Center rigger of buggy top

[REEL ADDICTION]

Most of the times I am out trolling I do not use the center riggger I just place the rod in the top rod holder. It works better than using the cener riggger and I can fish 2 rod in the center. I was thinking of placing my center rigger up to off the buggy top. Any ideas of the pros and cons and do you think it will be too much weight up there I have 2 100v lights up there.

[CC28_NJ]

Not what you asked for but, I just screwed in a release clip in the center of the buggy top, and grab a line from a rod in the holder and run it up. Seems to work better than a center rigger on my 28, This line runs way up and out from everything else. It also doesn't put much pressure on the top at all.

[Bullish]

I like that idea....I never invested in the center rigger....why not just screw in a clip on the buggy top? Was there any particular clip that worked well for you?

[CC28_NJ]

This is all I used

It works really well. I also use the same ones on the transom for flatlines.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/478800030.htm

Nick

[Captain Spike]

I'm missing something here. When I first read it I thought "What a great idea" but now I'm not sure what the benefit is over just running it from the tip of a rod in the tower rod holder. Help me out because I know I'm missing something really obvious!

[CC28_NJ]

If your refering to the way I do it, your not missing anything, I just like a lot of bait in the spread, I run 2 rods from the tower next to each other in the middle holders. One runs direct from the rod tip and back, It's my second furthest in the spread, and the other I run off the clip on the buggy top and that is my furthest bait. This is just the way I like to run it, it gives me another bait down the middle, I love running cedar plugs there, But honestly running the one from the rod tip from the tower is just as good. I used that clip just to get more bait in the water, and I never liked the center rigger on a 28. It works but I found I like this better. Personal prefrence I guess. I'm a 28 who thinks he's a 35. The more money in the water the better. Right? Maybe I'm missing something.

Nick

[backman]

Inside out on the center rigger

This may seemed whacked out but I learned it from a friend on a downeast. I sometimes run a heavy jethead or zucker bar out of a transom rod holder staright up to the center rigger and dropped back to the edge of the propwash. Don't try this without safety straps! The height tends to make the heavy bar run better especially in sloppy conditions. The center bar is now the focal point of a V shaped spread.

I then run a ballyhoo off a rod in the tower rod holder opposite the spreader bar to avoid line cross. I drop that back a few waves past the spreader but inside the long rigger lures.

I have seen a blue marlin come right down the V of the spread and annihilate a green machine bar in that position.

[Bullish]

For me, the advantage of using a center rigger or the idea of fastening a release clip to the buggy top is that the rod will be near the cockpit and easy to handle when the fish strikes. When I first trolled with my boat a few years ago, I trolled one rod from one of rod holders in the tower....try passing that rod down to the cockpit with a 60 lb. yellowfin on! I figured it was just a matter of time before I lost a penn 50 tw overboard so I don't do it anymore.