Trolling??? 2024
MikeOGNR reply :
Anyone got any tips for trolling for bass?? Lure selection how and where to troll also is it effective??
prjavelin reply :
dont go trolling. IMHO trolling is for lazy losers that want to have everything easy. It involves very little technique and it gets old really fast. not fun at all.
tie a shad rap rapala or a rapala dt 10 to dt 16 and burn gasoline and wait for the fish to do all the work. this is exactly what my uncle does. run around with those baits on and he catches something.
I knew of a guy fishing structure that got around 50 bass in my home lake and that is extremely tough on my high pressured waters. work on learning structure and cover and you will be much better than a guy trolling.
Once again this is my humble opinion.
BassfisherMass reply :
i do troll every now and then useing a 5 1/2 rubber worm haveing it behind me about 25 yards or so and the worm would be right ontop of the water
not sure if that helps you any or not
gobig reply :
Trolling is a very effective way to catch bass.
Bluebasser86 reply :
It can be very boring but it's far from a technique for "lazy losers". You have to be able to read a lake and the structure in it, know where the fish will be holding, what speed your boat needs to be going, what direction your bait needs to cross with the fish, what baits to use, what gear will get your bait where it needs to be, and a host of other factors. True you can just pull the first bait out of your box behind the boat long enough and probably catch something but the same could be said for casting a bait.
Personally I'd rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick then have to troll because it bores me to tears but I have done it and if you know what you're doing it can be far more effective than casting the same baits you're trolling. It's great for coving lots of water and picking up scattered fish or fishing a bait in water way deeper than it would normally reach. I've had my best success trolling with number 5 or 7 shad raps or glass raps. I wasn't trolling for bass but they can't seem to leave those things alone at time.
RobertBG reply :
I've had good luck trolling from place to place in my old n slow jon boat and on eletric only lakes.I figure mine as well have a wet line if it's going to take a while to move from place to place.
detroit1 reply :
Lazy losers? That description may be true for most people that drag lures around, but there are many that know what they are doing. Proper trolling is a lost art these days. I remember stories written about Buck Perry and his spoonplugs back in the 60's and 70's. It was a way to learn the lake's structure before there were depth finders. The only times i troll is when i'm eating my lunch (i can't be on a lake without a bait in the water) or when i just can't seem to catch anything while casting...
deep reply :
On 8/19/2012 at 8:48 PM, detroit1 said:Lazy losers? That description may be true for most people that drag lures around, but there are many that know what they are doing. Proper trolling is a lost art these days. I remember stories written about Buck Perry and his spoonplugs back in the 60's and 70's. It was a way to learn the lake's structure before there were depth finders. The only times i troll is when i'm eating my lunch (i can't be on a lake without a bait in the water) or when i just can't seem to catch anything while casting...
.. and Bill Murphy too.
Surveyor reply :
I love the "thump" you get with a texas rigged worm and the explosion from a top water frog so I don't troll much. You just loose that feel-- excitement when trolling.
I have tho. Usually with a spinner bait or crank bait, occasionally a worm or creature bait
Trolling will catch a few fish but most important it will FIND fish.
More often than not if you catch one trolling there is more there. I always drop back and throw a worm or swim bait where I got the hookup and usually catch more.
prjavelin reply :
let me explain the comment!
I fish a reservoir thats 266 acres when full(usually its not full). I have also been to another lake thats around 150 acres when full. The lakes in PR are not big by any means. not compated to the 100k + acre lake you guys have in the states, the okeechobees and the great lakes. the guys that go trolling here do so because they dont want to cast and recast. I have personally talked to a bunch of them. they think its a hassle and most of them are bucket fishermen to begin with. a lap around the lake takes less than one hour.
to be continued baby is crying
WRB reply :
The reason the tournament bass anglers are not allowed to troll it is so effective.
Anytime I take out a new fisherman I often troll crank baits to cover water at a controlled depth where bass are located. If you are using deep diving crank baits at 18' you use your sonar to keep the lures between 15 to 20', you discover exactly how deep that lure runs at the speed you troll; a slow walking speed for example. Just run the lure next to the boat to determine what speed the lure runs good at. The advantage is the bass will usually hook themselves when trolling and gives the new angler experience in feeling strikes verse hitting the bottom or snagging weeds. Within a few hours you can learn several weeks worth of crank bait experience.
Strolling or dragging soft plastic worm on a C-rig or slip shot jrig through bass you have metered is also a good way to teach new worm anglers what a worm bite feels like. You control the proper depth with the sonar and you also know the speed is right because you are using the same rig and can feel the same structure as the angler you are teaching. A few hours of strolling is valuable, then you can cast and retrieve knowing the angler has a good idea what to expect.
Tom
NBR reply :
I am very bored when trolling but on tough recreational fishing days trolling can be an effective way to find the fish. Those skillful in trolling methods are anything but lazy. They are highly skilled in their art.
Bassn Blvd reply :
On 8/19/2012 at 12:26 PM, prjavelin said:dont go trolling. IMHO trolling is for lazy losers that want to have everything easy. It involves very little technique and it gets old really fast. not fun at all.
IMHO, don't listen to losers who know nothing about trolling and are narrow minded to learning different techniques.
prjavelin reply :
my poor 6 weeks old baby is sick 
here is a quick questions to those in favor of trolling:
where is the sport in trolling a 200 acre lake over an over and over until the fish find your bait and hook themselves? where is the challenge?
so you have to worry about depth and that is controlled by speed, you have to control the speed of the boat. your rod can sit on a rod holder. VS casting at the right spot, controlling the fall(if any) working the rod, cranking the reel at the rate you want it and setting the hook. dont get me started on locating the fish vs running around and stumble on them.
i can post and excerpt from the in fisherman series against trolling they ripped buck perry apart(well the person who wrote it). I bet many of the legends of the sport find it to be a low way of fishing. its just a step behind throwing a net and catching stringers.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 1:59 PM, prjavelin said:my poor 6 weeks old baby is sick
here is a quick questions to those in favor of trolling:
where is the sport in trolling a 200 acre lake over an over and over until the fish find your bait and hook themselves? where is the challenge?
so you have to worry about depth and that is controlled by speed, you have to control the speed of the boat. your rod can sit on a rod holder. VS casting at the right spot, controlling the fall(if any) working the rod, cranking the reel at the rate you want it and setting the hook. dont get me started on locating the fish vs running around and stumble on them.
i can post and excerpt from the in fisherman series against trolling they ripped buck perry apart(well the person who wrote it). I bet many of the legends of the sport find it to be a low way of fishing. its just a step behind throwing a net and catching stringers.
You still have to figure out what depth the fish are holding at, what areas they're holding in, what they're feeding on, what speed you need to troll, and a host of other variables, just like when you're casting and retrieving. I get what you're saying, sort of anyways. It sounds to me like you're talking about people that just pick the first bait out of their box, put it in the water and just drag it around and hope they stumble across a fish, a lot like a lot of people do when casting and retrieving a bait.
However, some people have it down to a science. In a larger body of water I might even argue that it's more difficult to troll because you're structure fishing, not casting to visible cover like most anglers do. So you have to be good at reading your electronics, topo maps, and knowing where the fish should be on a given day and what baits will catch them where they're at. Personally I can't stand trolling for anything. Probably why catching marlin or sailfish has never appealed much to me, because trolling is one of the main techniques to catch them.
I'm getting a hint of "holier than thou" mindset, like a fish caught trolling is somehow less of a fish, like some guys think of livebait/artificials or flyfishing/traditional gear. Either that or someone is trolling your lake and catching fish while you're struggling and it's hurting your pride.
prjavelin reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 10:20 AM, Bassn Blvd said:IMHO, don't listen to losers who know nothing about trolling and is narrow minded to learning different techniques.
dude theres no need for name calling and taking it personal. Im free to speak my mind as I was not attacking you personally. You can make your point by providing an argument and proving me wrong.
SirSnookalot reply :
I do a lot of trolling, but really not for bass in the last 50 years. As I kid we had a cottage on 1100 acre lake, I trolled in a rowboat using, night crawlers on a harness, plugs and spoons. I did have 6.5 ho OB, but quite often I did my trolling rowing the drop offs around the lake. Not only did I catch fish, I got a nice workout too.
prjavelin reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 2:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:You still have to figure out what depth the fish are holding at, what areas they're holding in, what they're feeding on, what speed you need to troll, and a host of other variables, just like when you're casting and retrieving. I get what you're saying, sort of anyways. It sounds to me like you're talking about people that just pick the first bait out of their box, put it in the water and just drag it around and hope they stumble across a fish, a lot like a lot of people do when casting and retrieving a bait.
However, some people have it down to a science. In a larger body of water I might even argue that it's more difficult to troll because you're structure fishing, not casting to visible cover like most anglers do. So you have to be good at reading your electronics, topo maps, and knowing where the fish should be on a given day and what baits will catch them where they're at. Personally I can't stand trolling for anything. Probably why catching marlin or sailfish has never appealed much to me, because trolling is one of the main techniques to catch them.
I'm getting a hint of "holier than thou" mindset, like a fish caught trolling is somehow less of a fish, like some guys think of livebait/artificials or flyfishing/traditional gear. Either that or someone is trolling your lake and catching fish while you're struggling and it's hurting your pride.
I dont own a boat so I cant troll. Ive gone fishing with people that do own boats(like my uncle did and a friend) and the only technique was trolling rapalas. I do think that a fish Ive caught trolling and much less of an acomplishment than those ive caught by reading here learning and working on what ive learned because i knew that i had to When we went trolling the only technique was the if clockwise you didnt find them they would go counterclockwise.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 4:05 PM, prjavelin said:I dont own a boat so I cant troll. Ive gone fishing with people that do own boats(like my uncle did and a friend) and the only technique was trolling rapalas. I do think that a fish Ive caught trolling and much less of an acomplishment than those ive caught by reading here learning and working on what ive learned because i knew that i had to When we went trolling the only technique was the if clockwise you didnt find them they would go counterclockwise.
What you're describing is much less trolling and a lot more driving the boat around and hoping. Kind of like just letting the boat drift across the lake or going down a bank and just casting blindly. Someone who knows what they're doing will follow contours or structure, adjust baits, colors, speed, line weight and type, potentially use a planer board, trolling weight, or downrigger and have to adjust different variables with those, while reading electronics, controlling the boat so lines don't tangle. If it took no skill then why are some people so much better than others at it? I'm terrible at it but I don't enjoy it at all so it doesn't really matter to me.
WRB reply :
The general bass fishing public has been conditioned to bass fish like their favaorite tournament pro. The pro makes a living promoting fishing tackle, boats and related fishing equipment. Since trolling is not allowed during a bass tournament, you never see bass pros trolling. I can make the argument that strolling is a form of trolling; moving the lure with the boat or long lining is a from of trolling; moving a few hundred yards with the boat under power.
Did you know the world record smallmouth bass was caught trolling?
Remember this fact; 90% of the bass are located in 10% of the lakes water; spend your time learning where that 10% of the water is that holds 90% of the bass. Trolling is a good technique to eliminate unproductive water while sonar surveying various locations; it simply another presentation tool for the non tournament angler.
Tom
J Francho reply :
I used to troll crankbaits on Lake Ontario for smallies back in the 90s. Catch three fish in a specific area, anchor up and pick the spot apart. Worked real well for us.
KAAATHLEEN reply :
Sometimes i like to just relax and sit but still take in the sun in the boat. Trolling gives me the opportunity to do just that. My dad likes to troll a lot, once you get well into your 70s you may understand which is why my dad like to troll. He cant cast like he could even 10 years ago but he has a passion for fishing. It is still a legal method of fishing...
Now lets talk about banning the alabama and umbrella rigs even if it has just 1 hook on it and 6 teasers. My belief is that they should be illegal everywhere but it is still legal in some places therefore people have every right to use it where it is still legal.
Others beleive they are fine some even with 5 or 7 hooks, We all have our opinions. Mine is ban them all, But if it is legal in your water go ahead and use it.
Bassn Blvd reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 2:18 PM, prjavelin said:dude theres no need for name calling and taking it personal. Im free to speak my mind as I was not attacking you personally. You can make your point by providing an argument and proving me wrong.
I didn't make it peronal, you did by saying "IMHO trolling is for lazy losers that want to have everything easy. It involves very little technique and it gets old really fast. not fun at all."
And just like you say you're free to speak your mind. Well, guess what? So am I.
The OP asked a question about trolling. He never mentioned the size of the lake. You assumed it was a 200 acre puddle because apparently that's what you're accustomed to fishing. A few members ansewred the question without prejudice, unlike your negativity and insults.
I assure you I am far from a lazy fisherman and I sometimes troll. I troll mostly while pre-fishing for tournaments, which I fish several each month.
Think about this. How much control do you have over a crankbait when reeling it in by hand? Theoritically, your hands are acting in the same capacity as my motor, except I'm able to keep the bait in the strike zone longer because I don't have to cast. I can also get my bait to dive deeper than hand cranking. I can also get a better feel for the bottom than hand reeling. When trolling, my crankbait is acting as a search bait. Once I get hit, I stop and fish different techniques.
yoyoman reply :
On 8/20/2012 at 10:49 PM, WRB said:The general bass fishing public has been conditioned to bass fish like their favaorite tournament pro. The pro makes a living promoting fishing tackle, boats and related fishing equipment. Since trolling is not allowed during a bass tournament, you never see bass pros trolling. I can make the argument that strolling is a form of trolling; moving the lure with the boat or long lining is a from of trolling; moving a few hundred yards with the boat under power.
Did you know the world record smallmouth bass was caught trolling?
Remember this fact; 90% of the bass are located in 10% of the lakes water; spend your time learning where that 10% of the water is that holds 90% of the bass. Trolling is a good technique to eliminate unproductive water while sonar surveying various locations; it simply another presentation tool for the non tournament angler.
Tom
excellent post. i personally do not troll for bass but have for saltwater and lake trout. i find it very boring but it is highly effective if doing correctly. i can garentee trollers who know what there doing will certainly hold there own if ot out fish you. they simply cover way more water than you can cast too. if some likes to troll, cast lures, use live bait i think that is there choice and that is what they enjoy doing. that is fishing. also it can get pretty boring pounding shorline after shorline wih cranks and spinnerbaits. this is not tornement fishing. go out have fun and enjoy the day.
Bass Dude reply :
On 8/19/2012 at 12:26 PM, prjavelin said:dont go trolling. IMHO trolling is for lazy losers that want to have everything easy. It involves very little technique and it gets old really fast. not fun at all.
You are way off on your opinion of trolling. It involves a lot of skill and technique. First, you still have to find the fish, just as you would casting. Secondly, you have all the same variables in presentation such as lure selection, lure speed, wind speed, depth, etc. Last, but not least, you need very precise boat control. In some ways, it is a way more complex way of fishing than casting. Go salmon fishing on the Great Lakes and see how involved it is...you will find a new appreciation for what goes into a successful trolling trip.
If you aren't catching anything it isn't much fun, but neither is casting for 10 hours a day without getting bit!!
BassWhole! reply :
Silly bass guys! Trolling is just another method of fishing, it requires just as much or little skill/knowledge as any other method. Do you think an Alabama rig would work? 
Bob C reply :
On 8/21/2012 at 3:25 AM, reason said:Silly bass guys! Trolling is just another method of fishing, it requires just as much or little skill/knowledge as any other method. Do you think an Alabama rig would work?
I bought the Alabama rig last spring. After looking at it and thinking how much trouble it would be to use, it's still in the unopened package. It will probably get moved to the basement and put in the archives. 
Since I didn't have much luck fishing last weekend, the trolling sounds interesting.
Bob
slonezp reply :
I have never trolled for bass but have for salmon, but never really got into the whole trolling thing as I find it boring. My father is a salmon fisherman before bass, but is no longer a boat owner. I learned basic trolling from him, but never even touched the tip of the iceberg with it. There is as much or more technique in trolling than not. Take a look at a great lakes fishing forum sometime. Boat speed, direction, how turning the boat affects presentation, depth. water temp etc. Precision presentations, just like pitching structure only on a larger scale.
mikey5string reply :
I don't troll for bass. There really isn't a need to. Bass don't move as much as other species. Most of the time they are on some type of cover or structure. You locate that structure and fish it.
I doubt the reason that trolling isn't allowed in tourneys is because it's so effective. I'd bet that a good bass fisherman would outperform a troller all day. I see it as a "chuck and luck" technique. If you know where the fish are there is no need to troll.
Im not into any fishing where you're not holding the rod when the fish bites. Also don't like how you are basically extending your vessel however much line you have out. So a person with 50 yards of line out is taking up 50 yards behind him while "fishing" the lake
That being said I have met some great fishermen who troll, they just don't fish for bass. Mostly walleye guys or saltwater guys. Nothing against people who troll, I just don't think of it as a serious bass fishing technique. Again, just my opinion.
RAMBLER reply :
I've trolled in one specific area on one lake. It had a point that was wide, shallow and was very very gradual in depth change. It was hard to recognize as a point. There was only one depth that I could get a strike, at a very specific speed, with a long line, with a bitsy minnow. There was no way to cast that lure far enough from the boat to get bit. The fish were scattered across that area and there was no structure to fish. That point was the structure. With that lure, at that depth and speed, I've caught LMB, catfish, bluegill and crappie. Never more than a total of 5 fish, but nothing else was biting on anything. Slow, boring way to fish, but also relaxing and I did tighten my line on something.
Fishinbyrd reply :
No tips sorry. Just wanted to say, ugh, I hate trolling. Its about the most boring type of fishing there is for me personally. Also may have something to do with never having caught anything while trolling though 
bassr95 reply :
I dont like trolling either, but that doesn't mean that it is easy, or takes no skill. somtimes the only way consistantly catch scattered walleye is to troll shad raps on the outside weed edge. i'll do it, but would far rather fish some other way. that said, the people who troll a lot usually have some pretty complex methods and should in no way be looked down on
mikeeasttn reply :
In my home lake alot of the fisherman troll for the walleyes with artificals or some type spinner tipped with a worm on a 3-way rig. Also in the summer alot of us troll for stripers using downriggers. I will admit it i not the same as casting, but sometimes it is the only way to get a hit when the fish are deep.
NoBassPro reply :
Here are some tips : it easiest if you can plot some way points on your gps and plot a trolling route that way. For bass your probably going to be looking at deep weedlines, rocky humps, and specific depths/contours. 2. Cranks will run at different depths trolling than casting, experience will tell you or there are some books out that can help you with this. If you wish to get shallower baits deeper various three way rigs are probably the way to go, don't think you'll be needing leadcore or downriggers for bass. 3. Linecounter reels are essential for depth control, or counting the passes on your baitcaster if you know how much line comes off each pass. 4. try spinnerbaits over weeds,. 5. Different baits work best at different speeds, if you are running a spread make sure all the baits will work properly at the speed you are going. 6. When you turn your outside baits run faster and your inside baits slow down, with cranks this means the outside baits will speed up and maybe dig a little deeper, while the inside baits will slow down and maybe rise a little, with spinners the outside baits will usually rise a little and the inside baits sink a little,
With a little time and practice, it can be a very good way to cover water and target precise depths and structural elements.
NoBassPro reply :
Yea I know most bass fisherman look down their noses at trolling, and I've never trolled for bass, although I have done alot of trolling. So here's some of the drawbacks as well. You are going to have a hard time in shallow cover. Outside of contending with weeds and snags, you'll often spook fish. The you have to mess with planer boards. 2. It takes a team effort often. Particularly in heavy water, you need at least two people that know what they are doing. 4. All those bass guys will thumb their noses at you.
Beyond that , some other advantages are 1. if you take someone who is more into a boat ride than fishing with you, with a little teaching they can usually help set and clear lines. 2. Often, after a fish or two they get hooked on fishing as well. 3. In heavy waters it can be the only way you will effectively be able to present a bait at times. Maintaining boat control on small lakes is when its windy is one thing, in heavy waves and current its another. 3. You can learn a body of water quicker, and with multiple baits out might be able to put together a pattern quicker. 4. You can more effectively cover deep water.
related General Bass Fishing Forum topic
most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.