lines from crossing while maneuvering the boat. Setting a boat up with outriggers allows the vessel to make sharper turns, saving fuel while allowing you to stay closer to the action.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select an outrigger design that best suits your boat. For dedicated fishing vessels, used exclusively for fishing, choose permanently mounted outriggers that bolt to the deck or cabin of the boat. For smaller crafts, a pair of removable outriggers that clamp to the boats gunwale or handrail are better choices.

    • 2

      Mount the outriggers to the boat and install the carrying cables according to the manufacturer's instructions. When installing fishing line clips, ensure the clips are on the outside of the cables, away from the poles, with the clips facing towards the back of the boat.

    • 3

      Lower swing arm outriggers or extend outriggers with telescoping arms to their maximum reach away from the boat. Pull the line clips as close to the boat as possible.

    • 4

      Cast the bait into the water. Clip the line through the line clip on the outrigger cable. Run the cable through the pulleys until the line clip reaches the end of its travel at the far end of the outrigger.

    • 5

      Prepare for a strike. Some models of clips will release the fishing line automatically when a fish takes the bait, whereas others need to have the line pulled from the clip manually.