Tangled 3-way halibut rig

Hello all,

I thought somebody might have some advice since I can't seem to nail this one down. I keep getting tangled up while trolling my 3-way rig and was wondering if it could be due to too much line out or possibly too much/too little weight weight? It seems that the lines of the rig tangle up onto the braided line. I've been using a 7' ugly stick tiger ml with 40 lb braid to the rig with a swivel in between. Using 8 or 10 oz lead balls. I'd like to not go through three tangled rigs every time out if possible haha. Thank you.

Hello all,

I thought somebody might have some advice since I can't seem to nail this one down. I keep getting tangled up while trolling my 3-way rig and was wondering if it could be due to too much line out or possibly too much/too little weight weight? It seems that the lines of the rig tangle up onto the braided line. I've been using a 7' ugly stick tiger ml with 40 lb braid to the rig with a swivel in between. Using 8 or 10 oz lead balls. I'd like to not go through three tangled rigs every time out if possible haha. Thank you.

I’m a ball bearing trolling swivel addict…not sure if this helps…

I'll try that. Thanks Eddie. Hopefully the wind at Tomales on Friday is bearable to sneak in an after work session to try it out.

I don't really use the three way swivels as they are very prone to tangling. A plastic striper slider (not sure the actual name), a spreader or even just running your mainline through a swivel eye above a ball bearing swivel at the top end of your leader have all helped me avoid the tangles. Of those, the spreader may be the easiest.

Either way, if your bait is spinning correctly, you're going to get your leader spun up without a good ball bearing or bead chain swivel on it.

Thank you Corey. I'm going to have to go down to the tackle store and look at my options. It's looking like making my own rig with a ball bearing swivel or spreader is going to be better than the store bought pre made ones.

I am sure you are doing it correctly but make sure you are moving when you descend your 3-way rigs.

Paul

I used to have problems like you and I fix it by putting bead chain whenever a line connect to something.  The problem went away, but the whole rig just looks bad.  So I use the below and the problem went away.  Like others said, make sure you are moving when you send it down and slowly let out the line.


Also, make sure you dont let out more lines than necessary.  If you are not touching the bottom, use heavier sinker.  Another good alternative is to use a spreader bar.  Keep in mind you want an L shape between your sinker rig and the lure leader (or at least as close to L shape as possible).


Another thing to try is to lengthen your leaders (I like the leader to be at least 3x the sinker line).  For me, that's 12-24' of sinker line, therefore 36-72' leader.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/pucci-sliding-swivels?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CStandard%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlbGK1KKa-AIVgR-tBh2wlAV9EAQYASABEgJQLfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

this is part of why I run heavy weights. i like to keep the angles as perpendicular as i can, but if you have to let a lot of line out to get down, and the blowback pushes everything behind your the angle gets smaller and the weight and leader start to get closer.   if the leader twists, try a swivel halfway. it works very well. i use SD Jam knots.

Thank you everyone. Luckily I have rigged up similar to the L shape and have some bead chain I can try out. I'll give that a try too. If anybody is out at Tomales soon, it seems a few more halibut are being caught, just not by me. Theres more bait and the water has been getting much warmer.

I also got some lucky craft 110 minnows I'm going to try out on the rig too if anybody is familiar using those for halibut. I haven't been able to catch anything for bait besides mondo smelt. The small chovies don't want to play it seems and frozen bait hasn't been working.

I too like the small spreader bar.  I am not an expert but have been experimenting and it seems to work well to prevent tangles while deploying.  I was frankly shocked every time I checked my line while trolling this past weekend it wasn't tangled. 

I also got some lucky craft 110 minnows I'm going to try out on the rig too if anybody is familiar using those for halibut. I haven't been able to catch anything for bait besides mondo smelt. The small chovies don't want to play it seems and frozen bait hasn't been working.

They'll hit miniature mondo smelt...just make sure they chew and floss with that dangle stinger...

I also got some lucky craft 110 minnows I'm going to try out on the rig too if anybody is familiar using those for halibut. I haven't been able to catch anything for bait besides mondo smelt. The small chovies don't want to play it seems and frozen bait hasn't been working.

The lucky craft minnows can be very effective but I feel  crank baits are the most difficult method to use when you are dealing with currents. In order to get a strike the lure needs to have action. The lucky craft needs a through the water speed of around 2mph. If you are moving with the current that’s 2mph your speed above ground will need to be around 4mph. If you are going against the 2mph current you only need to move slightly to have action. I primarily use swim baits, but if I’m going against the current and it won’t stay near the bottom I’ll switch to trolling a lucky craft with 12-16 oz on a slider.

Thank you everybody. I feel like I just had a nice course on halibut. Hopefully I pass the quiz this weekend.

Tying my leaders with 40 lb line (instead of 30) cut down 90% of my tangles. At that thickness the line is so rigid that its way less tangle prone. Also, as others have said, the angle plays a role too. But the 40 lb line helps a lot. More abrasion resistance for those doormats too.

I am sure you are doing it correctly but make sure you are moving when you descend your 3-way rigs.

Paul

This is also huge. Pull line out with your drag loose instead of putting the reel in freespool to descend. Make sure you are moving.