Operating Instructions on a Fishing Outrigger

Outriggers are long poles outfitted with special clips designed to allow fishermen to troll multiple baits behind a boat. The clips of the outrigger holds the angler's line out a certain length to one side of the boat or the other. Besides allowing the use of multiple lines, outriggers also put the baits out and away from the boat's prop-wash, which can spook fish and prevent them from striking.

Things You'll Need

  • Boat
  • Outrigger
  • Fishing rod with reel and line
  • Bait
  • Rod holder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the fishing pole in a rod holder near the outrigger as the boat is moving at a slow trolling speed. Open the spool on the reel allowing the line to flow freely off the spool. If using an open-faced reel, keep a thumb lightly on the line as it unspools from the reel to prevent tangles.

    • 2

      Close the spool to prevent more line coming out when the bait has reached the desired distance behind the boat, and loosen the drag on the reel -- this will prevent the line from breaking in the event of a powerful strike from a large fish.

    • 3

      Clip the fishing line to the line-release clip on the outrigger -- test the clip a few times to make sure it will release the line quickly and easily. The line-release clip is attached to a piece of rope run through a pulley. Pull that rope through the pulley so that the clip-release carries the fishing line up to the outer tip of the outrigger pole.

    • 4

      Swing the outrigger pole to the outside of the boat. The line-release clip holding the fishing line should be at the tip of the outrigger pole several feet away from the side of the boat.

    • 5

      Pull a few handfuls of line off the reel to make sure the line flows smoothly through the entire system.