Question: Rigging Umbrellas

[MikeVJ]

Wow - sounds like I've been doing something much different than many of you.

My umbrellas have 4 arms with 2 shads on each arm and then one in the center (with the hook) trailing on an 18" leader. So yeah, 9 shads total adds quite a lot of drag.

In the past (Massachusettes) I've fished umbrellas with 4 arms holding 8 tubes with 8 hooks. Sometimes we'd double or even triple up. But that's not how we do it in the Chesapeake...

I've seen the spreader bars - but never used one. Might hafta' add a few to my arsenal.

Thanks, guys.

Mike
The Miss Adventure

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I like about 30 -36 inch leader if using a single off the center.

I favor 2 oz parachutes as the trailing lure with a 9 inch shad.

60 lb clear Ande is my leader choice.

Wise to remove the swivel that comes with the umbrella and replace it with a Sampo ball bearing. They cost $3.00 or so but well worth it.

With short leader - a snagged baitfish or spinning Rockfish can cause leader to break - costing you a good lure.

One other trick - use a Tony # 19 or Cripple Alewife 11/0 spoon instead of a parachute. It really does good - call it the " secret weapon ".

The 8 shads all swim nicely but the spoon looks wounded and falling behind.

I like to run that off a down rigger.