The Art of Rigging Skirted Trolling Lures

Delving into the world of skirted trolling lures for marlin and their rigging techniques will take you far deeper down the rabbit hole than plug fishing ever could. This is part two in our Rigging Trolling Lures series, where we'll focus on head shapes, skirting materials, and why rigging remains such a subjective art.

My fascination with rigging trolling lures dates back to the very beginning of In The Spread. In fact, the first video I ever produced demonstrated how to rig a Joe Yee plunger for marlin fishing in Costa Rica. This aspect of big game fishing continues to captivate me to this day. While your target species—whether marlin, tuna, wahoo, or dolphin—ultimately determines what your finished lure looks like, I'll narrow our focus to marlin fishing, as there's a sea of difference between rigging for wahoo and rigging for marlin.

Quality Matters in Trolling Success

You can troll virtually anything behind your boat, but that doesn't necessarily translate to catching fish. The most successful anglers I know meticulously select what they troll, how they rig it, and constantly evaluate its productivity in the spread. No pun intended.

Spread management plays a crucial role in determining whether you're catching fish or just burning fuel. What I've observed worldwide is that elite big game fishermen use very specific lures crafted by renowned lure makers. While they don't all use identical lures, there's significant overlap in preferred brands. Names like Big T, Black Bart, Moyes, and Joe Yee consistently appear on top game boats for good reason.

Species Specific Rigging

Trolling and lure rigging is largely species-specific. Certainly, there's some crossover—you might catch dolphin or tuna on marlin lures—but experienced anglers have specific criteria in mind when rigging trolling lures. It would be unusual for a serious fisherman to troll lures without clear intent.

How an angler approaches rigging is highly subjective. Though the best big game fishermen share common techniques, subtle nuances differentiate each one's approach. These differences typically stem from individual experiences and initial training. My own rigging technique, for instance, has evolved considerably over the years.

The Complexity of Marlin Lure Rigging

When you begin rigging skirted trolling lures specifically for marlin, Pandora's box flies open. The sheer volume of head shapes, sizes, and designs is mind-boggling. For any given species, options seem infinite.

Once you've selected a lure head, you enter the expansive world of:

Skirts
Hooks and hook sets
Monofilament
Cable and wire
Shrink tube
Chafe gear
Spacers
Rubber stoppers
Glue
Heat guns
Lighters
Floss
Lubricants
And countless other accessories

Learning Through Demonstration

Explaining how to rig trolling lures in an article, even with images, presents challenges. The most effective learning comes from watching demonstrations while experts explain their process and reasoning. That's precisely why we offer several videos featuring accomplished big game fishermen guiding you step-by-step through the entire rigging process.

What I can share here are insights on skirting and how head and skirt combinations create desired swimming actions in the water.

Head Shapes and Spread Positioning

Here's a general guide to head shapes and their optimal positions in the trolling spread. Remember, how water flows across a head shape primarily determines its swimming action:

Short Corner Lure – Large, heavy head with an aggressive slant shape that stays down – wave 2
Long Corner Lure – Longer shaped head like a super plunger that tracks straight – wave 3
Short Rigger Lure – Pear shape with aggressive slant or concave design creating a large bubble trail – wave 4
Long Rigger Lure – Medium plunger with nice wobble and popping action on the surface – wave 5
Shotgun Lure – Subtle lure that runs clean, easy to catch, or bullet-shaped – wave 7

The Art of Proper Skirting

I frequently see over-skirted lures—a common mistake to avoid. Once attached to the head, the skirt should never protrude or bulge beyond the lure head's diameter. Whatever follows the head affects the action. Since the head is designed to swim a specific way, a skirt larger or wider than the head will override the head's design dynamics.

You don't need as much bulk in your lure as many anglers believe. The heavier and longer the skirt, the more influence it exerts on the lure's action.

The Kite Analogy

David Brackmann shared an excellent analogy with me. For those unfamiliar, David is a highly accomplished angler from Southern California who has fished globally and excels at teaching big game fishing principles.

He compares a lure to a kite: If a kite's flight pattern becomes too erratic, you add a tail, creating drag and stabilizing the kite's action. Similarly with trolling lures, removing material from your inner skirt makes the lure more active, while using a longer skirt slows its action.

There's a delicate balance to achieve. Ideally, you want the head—not the skirt—to control the action. Understanding this balancing act comes with experience. The more you run lures in various sea conditions, observe their behavior, and adjust your rigging accordingly, the more you'll refine your approach.

The same principle applies to hooks. Double hooks slow the action, while fewer hooks (like a single hook) increase action. Experiment with different configurations to achieve your desired outcome.

Learning from the Experts

If you want to learn rigging techniques from accomplished blue marlin anglers, check out these valuable resources:

Learn Rigging From Top Pros

Offshore Trolling Lures and Rigging Techniques

Trolling Lures - Offshore Fishing and Rigging Techniques

Trolling Lures - Design Thoughts with Peter Bristow

Trolling Lures - Rigging for Offshore Fishing

Trolling Lures - Offshore Fishing Basics with Roddy Hays

Blue Marlin - Rigging Lures with RJ Boyle

Blue Marlin - Trolling Lures with Andy Moyes

Featured

Kevin Hibbard holding lures with rubber skirts and vinyl skirts

Vinyl vs. Rubber Trolling Lure Skirts for Fishing Blue Marlin

Rigging Marlin Fishing Lures and Terminal Connections

Blue Marlin - Rigging Lures and Terminal Connections

This represents just a small selection of available content. Visit our Blue Marlin section or Lures section under saltwater fishing for more videos on rigging trolling lures, how different head shapes perform, and when to deploy specific lures based on sea conditions.

Seth Horne In The Spread,
Chief Creator