How to Re-Skirt a Trolling Lure (and How to Tell When It's Time)

Rex

By Rex

Re-skirting means replacing the soft skirts on a trolling lure head while keeping the head, leader and hooks you already own. Do it when the strands are torn, chewed or clearly shorter than they were, rather than on a set schedule.

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When does a trolling lure skirt need replacing?

We can't give you a fixed interval, because skirt wear depends on how the lure has been fished. Look at the skirt itself:

  • Torn or chewed strands. Torn or missing strands change how the skirt looks in the water.
  • Much shorter than the original. A skirt should trail past the head. If it has become much shorter than it was, it may be time to replace it.
  • Changed color. If the color is no longer the one you chose for the water you are fishing, you may want a new skirt.
  • Strands that hang in a bunch. If the strands hang together instead of spreading out, the skirt may have lost its shape.

If you would hesitate to put it in the water on a day when the fish are eating, change it.

What do you need to re-skirt a lure?

  • Replacement skirts. Our lures usually take two OCS skirts (OCS, our octopus skirt line), an inner and an outer.
  • 50 lb waxed rigging floss for tying the skirts on. It is what we hand-tie our own skirts with.
  • The lure head, leader and hooks you are keeping. Check them first, so you know they are worth re-skirting.

How do you re-skirt a trolling lure, step by step?

Our lures usually take two OCS skirts, an inner and an outer. Fit the inner skirt first, then the outer one. Each skirt goes on the same way.

  1. Pull the lure out of the spread and lay it flat. The spread is the set of lures you tow behind the boat. Check the head, leader and hooks before you touch the skirts.
  2. Note how the old skirts are set up before you take them off. A quick photo is enough, so you can match the new ones to it.
  3. Remove the old skirts, outer and inner. Take care not to damage the leader or hooks.
  4. Fit the new skirts, inner first.
    • a. Size the opening. Hold the narrow end of the skirt against the widest part of the head, where the neck or base sits. Find where the skirt needs to end so its opening matches the base of the head, then cut the narrow end off straight across.
    • b. Get it onto the head. Turn the skirt inside out, slip it over your hand, and work it over the head until its bottom opening sits at the base of the head.
    • c. Line up the pattern. If the skirt has stripes or markings, turn it until they sit the way you want before you tie anything. Once it is tied it is hard to rotate.
    • d. Tie it on. Wrap the floss tightly around the skirt for several turns, then pass the tail back through the loop so the knot can be pulled open later. The next re-skirt then does not mean cutting the old floss away.
    • e. Repeat for the outer skirt. Do a–d again with the second skirt over the first.
    • f. Finish. Trim the floss ends and wipe the head clean.
  5. Compare the finished lure with your photo. The skirts should sit the way the old ones did, and nothing should be caught on the hooks.

Which skirt length should you use?

Choose skirt length by the job the lure does. Use the 9 inch skirt for a small profile: mahi mahi, school tuna and short-corner positions (close to the boat), where a bigger bait gets looked at and refused. Use the 10 inch skirt as the middle length for yellowfin, mahi mahi and general-purpose mixed spreads (several lures towed together). Use the 12 inch skirt for a big profile: marlin, larger yellowfin and bluefin, and long-rigger positions (a lure run well back on the long outrigger line), where the lure has to be visible from a distance. If you are buying only one size, the 10 inch is the default choice. VIKETECH stocks all three as unrigged skirts (skirts that are not tied on), made from UV-reactive soft silicone. When you re-skirt, keep the length of the skirt you are replacing unless you want to change that job.

Length Item Where it fits
9" / 23 cm OCS90 Mahi mahi, school tuna, short-corner positions; also daisy chains, dredge droppers and small chuggers
10" / 26 cm OCS100 Yellowfin, mahi mahi, general-purpose mixed spreads
12" / 30 cm OCS120 Marlin, larger yellowfin and bluefin, long-rigger positions, big chuggers and plungers; also teasers

The skirts are available as single skirts and in 3-piece packs; see the skirt sizes and colors on the product page. VIKETECH manufactures this skirt in ten lengths, from 5" (13 cm) to 14" (36 cm). Lengths outside the stocked ones go through OEM inquiries.

Changing color when you re-skirt

Re-skirting is also a chance to put a different color on the same head. We stock eleven colors. For how water clarity, light and species should drive the choice, see our trolling lure color guide.

FAQ

How often should I replace a trolling lure skirt?

On condition, not on a schedule. Torn or chewed strands, a skirt that is much shorter than the original, a changed color, or strands that hang in a bunch instead of spreading are all reasons to replace it.

How many skirts does one lure need?

Our lures usually take two OCS skirts, an inner and an outer.

What skirt length do I need?

The same length as the skirt you are replacing, unless you want to change the lure's job. We stock 9", 10" and 12" skirts; the 10" is the default if you are buying only one size.

Do you make other lengths?

Yes. We manufacture ten lengths from 5" to 14". Lengths outside the three stocked are available through OEM inquiries.

What are the skirts made of?

Our OCS skirts are made of UV-reactive soft silicone.

Can I change the color when I re-skirt?

Yes. Re-skirting is a chance to put a different color on the same lure head.

Where to start

VIKETECH OFFSHORE — built for the fish that break tackle.

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