Salmon Trolling with a Chute or Tailgunner Rig: What It Is and How to Set It Up

The Chute Rig: A Simple Way to Add More Lines to Your Salmon Trolling Spread

What is a TailGunner or Chute rig?

A chute rig, often called a tailgunner or shotgun, is a clean or weighted lure dropped straight back after your main trolling spread is set. It clears easily, covers an often ignored area directly behind the boat, and consistently takes salmon and steelhead...without adding much complexity to your spread.  And if using 1lb balls: No downriggers required!

How to Rig It

Clip, hang or even rubber band a weight to an otherwise clean line/pole and prepare it to be let out.  You just need an open rod holder somewhere around the center of the boat.  If you have an available, adjustable holder on a corner rigger you can angle it inwards so the pole tip is centered.  If using my Fisher Tackle Hanger set-up, be sure to hang the weight on the front eye of your roller swivel, not the back. This keeps the wire from wearing against the mono leader loop over time, which is a common point of failure if hung in the wrong eye.

Where and When to Run It

I like to drop the chute rig in last, after the rest of the spread is set.  Let her out right into the prop wash behind the boat...but not actually in the prop...that would be bad😀.   If you have a pound ball on it, run it out 50-100 feet. If clean or a lighter weight...send her out...way out to 100-250ft.  With shallow sets it's usually better to get away from the boat.  

Choosing Your Weight

Chute rig weights can run anywhere from 2oz up to 32oz, depending on how deep the fish are holding. Lighter weights will obviously keep the chute rig higher in the column; heavier weights get it down fast and below the prop wash. Swapping weights alone can let the chute rig cover water your whole spread would otherwise need multiple rods to reach. 

Tip: Running Dual Chute Rigs:  I often like running 2 rigs up the center: a high and a low. I usually let the high out first...maybe 150-250ft with a 2-4oz or clean lure. Then drop a 1lber under it maybe 50-75ft. They stay separated and cover two distinct zones without tangling.  Watch my Dual Chute Video Here.  

Why It Works

Running a chute or tailgunner rig is one of the easiest ways to get extra lines in the water...which is huge when you are searching for fish.

It works so well because salmon often trail right behind your main spread, keyed into the noise and action of your boat....with downriggers humming and flashers banging away in front of them, I think hesitant fish will often sit just behind the boat/spread. A chute rod drops a lure right into that target zone for trailing fish that refuse to commit to the main spread.

Best of all, swapping weights on a simple braid line gives you ultimate flexibility. Instead of needing dedicated downriggers, copper setups, or diver rods to hit different depths, one chute rig with the right weight puts you in the strike zone- at a fraction of the gear cost.

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FAQ

What is a chute, shotgun or tailgunner rig?
A chute rig (also called a tailgunner or shotgun) is a line dropped straight back behind the boat after the rest of the trolling spread is set. Run it 50-100ft back with a 1lb ball, or 100-250ft with a lighter weight or a clean lure.

Where do you attach a chute rig?
Put the pole in an open holder that allows the tip to stay centered in the prop wash.

How much weight should I use on a chute rig?
Anywhere from 2oz to 32oz, depending on how deep the fish are holding that day.

Can you run two chute rigs at once?
Yes. My approach is to run a lighter weight (2-4oz) or clean lure further back, 150-250ft, with a heavier weight (around 1lb) closer to the boat...50-75ft. This covers two depths off the back of the boat with one rod holder required for each.