While trolling is a search technique, it is equally true that when we enter the range of a pelagic predator, we must, at all costs, ensure that it cannot resist the temptation to come into our wake for a closer look. To help us achieve this goal, there are various types of teasers, each to be used for a specific purpose.
We cast off, head towards our offshore hot spots, set up the rods, each in its place… we watch the lures surface briefly before diving again. Everything seems in order, yet something is missing… and then, our gaze falls on those "empty" spaces between one lure and another, spaces we could fill with another lure, or something better: a teaser.
The use of teasers in the wake has become almost a religion over the years, leading to the use of more teasers than armed lures for some deep-sea specialties, or even just teasers and a ready rod with natural bait - as in the case of pitch bait. Obviously, as always happens in fishing, each part of the world has its own customs. Captains prefer to fish with certain teasers over others, depending on the fish they are targeting and the technique they are practicing, but by thoroughly knowing the various types, we can certainly experiment in our waters and discover results we never imagined.
Bird vs. Flippy Monkey
What are often known as "small airplanes" are actually called birds, precisely because their movement on the water simulates a bird which, taking flight, flaps its wings on the water during the first few meters. And, usually, when birds are so active on the water it is during a feeding frenzy. They come in many sizes, colors, and shapes, although the principle is always the same. The best ones, to be used individually, are those of fairly generous dimensions, at least 20 cm in length.
Rigid birds have inclined side wings so that they always navigate towards the surface, but in choppy seas and wind, they could rotate 180°, flipping over and thus starting to dive, creating considerable resistance that will make our rod go off. From that position, it will be very complicated to make it turn towards the surface again... wooden models help them resurface, but it's also true that, in the meantime, a drag has gone off, creating chaos on board: at first, we can't know if it's a fish or a false start; sometimes we need to let out tens of meters before it surfaces, perhaps the line was also from the outrigger that we will have to re-attach to the clip, etc.
Another disadvantage of this type of teaser occurs in the event of a strike, as birds tend to create a lot of resistance in the water, making the fight less enjoyable due to the poor direct contact with the prey.
Flippy Monkeys, on the other hand, are made by attaching semi-rigid arms to large rubber squids, at the ends of which two mini squids are added, also made of rubber. This type of teaser emits the same "noise" and foam as birds, but it works on both sides, avoiding the problem of "flipping". Furthermore, in the event of a strike, they transmit very little resistance in the water, making the fight more enjoyable.
Finally, but not least in importance, the bird has a rigid structure, while Flippy Monkeys have a soft structure, better fooling billfish that will strike the teasers with their bill. This type of teaser should be used by connecting the main line on one side, and the leader with a rigged bait about 2/2.5 meters away on the other.
Daisy Chain
A specific type of teaser made up of a series of lures (usually 5 to 7) arranged in tandem on a nylon monofilament, at the end of which there could be the last armed lure, or a snap swivel to connect the leader with the bait, is known as a Daisy Chain.
I personally prefer the latter version, both because the nylon of the Daisy Chain is usually very thick, not suitable as a proper leader, and because with the snap swivel you can choose the lure you want based on the day's conditions, the type of fish you want to catch, and its position in the wake.
The prerogative of this teaser is the fact that it primarily works on the surface or just below the surface, and not submerged. It can be constructed with a series of Flippy Monkeys, or small birds, as well as a series of bullet or rubber squids, or as in the case of the Mud Mirror, from a series of fish shapes made on mirrored plexiglass… and connected to the main line.
Its use on long rods can also have the purpose of making the lines more visible, as well as keeping them tauter and less subject to wind displacement. It is very attractive, especially for imperial needlefish, while in the ocean it is used for fishing for sailfish, marlin and large dorado.
Dredge
Have you ever seen those large umbrella teasers in pictures of great fishermen engaged in marlin fishing? They are called dredges and are extremely attractive, even if not easy to use. In fact, these accessories consisting of one or more "umbrellas" made of steel, on whose spokes lines are connected with tandem lures such as rubber squid, silicone fish, hard rubber tuna shapes, etc., need to work submerged in the wake.
Therefore, in addition to the weight of the entire structure and its resistance in water at trolling speeds, the addition of a cannonball or hydrodynamic lead, weighing from 2 to 5 kg, must be considered. All this, remembering that in case of a strike, especially if it is a billfish, it should be recovered quickly.
For this reason, it is often used with the aid of large electric reels, for marlin fishing in the ocean... but it certainly has its enormous effectiveness also for our large pelagic fish. Sometimes, in the ocean, dredges are made entirely with natural baits, in order to keep a possible billfish in the wake longer, and to have more chances to set a rigged line and practice switch and bait.
Spread Bar
Less demanding than dredges, both economically and practically, these single bars represent a valid alternative to large and expensive American lures. The spread bars consist of a steel bar in the center of which the line going to the boat is connected, and along its entire length several lines with tandem lures, which are the same as dredges or even small konas, since their action occurs exclusively on the surface. They should be trolled in the wake, without any rigged bait but only for attraction purposes and, also in this case, they must be recovered in case of a strike.
They are rarely used in the ocean, while in the Mediterranean they are more known and are attractive for all pelagic predators, including tuna, even if it would make more sense to troll them specifically for billfish.
Large Konas
Even large konas can be considered teasers, clearly depending on the fish you want to catch. The use of this type of lure is very common in the pitch bait technique for large billfish.
It is therefore clear that, in the case of switch and bait for large blue and black marlin, the teasers to be used will be enormous konas... but if we go down in fish "size", konas that are not excessively gigantic will also be used.
For example, for sailfish, white marlin, imperial needlefish - to stay on the Mediterranean theme - konas of 25/30 cm will be enough to attract fish in the wake. In this case, we will fish with the konas mentioned above trolled at a short distance without a hook, and when we see a billfish following them, we will quickly cast a ready rod, rigged with natural bait in order to make the fish "switch" from the teaser to our rigged bait.
This is a very adrenaline-pumping fishing action, which is why it is preferred by most fishermen looking for thrills around the world.
