I was thinking of building a dredge of rubber ballyhoo. I was thinking of running it off a cleat on the back of the boat on mono with a snap swivel at the back of the center line of the dredge to run a hook bait with a 64 rubber band since I don't have a rod/reel heavier than 50VSW. Should the individual lines from the bar be flouro or is mono OK? How long a leader from the bar to the first ballyhoo? How heavy should the mono or flouro be? How far back from the transom should the bar be? Do you want to keep the bar out of the water always?
Thank you one and all!

Most Dredges are like heavy duty Umbrella rigs to start with. There you can run your baits in tiers, with the first row right off the bar on clips or swivels, the next row 12-18" back, etc. Most will not try to have a release clip (or rubber band) off the trailer with a hook bait because it gets more difficult to have the bait swim and look natural. Remenber, the Dredge is to mimick a bait school and bring the fish up. Run a bait in the short position just behind the dredge. You can also add a chin weight to that to vary the depth. Biggest problem with cleating off a dredge (lots of pull and pressure on them at 5-6 knots) is being able to clear them quickly when you need to fight a fish. Having separtate baits not attached to the dredge lets you vary the look and drop bait back if necessary to entice your visitor to your dredge buffet. Look in the catalogs to see what the dredges look like and give it a try to make, or buy a Get Reel Dredge, all made up and reasonably priced!
Good luck.
Tight lines.
Dave

Are you making a dredge or a spreader bar?? Dredge is like a giant umbrella rig and stays below the surface. A spreader bar is surface bait. It sound more like a spreader bar.

So, mono is fine. The comotion from the teaser baits will hide the mono. I use 150 pound test. There are 2 thoughts on bars, some guys run them in the water, some don't . Run the bar so its out of the prop wash. My 1st hoo would be close to the bar to help "hide" the bar if its in the water say a few inches and then space the teaser baits about 4-6 inches about with the treailing bait about 2 feet back from the pack.

Good luck...if you have questions call me.. be glad to help 576-4013.
--Don

You never offer to help me Don...

You don't need no help!!!

That's not what Jeanette says !

You never offer to help me Don...

My wife always looks at me and says, "I hate it when you whine"

Thanks you for the help.
OK, I am talking about a spreader bar run off an eyehook on the corner of the transom, run as far back as I can and still keep the bar out of the water (maybe 10 feet?), first row of ballyhoo about 3 inches off the bar, next ballyhoo about 6 inches behind them, and hook bait off the center about 2 ft behind last row of ballyhoo, running the hook bait off of a 64 rubberband or just as a separate flat line . The individual lines of ballyhoo hooked on the eyes of the spreader bar with snap swivels for ease of storage and replacement. Using Williamson live ballyhoo for the baits. Whole rig made with 200# mono.

Sound about right, Don?
Thanks

Sounds dead on! Good luck catching those fish!!!