Making Dredges & Teasers work for you

(Originally published July/August 2023)

By Capt. Ricky Wheeler

There is no question how effective dredges and teasers are in helping raise fish into your trolling spread, especially billfish. There are so many different kinds of teasers and dredges on the market now that it is easy to get lost in what really works, and what doesn’t anymore. Before you can even get to figuring that out for yourself, you have to be set up correctly to properly and effectively tow these teasers and dredges to have any chance at being successful with them.

For those who have not done it before, pulling dredges and teasers can seem like a daunting task. Along with that, it can be quite expensive; teasers and dredges are pricey, and many people would get sticker shock at the expense of a good electric reel to manage these fish raising contraptions.

All of this said, if you want to catch more billfish, and especially compete in billfish tournaments, you need to be able to troll with dredges and teasers!

THE SETUP

If you have never pulled dredges and teasers before, here is what you need to ask:

Are your outriggers strong enough to support the weight of a dredge?

Is the outrigger angle low enough to keep the dredge in the water at trolling speed and not impair your ability to properly use your outrigger lines? Where